New school hat. Check.
New school shoes. Check.
Lunch box with tasty, healthy food. Check.
Water bottle filled. Check.
Sunscreen…. Ummm!
It’s not too late to add SPF 30 or higher broad spectrum sunscreen to the back to school list. Slopping on sunscreen has probably been a regular event during the holidays but it’s just as important to do at preschool and school too. When used in combination with hats, clothing and shade, sunscreen can help reduce your child’s skin cancer risk.
Reducing overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation means less risk of skin cancer later in life. Regular use of sunscreen has been shown to reduce the incidence of melanoma and squamous cell carcinoma, both in the short and long term. With two in three Australians developing skin cancer before they blow out 70 birthday candles, this is one health habit worth instilling from a young age.
Data from a national survey showed that 92% of Australian primary schools actively encourage sunscreen application however only 20% of schools had between 76-100% of students applying sunscreen before heading out to lunch.
That’s why the Cancer Council's SunSmart program encourages parents to step up and help support their child’s pre-school or school’s SunSmart initiatives by ensuring their child wears sun safe clothing and remembers to bring their sun protective hat each day.
Make sure SPF 30 or higher broad spectrum sunscreen is in their bag so this can be reapplied before outdoor times. It is great if you can help develop good sunscreen application techniques at home so your child will be all set when they get to preschool or school.
SunSmart does not expect teachers to apply sunscreen to students but it is helpful if a school has strategies in place to help remind students about this task. Strategies may include appointing sunscreen buddies or sunscreen monitors, placing reminder notes near the exit door or on the board, setting up a sunscreen station table, playing a music reminder before recess times or setting up a committee of students to develop reminder ideas. Sunscreen application needs to be just as much a part of the SunSmart routine as hat wearing.
With the longer preschool sessions commencing in 2014, it’s very important for all preschools to include sunscreen application as part of their regular routine. One application at drop off time is no longer enough.
Ensure your child’s early childhood service or school actively encourages sunscreen application before outdoor activities.
Sunscreen tips for parents
• Choose an SPF 30 or higher broad spectrum, water resistant sunscreen.
• Make sure it is within its use by date and is kept in a cool place (below 30 degrees).
• Try to apply sunscreen at least 20 minutes before going outdoors to help give it time to bind to the skin.
• Even if sunscreen states “4 hours water resistance’ – reapply every TWO hours
• Choose a sunscreen that your child feels comfortable wearing and is easy to apply.
• Remember to reapply sunscreen after swimming or water play
• When trying a new sunscreen on young babies, test it out on a small patch of skin first to make sure it is suitable. The Australasian College of Dermatologists recommends the use of a sunscreen ‘at any age when there is unavoidable exposure to the sun’ and states sunscreen is safe to use on babies. Many brands of sunscreen have a babies or toddlers formula. These are just as protective, but much gentler on the skin. Look for sunscreens that have been dermatologically tested for sensitive skin.
• From about three years, practise applying sunscreen so children can develop this skill ready for school.
• Set up a sunscreen station in the bathroom at home so children can apply their sunscreen in front of the mirror and then wipe their hands
• Pop sunscreen in the cooler section of the lunchbox, it will then be cold when applying - especially nice on a hot, summer’s day
• Try a clip on sunscreen that can hang from your child’s bag and act as a visual reminder
• Remember role modelling – children learn best from what they see adults doing.
For further information on sunscreen and being SunSmart visit sunsmart.com.au.
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