I strive to be a relaxed parent whenever possible. We don’t adhere to strict schedules; if my kids prefer a peanut butter sandwich over the dinner I prepared, I let it slide. We often stay up late on weekends, indulging in movies, games, or baking sessions. I’m not one to enforce rigid screen time rules. We embrace spontaneity, explore new streets just for fun, and enjoy playing outside even when it rains. If my kids crave snow cones just before bedtime on a hot summer evening, you can bet we’ll hop in the car and race to our favorite snowball stand.
However, I do have my non-negotiables. I won’t tolerate poor hygiene, dishonesty, or any form of violence. Everyone in the house has responsibilities and my kids are expected to give their best effort at school, however that may look for them.
But my top priority? Ensuring their safety. We chop grapes into quarters and hot dogs into strips. I secure cleaning supplies, always keep an eye on my kids when they’re with our dog, and engage the safety locks on our windows. We have a fire escape plan and a tornado safety routine in place.
And most importantly, we never skip the sunscreen.
Some might label me paranoid, but that doesn’t bother me. I go above and beyond to shield my children from sunburn. To me, safeguarding their skin is just as crucial as making sure they wear seatbelts. It’s an essential part of my parenting responsibilities.
Whenever we plan to be outside for more than a few moments, sunscreen is a must. On days when the weather permits outdoor recess, I apply it to my kids before school. In our backyard, we’ve created shaded areas for them to retreat from the sun, including turning our under-the-deck space into an imaginative fossil dig site, complete with a mud pit and a granite slab my husband left behind during our kitchen remodel.
While my dad has a lovely pool, we avoid peak sun hours. We prefer to enjoy outdoor play in the morning and late afternoon, reserving indoor activities for the hours between 10 AM and 2 PM. If we do find ourselves swimming during midday, my kids wear long-sleeve rash guards and sun hats. We have a large umbrella we can position for shade, and we take regular breaks from the sun. Every couple of hours, we pause to reapply that precious SPF.
Once the sun begins to set and the pool is shaded, they can remove their rash guards and hats, enjoying the water directly on their skin for a few hours before dark. They don’t miss out on any summer fun; we just ensure that our pool days don’t lead to painful sunburns.
While the immediate effects of sun exposure—like sunburn—are clear, the long-term risk of skin cancer is an equally compelling reason to protect delicate skin from harmful UV rays. May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month, making it a perfect opportunity to think about how to keep your family’s skin safe this summer.
It’s important to note that melanoma isn’t just a concern for adults. While rare in children, about 300 kids in the United States are diagnosed with this aggressive skin cancer each year. Melanoma can spread, making prevention essential. According to skincancer.org, “even one blistering sunburn in childhood or adolescence more than doubles your chances of developing melanoma later in life.” That’s a compelling reason for me to prioritize skin protection while I can still influence my kids’ habits. My husband and I also apply sunscreen diligently, setting a good example.
Of course, I’m not flawless. Occasionally, I miss a spot and my kids end up slightly pink. I don’t feel great about it, but I try not to dwell on it. I’m doing my best to spare them the severe, painful blistering burns I endured during childhood beach trips on the Jersey shore. During my stubborn teenage years, I foolishly thought a tan was more important than avoiding cancer. Despite my past belief that a tan equaled a “healthy glow,” the truth is there’s no such thing as a healthy tan.
My kids have fair skin and light eyes, making them more susceptible to sunburn rather than tanning, but all skin types need protection. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends using sunscreen with broad-spectrum protection (against UVA and UVB rays), SPF 30 or higher, and water resistance.
My children may not be sun-kissed and tanned; they remain pale at the start of summer and they’re still pale when it ends. Ultimately, my role isn’t to ensure my kids look like sun-soaked surfers with golden skin but to keep them as healthy as possible, which includes protecting their skin from excessive sun exposure.
For more on setting boundaries for your family, check out this helpful blog post. If you want to learn more about skin health, resources like CCRM IVF are excellent.
If you’re interested in further insights, you might want to explore intracervical insemination as a related topic.
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In summary, I embrace a laid-back parenting style in many aspects, but when it comes to sun safety, I take a firm stand. Protecting my children from sunburn is a fundamental responsibility I take seriously, ensuring they enjoy their summer without the pain of sun damage.