A recent survey suggests that many parents are already doing a strong job helping protect their children’s skin. Still, there’s always room to improve sun safety habits. When kids spend time outdoors, parents manage plenty of concerns — scraped knees, bug bites, allergies, and more. Sun protection can sometimes feel like just another item on the list, but it plays an important role in long-term skin health.
By building simple, consistent routines, parents can help children safely enjoy outdoor time while developing lifelong sun-safe habits.
Sunscreen as a Key Sun Protection Strategy
In the survey referenced above, 92% of parents recognized sunscreen as important for reducing sunburns, and about 90% believed it helps reduce the risk of skin cancer.
Research supports the value of sunscreen as part of an overall protection strategy. One study found that regular use of SPF 15 or higher may lower the risk of melanoma by up to 50%
Nearly half of surveyed parents said they use sunscreen rated SPF 45 or higher for their children, and almost one-third believed SPF 30 should be the minimum.
Keeping Kids Covered
Along with sunscreen, many families use clothing as an additional layer of protection:
- About two-thirds of parents reported dressing their children in long sleeves.
- Over 71% said their kids wear hats outdoors.
Clothing is consistently shown to be one of the most effective forms of sun protection.
Dark or bright colours and tightly woven fabrics help block UV rays. Long sleeves, long pants, wide-brimmed hats, and UV-protective sunglasses offer added coverage. If a wide-brimmed hat isn’t tolerated, a baseball cap can still help – just remember it doesn’t protect ears or the back of the neck.
Never Let Your Guard Down
Despite many positive habits, the survey found a concerning gap: many parents only reapply sunscreen in obvious sunny conditions.
Only:
- 25% would think to reapply sunscreen on a cloudy day
- 20% would reapply if their children were in the shade
This reflects a common misconception. When deciding whether to use sunscreen, parents mainly considered:
- Time spent outside
- Clothing
- Skin tone
- Weather
- Proximity to water
While these factors matter, the guidance from qualified skin-care professionals is clearer:
children need sun protection every day, regardless of skin tone, weather, or activity. UV rays are present even when it’s cloudy, cool, or lightly raining.
Cloud cover blocks some UVB rays but does not block most UVA, which makes up about 95% of the UV radiation reaching the ground. Shade also doesn’t eliminate exposure – water, sand, pavement, grass, and glass all reflect UV rays.
The Takeaway
Parents today are more aware and proactive about sun protection than ever, but small changes can still make a big difference. Helping children build simple, everyday habits (like sunscreen, hats, sunglasses, and protective clothing) provides valuable protection now and in the years ahead.
