Hopefully we are now enjoying warmer days that raise the practical issue of taking care of children outdoors in the summertime. Sunshine is not in itself dangerous and enough sun is important for health. However, children are at risk, as are adults, from unprotected hours in strong sunlight. The two main types of skin cancer, malignant melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer, can both arise from excessive exposure to the sun.
The key advice about sun safety is not to get sunburned, because of the risk of damage to the DNA in skin cells. Children's skin is especially vulnerable to sun damage. Fair-skinned children will be the first to burn, but darker skin protects children to only a limited extent. Sun-safety advice is straightforward: enjoy the outdoors but take the following precautions.
Create attractive shaded areas
Use the natural shelter offered by bushes or trees, enhanced if necessary by draping a sheet or other material over the foliage. Offer large sun umbrellas or a tent, or use an existing outdoor playhouse. Babies under 12 months need to enjoy the garden but should be kept out of direct sunlight.
Put a comfortable rug or flat quilt under a sheltered area.
You may need to encourage the livelier children to sit down for a while in hotter weather and during some of the middle part of a hot day, from about 11am to 3pm. Ensure there are interesting play resources in the shade, such as a book corner under a sheltering tree and painting easels out of direct sun.
Make drinking water easily available
Children should have access to drinking water all year round. In hot weather they will easily overheat and dehydrate. Have plenty of cool, not icy, water, along with cups and some fancy straws, if that encourages children to drink.
Suitable clothing
Ensure that everyone (and that means adults too) wears a sun hat. The best sun protection for heads is the legionnaire-type hat - a good size peak to shade the face and eyes and a back flap to protect the neck. Explain to parents that children will all need such a hat.
Ensure that children wear lightweight clothing, but with at least cap sleeves. If children are in swimming costumes for the paddling pool, or any fun with water, they should wear a T-shirt that can get wet.
Apply sun protection cream
Ask that all families send in sun protection cream. This is a normal toiletry product and not a kind of medication. Children need at least Sun Protection Factor 25. Adults should use cream of at least SPF 15.
Ideally, apply sunscreen at least 15 minutes before going outside, because the protection is not immediate. Sunscreen should be used generously and you will have to apply the cream to young children who are with you for more than a short session. By all means, involve them in this process as part of their growing skills of self- reliance. But you cannot delegate this responsibility entirely to the children. Some schools and nurseries have decided they cannot apply sun cream for reasons of child protection.
There is indeed a child protection issue here, but it is one of potential neglect: a failure in the duty of care. Of course, application of lotion should be undertaken with explanation, respect and gentleness - like all good practice in physical care.
We need enough sunshine
Over-anxiety about sunshine risks creating nutritional problems for children and adults. Health authorities in Australia have run an effective public education campaign on being sun safe. However, health officials are now concerned that total sun avoidance by some families has created the risk of vitamin D deficiency (see Parent's Guide, right).
Responsible adults will keep children safe in the sun, but a balanced approach is needed. In terms of the outcomes which now guide Ofsted inspection, you will enable children to be healthy, to be protected from harm and to enjoy themselves.
Useful resources
* Jennie Lindon, Child Protection, Hodder & Stoughton, 2003
* Learning Through Landscapes offers experience of improving school and nursery grounds, including ideas about shelter www.ltl.org.uk
* You will find good advice about sun protection and children's need for vitamin D on www. sunsmart.org.uk and www.mariecurie.org.uk
