Protecting kids from the sun at daycare

NBC
Published: August 27, 2008

Getting burned by the sun as a child can have lasting effects later on in life.

One Connecticut daycare is taking measures to keep the children safe when they are playing outside.

For children who attend Trinity College’s community child center in Hartford, sun protection starts at home.

“We go outside all the time. In the morning, we go out for at least an hour. We’re out for a long time in the afternoon too,” said Sarah Witkiewicz, a teacher at the center.

Parents are asked to bring children in the morning with sunscreen already applied.

Then it’s reapplied.

“In the afternoon, we apply sunscreen before outdoor play and we encourage parents to bring in hats and sunglasses, a hat that actually cover their ears,” Witkiewicz said.

A pediatric nurse practitioner also checks in on the children once a week.

“The skin has a memory and something as simple as a sunburn early in childhood really could increase a child’s risk for skin cancer later in life,” said Lori Yu, a pediatric nurse practitioner.

Sunglasses are another must have for children because sun exposure to the eyes can increase a person’s risk of developing cataracts.

“It’s important to establish good habits early on for children and their families,” Yu said.

Yu recommends an SPF of at least 30.

However, sunscreen should not be applied until a child is at least 6 months old.

After that point it’s critical to continually reapply.

“Sunscreen doesn’t last all day. Really, it should be reapplied every two hours and more frequently if the person is really perspiring a lot, such as playing sports or enjoy water sports,” Yu said.

Another way to stay safe is to stay in the shade.