5 tips to keep your children safe in the sunshine this summer

1. Let your kids choose their own hat and sunglasses Just like gloves in the winter time during the summer it’s the hats and sunglasses which end up on the floor or left behind the pushchair. Let your little one choose their hat and glasses, this way they’re much more likely to keep them on. 2. Make a game out of applying sun cream Squeeze lotion on in shapes or pictures like a sun or star fish before rubbing it in. Put sun cream on half an hour before you’ll be exposed to the sunshine too and every couple of hours afterwards; more if it’s not waterproof. 3. Don’t forget hands and feet It’s easy to think you got everywhere but be sure not to miss ears and under clothing straps. This is especially important if the kids are going to be running around. A layer of protective lip balm will keep their lips safe from the drying effects of the sun too and avoid them becoming painful later. 4. Set an example Ask you children to help apply your sun cream and put on your hat and sunglasses - children love to feel grown up and copy what we do. 5. Take a break The sun is at its hottest between 11am and 3pm so try and get your little ones in the shade at this time of day. Make a den if there are no handy trees or umbrellas by grabbing a couple of towels, putting two loungers back to back spaced apart and draping the towels across the gaps at the top and back – sounds fun already! A towel on the sand will help take the heat down too. Top Tip: *Whether you’re going away or staying home this summer it's worth remembering that the first few days of any prolonged sun exposure is when your skin is most vulnerable to the sun's harmful rays so keep hydrated and watch out for signs of heat exhaustion*.

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