Nursery World - Positive Relationships - A parent's guide to ... sun safety

Remember how important it is to protect children in the sun with tips from Annette Rawstrone.

Q: I hear we're set for a hot summer, how do I best protect my child?

Children are particularly susceptible to harmful sun rays because their skin is thinner - a baby's is around a fifth the thickness of an adult's skin. A child's skin can burn in as little as ten minutes. Just six episodes of serious sunburn before the age of 18 can double the risk of a child developing skin cancer in later life.

A catchy mantra to follow and teach your child is 'Slip, slop, slap!' - slip on a T-shirt, slop on sun cream and slap on a hat. They will also follow your lead, so be a good role model by regularly applying sun cream and limiting your time in the sun.

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