To think that if my seven year old has to apply his own sunscreen, there's not really much point in using it?

[DrSeuss]

In brief, DS loves Cubs and is so excited about the summer camp. I am a fairly crap mother so I am thrilled to be shot of him for a bit. However, since the blurb we ust got says that kids have to put on their own sunscreen as leaders are forbidden to do it, I suppose I should pray for rain so that ginger DS doesn't go day glo. Bizarrely the camp is to feature learning to light fires, which I'm fine with but would consider a bit riskier than having the CRB checked, perfectly sensible leader put cream on his arms and face in a public place!

Or you could use the time before then to teach him how to do it properly?

An average 7 year old should be perfectly capable of applying spray-on or roll-on suncream. My 5 year old could manage it.

Long sleeved t-shirt, big sunhat, train him up with the suncream? I'm with you on this, it's a biggy for me (and my milk bottle white children). DS1's school will not apply suncream, so I fully intend on pitching up at the start of every sunny lunchbreak with factor 50 in hand (he will only be 4 when he starts though, suspect by 7 he'll want nothing to do with this arrangement!).

It is policy in general.

It is about safeguarding and the fact that they wouldn't have time to do 8 cubs every day.

My kids have been doing their own since the age of 4 and tbh find that they use a LOT more than they should. As long as someone makes sure he actually does it I don't see it as a huge issue in general. Buy a 8hr one and he should be able to do it just need to do it in the morning but can top up anyway just to be sure. Piz buin is very good.

Of course a 7 year old can apply sun screen.

It's not that I have a problem with them not wanting to spend time on it, that bit I totally understand, it's the prohibition bit that has me shaking my head in wonder. Two intelligent adults are to be trusted with children overnight but musn't dab a bit of cream on? I firmly believe that there is NOT a pedophile round every corner and that you have to place some trust in some people at times.

Have they said it is a child protection issue rather than a can't be arsed issue? Also, teaching children that very few adults are allowed to touch them is not a bad thing. It may not be the issue that these adults cannot be trusted to touch your kids but that they want to teach them that adults in general don't have permission to touch them.

I know someone who was sexually abused in this very situation so may be biased.

I am a Scout leader (rather than a cub one) but I would have a word with the leaders. The children I am responsible for are a bit older, however when the risk is high I check that they are all wearing hats and shirts, drinking enough etc.
I have also been known to ask them all to bring their sunscreen with them and we have all put it on together so I know they have done it and can make sure it has been applied properly, so comments like Jimmy you need to do the back of your lag and Scarlet you have missed your nose. This is the method I would use with Cub age children. So it might be worth seeing if your leaders can provide this kind of supervison.

HTH

CMT

Could they not get the kids to help each other? That's what we used to do at summer camp in the states to get round the issue. Stood them in a line, squirted cream onto each arm and leg let them get on with it. Their buddy had to check that the back of the legs were done and that the face and neck was done.

It's a sad state of affairs but volunteers just wont let themselves get put in this position.

OP you could also put the sunscreen on yourself before he goes. It will 'wear off' a bit during the course of the day but should give at least some protection in case he forgets.

All good advice, thanks but my real beef is the mindset of many people today who think that every adult must be watched like a hawk unless they are a pervert. My husband won't pick up a child who falls over in the play ground, just in case. Of course children must be protected but there's protected and safeguarded to infinity.

DrS you are quite right BUT speaking as someone who has had several skin cancer scares in her teens just do the pragmatic thing by DS. It is a huge PITA but a few sunburns now will come back to bite him.

I'm a Guide Leader and it's a difficult situation because as with many of the safeguarding rules you're damned if you do and damned if you don't. Many of the rules we have in our unit I can see parents roll their eyes at but if we don't have them and it all went wrong it would be my fault, my responsibility and their child at risk.

I get past the sun screen issue at camp by saying no sleeveless/strappy tops at camp, all parents are asked to provide sun screen and we will remind/tell the girls to put it on, hats must be worn if it's that sunny and we make sure the girls do drink. Even though they often whinge about all of these rules I'd rather that than girls with sunburn or sun stroke.

Having said all that it mostly rains at my camps so it's more an issue of parents sending non-waterproof jackets!

Mary's, where do you think Ds got the lily white skin and the ginger mop?! I have faith in the leaders, I just think it's a load of over excited, Daily Mail reader bollocks!

It happens, though. Why not be moderately cautious about child abuse as well as moderately cautious about sunburn?

Just practise with him and
Make sure he knows what to do, also sensible cover up clothes.

Tbh I think it's sensible as trying to apply sun cream to dozens if kids would be very difficult and potentially put camp leaders at risk of allegations( I mean leaders in a camp not 'camp' leaders.

I am cm and it's a right bloody hoo ha getting parents to sign forms allowing me to apply sun cream, it's the world we live in.

Probably rain anyway if I were you I'd get him a waterproof.

If a 7 year old can't apply a bit of sunscreen to his / her own arms, face and neck theres something wrong imo.

The Scout Association rules in POR (our rule book) and in all training delivered to leaders about safeguarding, first aid and outdoor activities very, very clearly state that leaders cannot apply sun cream to Cubs.

Cub aged children can apply it (spread it) to each other and leaders can spray it on but leaders cannot spread it. Scout aged children and above must apply it to themselves.

Leaders are also advised to be clear that suncream, hats and drinks (etc) must be brought on hot days and to send children home if they don't have them for the sake of the children.

my 11yo is completely crap at applying it, even though he has a lot of practise here in so cal. He misses bits all over his face and ends up with weird looking burn. He gets the middle of his lower arm but will miss the backs of his arms by the hem of his tshirt. He gets some of the back of his neck. He goes to sleep away camp with school and I'm worried he is going to get a bad sunburn.

If it is a day thing, like junior lifeguards last year I put a thick sticky one on and it usually lasts most of the day.

the spray ones rarely do though.