Suncream & school children

[siblingrevelryagain]

I use all day suncream on my children so it's more a curiosity, but surely there is not much point in lining children up and having them apply suncream before going out to play; as we're regularly told, suncream is not protective until 10-15 mins after application, so children won't have protection when needed (except maybe at lunchtime play)?

Parents should put it on before school so any other applications are to top up the original application.

It all depends on the habits in the classroom. We had a fabulous Aussie TA who said it was no problem at all to apply - done during the session before play, not immediately ahead of going outside. I think the training there is different - they expect to do it, they learn the classroom management that means they can do it, and they are backed to the hilt by robust sun-safe policies.

Even a once a day suncream doesn't do all day

Skin does no burn instantly, it is from prolonged exposure, and the 10 minutes sun exposure can be good for children for vitamin d levels. Obviously if a child is extremely fair and burns within minutes this is not the case. There are increasing issues with vitamin d deficiency in the uk currently due to inadequate exposure to natural light.

I've always found ultra sun to be effective Eeeeek2; i don't think all once a day creams are equal (some are 6 or 8 hours protection, which might mean they don't cover at the end of a school day). Ultra sun is effectively a 24 hr protection as it needs to be washed off with soap, such is the nature of how it forms a barrier.

I have always had the whitest children around thanks to ultra sun (even in Italy in August), to the point where I now only put it on their face/neck etc on school days so their arms get some exposure for Vit D.