Should parents model behaviour better than they do?

[ZolaBudd]

So I’m at the beach, lots of kids in son vests or suits. Parents not.

I understand that young skin might be more susceptible but should it be one rule for them one rule for us.?

Also those families you see out for a bike ride all the kids and bike helmets, but the parents not.

As my lovely neighbour used to say ‘let the people be’. You do you. At least they are keeping their dc safe, even if taking risks themselves.

Yes, but not just for personal safety. Behaviour towards and around other people, so children know they're not automatically more important than everyone else.

Well quite obviously I’m not going up to give them advice on sun protection. It’s just an interesting thing I’ve noticed.

I don’t think it’s unhealthy for children to learn that getting to make more choices about what you do is a privilege of adulthood, even if those choices aren’t always wise ones.

Kids have fairer and more sensitive skin than adults, and they tend to hate sun cream. They're also more likely to fall off bikes.

Children’s skin is more vulnerable than adults, plus if they’re anything like mine they whinge so much it’s easier to use a UV top and shorts so less skin requires suncream. Where as I don’t mind suncream, so I’ll happily apply it rather than wearing a UV top.

Regarding helmets, most people don’t actually bother to get them fitted, so unlikely to actually do anything if you fall off a bike. My son only wears one if we cycle on the road, we don’t use one for general park cycling etc.