So I happen to live in a country that fries your skin. Skin cancer is a major cause of death in OZ and the damage done to children's (and adults) skin every single day has impact on future life expectancy. Sure my kids have broad brims hats as part of their school uniforms and for the most part I think Lulu wears hers. Bear has a gorgeously expensive broad brim hat as part of his uniform ... It mainly lives squashed at the bottom of his school bag. Everyday the kids walk around and play in the sun and being unprotected from that sun is not a good thing.
I admit that I'm paranoid about "some things" - "some things" include being run into by a truck on the highway, and dogs biting me. These things I cant control (although not driving on the highway is sort of my way of keeping the trucks away from me).
My children dying from skin cancer... I reckon I can do my best to try and control that.
So this is the advice
1. Buy good quality Sun Block
I am speaking from experience... I use to buy cheap sunblock and wonder why it was so hard to get the kids to wear it. Then we went on hols with Aunty Cath (who always buys good quality nice smelling stuff - so we nicked her stuff)) and suddenly Bear wasn't ducking and weaving as I slapped on the 30+. Our brand of choice is Ella Bache cos it smells nice and completely rubs into the skin without leaving it greasy looking... and this little puppy cost me about $80... yes $80. But its lasts about 6 months and the kids wear it everyday. (I have 30+ in my makeup foundation so I only wear this on weekend).
2. Put the sunblock on the bathroom bench next to the toothbrushes. This is important because if you have the sunblock out of sight no one remembers to apply it.
This is a mind set change. My kids know that brushing teeth in the morning goes hand in hand with putting sun block on. I say "teeth and sun block" and keep reinforcing it (like trained monkeys) as it will become their habit (hopefully for a lifetime).
So there it is, buy the good stuff ( if you think $80 is a stupid waste of money ... think of their delicate skin its sooo worth it AND admit that you can find $80 if you don't buy that t shirt - they need sun protection more than a new shirt...wow I'm bossy hey) and make it part of their morning brushing routine This is an old bottle. The blue matched my bathroom decore alot better than the vile bile yellow. If you are listening Ella Bache bring out a better colour bottle (green green green) . Thanks .
