Now that my kids are out of school I’m trying to adjust their routine for summer. I like to get them outside and playing at least a couple hours a day. And that means building up a routine of using sunscreen.

My kids are lucky in some ways. I burn very easily. They take after Daddy and get tans instead. But I know all too well that that doesn’t mean they don’t need sunscreen. They do.

Getting the kids into the habit of using sunscreen is pretty easy in my experience. Be consistent for a few days to a week, then they start insisting upon it.

They generally like to play outside in the late morning, which of course is when the sun is getting pretty strong, then go inside for a few hours, going back outside later in the afternoon, by which time the sun’s rays aren’t quite so powerful. I like that routine. It means that not all of their outdoor playtime is when the risk from the sun is highest.

Our sunscreen is 50 SPF. I never buy anything less than 30 SPF because I burn so easily. But of course you can use your preferred level for your family.

I know we ought to wear hats more often too, but really we don’t. Ariel likes to take her parasol outside, which serves much the same function those rare times it remains above her head.

Does your family do much to protect their skin from the sun?

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