With the kids now fully back in the swing of their school routine, and autumn setting in, protection from the sun can fall in priority in your daily routine. But, just because the summer holidays are over does not mean the sun has disappeared. In fact, things have been pretty warm this September and October.
Children still spend lots of time outdoors, from playing outside at school, PE lessons, school trips and the walk home from school. This applies to us adults too. Most of us are spending a little more time outdoors now the heatwave has ended.
So, as you are packing your child’s school bag, consider adding in some SPF to you and your child’s routine.
The school day doesn’t always happen indoors
It can be easy to think of sunscreen as something that’s only needed for beach days and summer holidays. But children can be exposed to the sun during all sorts of everyday activities. A morning walk or cycle to school, break times outside, PE lessons and after-school sports can all add up. Even rays of sunlight through windows can be enough to impact delicate young skin. Making sun protection part of your child’s routine can be a simple way to help protect exposed skin when they’re spending time outdoors.
What does the NHS recommend?
According to the NHS, From March to October in the UK, children should:
- spend time in the shade between 11am and 3pm
- wear at least SPF 30 sunscreen
- cover up with suitable clothing.
Areas not covered by clothing, should be protected with sunscreen, with particular attention paid to the face, ears, back of neck and back of hands.
“Protection from the sun shouldn’t stop after summer ends.”
Getting SPF application right
Applying suncream generously, especially before a day where you know your child will be spending a lot of time outside is really important. Our Delph Sun Lotion is available in SPF 30 and SPF 50+, providing UVA and UVB protection while also being very water resistant and containing vitamin E and aloe vera.
For children, we at Delph recommend taking extra care to make sure suncream is applied correctly, as children’s skin can be a lot more sensitive. And it is also important to be mindful of those easily missed areas; ears, neck, feet, scalp, depending on what your child is wearing, areas you might not have initially considered.
Michelle Baker, CEO at Melanoma Fund, reinforces this. “Going back to school in September shouldn’t mean sun protection gets packed away with the summer holidays. Children need to understand that we protect our skin according to the UV Index, not whether it feels hot or looks sunny. Our free Sunguarding® Schools lesson gives teachers a great opportunity to review children’s behaviour over the summer and teach them how to use the UV Index to make their own decisions about protection. That’s a life skill, not a seasonal message. Parents can reinforce this too. If we check the UV Index and model our behaviour around it, children learn a much smarter way to think about sun protection, responding to UV risk rather than the weather.”
Building your autumn sunscreen habit
It can be super easy to forget to apply suncream in the morning rush. Before school can be a mad time in any household, with packed lunches, breakfast and getting the school uniform on correctly all pushing sun protection further to the back of your mind.
For younger children, try building suncream application into their existing routine, maybe after breakfast and before they put their shoes on? Older children should be encouraged to understand why sun protection matters, even in the autumn, and apply it on their own, even if this takes a little persuading (we know the challenges when they think they know best!).
Frequently Asked Questions
Do children need sunscreen in September and October?
Yes. UV levels in the UK remain high enough into September and early autumn to cause sun damage, especially during outdoor activities like the school run, break times and PE. The NHS recommends sun protection from March to October.
What SPF should children wear for school?
At least SPF 30, applied to any skin not covered by clothing. Delph Sun Lotion is available in SPF 30 and SPF 50+ with UVA/UVB protection.
What areas of skin do people usually forget to apply sunscreen?
Ears, the back of the neck, hands, feet and the scalp are the most commonly missed spots, especially on children.
Can sunlight through a window still affect my child’s skin?
Yes. UVA rays can pass through glass, so sunlight through classroom, car or bus windows can still reach exposed skin.
Keep SPF in your routine this autumn
Sun protection isn’t just a summer holiday habit , it’s a year-round one. Add SPF back into your child’s morning routine this term, with Delph Sun Lotion, available in SPF 30 and SPF 50+. Shop now
TAGS: SUN CARE, SUN SAFETY, SUNCREAM, SKIN HEALTH , SPF
