School refuses to apply suntan lotion - what can I do

[Wills]

My dd1 is 5 years old. For reasons that I don't want to go into on this thread we have found out recently that our daughters are likely to be genetically predisposed to develop cancer. I am therefore naturally cautious about their world. I apply suntan lotion in the morning just before school, however recent consumer association tests have shown that regardless of what its says on the packet no suntan lotion currently on the market would protect my child adequately enough for the afternoon break. The school's policy is that I can send the lotion in and they will let her apply it. At only 5 I don't feel she is capable yet of doing it well enough and have asked that someone check she's covered. They've refused so I've asked them to ensure that she does not go out during afternoon break. I feel like I'm caught between the devil and the deep blue sea. Do I close my eyes to the possibility of cancer later in life (she's come home twice now with very very red arms) or do I simply insist that she sits break out which will upset her terribly. I'm a governor of the school but am looking for advice on whether a) I'm making too much of this or b)how to go about trying to change this attitude.

Just to state to anyone who feels that the whole UVA/Suntan lotion thing is over the top - it may well be. But.... the reason we now have to apply suntan lotion is that the ozone layer is not the same as it used to be when we were kids.
(I'll get off my high horse now)

It's raining here btw

Thanks Jan.

OK WWW - not sure I'd trust ds1 to do it properly though. He's very, very fair (strawberry blonde) and I'm really worried about him getting burned. He could easily miss a bit on his neck or the tops of his ears! Mind you, he's only 4.

How about the new PizBuin once-a-day cream. It's factor 30 and protects against UVA too (although only 3*) Readily available from Boots and BOGOF at the moment I think.

At ds's school they just had a sun awareness day where they were taught how to apply their sunblock. Wasn't a very good lesson though as ds came out of school and proceeded to show dh how he could do it himself - he put some in his palms then rubbed it all over his face, directly in his eyes which were extremely red and puffy for about 12 hours afterwards. He's in reception.
I don't know what the answer is because his teacher certainly doesn't have the time to apply it to 30+ children at every break - not if she can't manage to check that his shoes are on the right feet after PE (grr...)

I agree with www.

I would get your dd to apply it herself in the MORNING and then you can look over her and find out where she's missed, and point this out to her. Then you will be able to trust her more with the job in the afternoon.

Maybe do a star chart when she's got the hang of it for every time she misses nothing out?

I assume you would already get her to cover up with a big shirt/hat etc.? I'd imagine that there isn't a GREAT deal of her left exposed?

I think as well that although your concerns are totally understandable, there WILL be incidents where she forgets or gets burnt and you will need to brace yourself for this and not get too upset about it if possible. (God that sounds patronising! I hope YKWIM)

Cupcakes: I think it's great that the school had a session about applying sun-block but really it's up to us PARENTS to teach our kids these important things IME and getting annoyed that your cihld rubs sunblock in his eyes isn't really the TEACHER'S fault imo.

I agree with morningpaper, with a big hat (with brim) and long sleeves, there isn't that much left exposed, and they should be the easy bits. The wipes are good for littlies to use on their legs and faces especially. Sounds like practice might be the answer.

Ds is so paranoid about sun tan lotion getting in his eyes (he had a bad experience with P20, despite my care), that if he were to do it, it would go nowhere near his eyes - or the majority of his face!

I'm gradually building his tolerance up gain with the cream version of Ultrasun.

well actually I am annoyed that the teacher isn't paying enough attention to what the children she is teaching are doing. And yes we immediatly showed him the correct way to do it.

Apply a good coat of sunscreen in the morning, then light long sleeved long legged clothing and hat with wide brim.

I think we need to start adopting the clothing habits of hot countries - i.e long loose, light cover-up clothing, not skimpy spaghetti straps on everything and acres of flesh on view the minute the sun comes out.

This summer's kaftan look is spot on!

i agree its daft, but i dont see the point in kicking off at the school, they are just following instructions. probably lea guidelines or something.

its not just suncream btw - i got called into school to remove a splinter from ds1s leg - not a big problem but teachers werent allowed to touch it. they were very apologetic and also thought it was ridiculous

What about a solid stick block to rub across nose and cheeks? easier to avoid eyes.

ooops, sorry Wills, did not mean to imply that you were sending your DD to school in skimpy clothing - sorry!

This is a wonderfully interesting discussion.

WWW I agree that the concept of a teacher applying sun block to 30+ children is a difficult one but in defense of that 1) She has 3 helpers, 2) Trust me that in winter they walk around every child ensure buttons are done up, gloves are on etc. For me the issue here is that the teachers/schools attitude is that rain, snow are bad but sun is good and I feel that needs to change. Rather than sympathetically saying, "sorry policy ties our hands" I'm being regarded as a slight stupid neurotic mother (you know that feeling when you're in front of the doctor with a sick child etc).

I agree that I should do some more research. There are some brilliant sun clothes about nowadays, possibly I should look at what Aussie schools do. Anyone know any good sites to start with.

At the same time I'm going hunting for the once a day - thanks for the websites and tips.

my ds was taught to apply his own lotion by the nursery at 2years old. (He didnt do a bad job actually) but the key is to keep practicing with them at home so that they understand the importance of covering themselves properly. They are capable.

Well as a teacher taking kids on trips, we've lined kids up and dolloped suncream into their hands, but that was secondary kids.

Could you send your dd in with suncream wipes Wills? We discovered these this summer and really liked them.

Having read through the whole thread, I wouldn't rely on the school at all, tbh. If you applied once a day stuff to her before school, dressed her in long sleeves, long skirt/long socks or trousers and sunhat and trained her to use wipes on her hands, face, ears and neck (only bits that would be uncovered if I've worked that out correctly) before each playtime, I reckon she would be more than safe .

a good quiality t-shirt has an spf of 15 IIRC. sunnies wipes will work well. my dd's react to sunscream, so we generally cover up. they have caps. dd's skin is falred atm so cant applyu sunscreen. grrr. when skin is c;ear we user proderm moose.

i think the once a day cream could work well for you wills.

i dont think yo ushould be stressed at the school. they are not allowed to let anyone touch the kids coz of fear of being sued re paedophilia etc.
put your child in a long sleeved cotton top. if the school has a problem with it, then get a written statement from the doctor saying it is for her protection.
i grew up in saudi arabia. we didnt use suncream, but wouldnt dream of going out in the sun without being covered up as much as possible. let alone being out and about in a strappy sundress.

btw my kids hjave been applying all manner of creams since the age of 2 as well. i help them with their faces, but they do arms and legs.

nurseries have different insurance stuff as they change nappies, and you cant get much more personal than that! so they can apply cream. also, a nurserry teacher hugging and cooing to a little one is perfectly ok, but would that be ok for a secondary teacher? no way.

A lot of this comes back to the old old problem of kids being sent to school too early and being expected to do things they can't do competently for another couple of years.

Love the idea of teachers coo-ing happily at Kevin the Teenager!

You can buy long-sleeved sun protection tops quite cheaply now in Woolies etc. I'd send her in with one of those in her bag, making it clear to her and the school that she MUST change into it for playtime, backed up by Dr.s note.