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Primary education

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Original poster

children sent to school with no sun protection

107 replies

melissa75 · 30/06/2009 18:15

I have been absolutely AMAZED by how many parents have sent their child to school yesterday and today with no suncream, hat, sunglasses etc...I had 5 in my class today with none of the above. It is a parents responsibility to protect their child's skin from the sun, it's pretty basic. Everyone knows about the causes of skin cancer, and about the issues with the ozone layer, or lack there of.

One of my kids came in today at the end of lunch with obvious sunburn on the back of his neck. It only takes one bad sunburn to put you at such a hugely increased risk for skin cancer...I know, I have had it.

I am thinking of not allowing my pupils out tomorrow at play if they do not have sun cream or a hat to protect them...The sad part is that 95% of children are well protected...but it is that 5% that always show up without...interestingly enough, they are also the ones who have to be chased for forms being signed and returned etc etc..
So, if you are one of the parents who have not sent their child in with suncream or a hat, please do so...it is so so so important.

OP posts:
throckenholt · 02/07/2009 12:43

melissa, you obviously have personal experience. However, I think most children don't get sunburnt on school days at school - they are not out for long enough normally.

They should be encouraged to wear cream if they are doing sports for an hour outside, or on a sportsday - but for every day play time I don't think it is a big issue.

They are far far more likely to get burnt at home or on holiday than they are at school - because that is when they have the chance to spend periods of time in the sun.

I think the important thing is to educate (both at home and at school) people to understand the risks. To know that burning is a problem shortterm, and possibly long term. To know when the sun is fiercest - eg middle of the day. To know the ozone hole is reducing our protection from harmful rays most in the late spring. To know that you can still get burnt on a hazy day (learnt that one to my cost on a field trip once !).

Teach them to know the risks and to keep our of the sun in the middle of the day. Although presumably we have always been bad at this "mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun" is a very old song !

throckenholt · 02/07/2009 12:45

rather than worry about hats - is there an option for making more shady areas outside around the school where the children can go.

This is probably harder in bigger schools when you are dealing with larger numbers of children.

Astrophe · 02/07/2009 12:52

Where we are (Australia), schools have a 'no hat, no play' policy, so they need to sit inside or under a shade cloth or gazebo if they have no hat. Most kids have hats they leave at school.

At my DDs Kindy, each child has a hat which we are only allowed to take home at end of term for washing - that way all children have a hat, and nobody has any reason to miss out on playing outside.

Parents need to apply suncream themselves, but there is a bog bottle next to the sign in sheet, so if we forget at home, we can do it when we arrive.

Astrophe · 02/07/2009 12:56

(sorry sunnydelight, just read your post and I see I am repeating you! )

Re kids sharing hats and getting lice - at DD's Kindy they each have their name writen in large letters on the front of the hat...not very fashionable, but 4 and 5 year olds don't seem bothered!

In any case, I'd rather my kids get lice than cancer.

singersgirl · 02/07/2009 14:09

Neither sarcastic nor rude, really, I was just observing that you seemed to be someone who was very risk-averse and therefore would take all steps possible to minimise any perceived health risk, for example, not eating meat, not drinking alcohol and not letting your children go in a car. I do all of those things, as I'm less risk-averse, and sometimes put suncream on my children when it's very hot.

I also think most children don't get sunburnt at school as they're not out for long enough. Mine never have.

lljkk · 02/07/2009 14:31

I am trying to disagree with the tone of some of what you said, Melissa, in a friendly way.
You keep mentioning health as a "top priority" as though it's the very very very top; obviously parenting is a juggling act, and that means that often some of the balls get dropped hopefully only briefly.

I forgot to give DS2 his sunhat today (lljkk slaps self on wrist and writes 100x on blackboard "I must do better".)

But rare success!! today I caught DS1 in a good mood and got cream on him .

SolidGoldBrass · 02/07/2009 14:39

The thing is WRT 'health' is there is a lot of conflicting advice about all aspects of it. Which means that the most sensible way of parenting is to laugh at whiny health-and-safety-obsessed twats and do what you think is a reasonable job, which is what most people do. And most of their kids don;t die. People who screech and wail and go on and on about the latest Rules and Precautions are doing more damage in the long run, anyway, as they are counter-evolutionary, for one thing (its better that wusses die out).

singersgirl · 02/07/2009 14:44

I agree with lljkk and throckenholt. Nobody wants children to get burned, but sometimes, things get forgotten - DS1 went to school without suncream on Tuesday as he left early for a concert and, though we remembered his lunch, instrument, music, school bag and water, we both forgot the suncream. He was fine and not a bit pink.

We all take risks every day and we try to balance them as best we can. People may prioritise risks differently.

LynetteScavo · 02/07/2009 14:46

By singersgirl on Thu 02-Jul-09 14:44:21

"We all take risks every day and we try to balance them as best we can. People may prioritise risks differently."

Well said!

Original poster
melissa75 · 02/07/2009 14:58

"I think the important thing is to educate (both at home and at school) people to understand the risks"
This is what I have been trying to do!! although it is a bit like beating my head against a brick wall!

singersgirl, I ironically am not as risk adverse as you may think! I think, if we were to take every little precaution of what we are told not to eat or drink or do, then we would lead very sad and sheltered lives, because there is always contradictions...one day someone tells you not to eat red meat because of its increased cancer risk, and the next, they say not eating red meat can have alternative health effects...so you, as an adult, have to judge for yourself (and your children) what is best for you and them...all I am saying is, if you are going to send your child into the sun...protect them, just as you would put their seatbelt on them when they go in the car.

SGB...I do not even know what to say to your post....besides "most of their kids don't die"...what about the ones who do?

OP posts:
hobbgoblin · 02/07/2009 14:59

So, on the suncream issue it seems you like you are more risk averse than the next person. Fine.

Can I question the blinkered thinking behind you not realising why others may be as risk averse as you but still fail to take appropriate action.

I am still rather stunned about your 'get up earlier' comment. You are just not thinking about a life different than your own!

I have to work with school staff like this every day and it drives me quite insane how they cannot think beyond their comparitively perfect life set ups.

Original poster
melissa75 · 02/07/2009 15:08

how is it you think, hobbgoblin, that I am not thinking about a life different from my own? I know people who work shifts overnight, get home at 6am, and still manage to get their kids out the door in the morning, because they have prepared everything the day before. You do what works for you...if you need to prep everything the night before, then do it, if you would rather get up and do it in the morning, then do it. I just do not see how not being able to get breakfast sorted is an excuse to not get everything else that needs doing in the morning? I have to get three children up, dressed, fed etc etc in the morning and get myself and them to school...sometimes I do not feel like doing it, especially since I am pregnant, and WAY too hot at the moment, but it is my responsibility as their parent...it sure as heck is not a "perfect life set" but you do what you have to do.

OP posts:
Original poster
melissa75 · 02/07/2009 15:11

Am I more risk averse than the next person because I think it is impertive to protect a child from the long term risks that sun exposure can cause?

OP posts:
hobbgoblin · 02/07/2009 15:43

God you have no idea do you? Do you want me to give you clues? You further illustrate your ignorance every time you post.

Here is the first clue to thinking outside your bubble:

This isn't about organisation and how many hours before you make the sandwiches!

POTC · 02/07/2009 15:58

You really have no idea melissa75. I hope to god my sons do not get a teacher like you.

I'm with hobbgoblin on this one, instead of judging and applying your own perfect life theories to the families in your class, open your eyes and see that not everyone has it that easy.

Original poster
melissa75 · 02/07/2009 16:56

wow...holy rudeness

perhaps you should actually read what I have written, because I am sick and tired of having to explain it in so many different ways

OP posts:
DidEinsteinsMum · 02/07/2009 17:00

Find me a sun screen garanteed peanut oil and lanaline free and i will use it. until then its inside for ds.

Original poster
melissa75 · 02/07/2009 17:03

"I hope to god my sons do not get a teacher like you"

whys that? Because I want to protect children from sun exposure?

hobbgoblin...why don't you enlighten all of us with your "clues" and my "ignorance"? And please do it with exact quotes of what I have said...because you know absolutely nothing about me or my life, so I find it ironic that you are accusing me of being ignorant and judgemental, when I have done nothing of the sort, however you are judging ME and being extremely insulting whilst you're at it

OP posts:
hobbgoblin · 02/07/2009 20:46

It's really frustrating explaining to the ignorant. Will do later though.

At the moment I am just squealing at your posts in frustration.

As a teacher you NEED to have better empathy and broader horizons, it is so saddening, really it is .

This isn't particularlty personal OP but you represent a mindset I deplore unfortunately.

SolidGoldBrass · 02/07/2009 21:03

Melissa: Basically, sunburn is not that big a deal. There's a risk of skin cancer, but far more of a percantage risk that your kids will get run over and killed. So people who are not obsessive panicky twats will put on some sunscreen if they remember, (because taking a sane attitude towards sun protection means being aware that sunburn is not nice and better avoided, just that it isn't all that imortant) and if they skip it sometimes their DC will generally not spontaneously combust. But the more someone comes flapping up the road shitting and squealing at everyone else to Obey the latest RUle, the more most people shrug and take no notice. Because (and this is the important bit) most health and afety advice is bollocks anyway, with the Official View constantly contradicting itself.

Original poster
melissa75 · 02/07/2009 21:08

"It's really frustrating explaining to the ignorant"
Tell me about it!! I find this sentence to be VERY ironic!! lol

"At the moment I am just squealing at your posts in frustration."

yup...me too...I suspect for a different reason however

"As a teacher you NEED to have better empathy and broader horizons"

As I said...you know nothing about me...so it is really insulting to pretend that you do

SGB...I am not even going to bother responding to that post...I do not have the words, and I am way too hot and short of patience at the moment

OP posts:
juuule · 02/07/2009 21:10

I agree with SGB.

POTC · 02/07/2009 21:16

No, because I send them with sunscreen thanks very much, and have taught them how to apply it.

What really pisses me off is your attitude. If my son is at school within 15 minutes of the bell going we are doing well. And no, getting up early or getting things ready the night before would not help this. Thankfully we have kind, empathetic teachers rather than ones who judge and belittle families that are perhaps not quite as perfect as their own. You have no idea what is going on that you don't know about and would be better placed trying to help rather than bitching about them on here.

I too am rubbish at returning forms on time, always have been and always will. That has absolutely no bearing on my parenting skills and I resent the implication that it does.

hobbgoblin - will join you in the screaming but think I may give up on this now. Have a feeling that melissa may now have passed her brick wall feeling on .....

hobbgoblin · 02/07/2009 21:19

Are you affecting utter stupidity or is it genuine?

I am judging your comments not your life.

'Get up earlier' fgs!

Stop going on about being hot as an excuse for not having a decent defense for your judgemental and bereft of empathy or understanding approach will you?

GIvePeasAChance · 02/07/2009 21:20

ROFL - Well said SGB.

This is a hilarious thread. Irony of ironies on the ignorance front !