Collaborative Approach Helps Kids Practice Sun Safety

Kids spend a great deal of time in the sun, between walking to and from school, playing afterschool sports, or just hanging out by the pool or on the beach.

Since most kids and teens favor a tanned look, it can be difficult to convince them to practice good sun safety.

A new study finds that a collaborative approach between parents, coaches, teachers, and medical professionals may help kids be more careful in the sun.

These findings are critical to reducing the amount of skin cancer in this target group.

This study finds that creating an environment focused on sun protection was the best way to convince kids to wear sunscreen. It wasn't enough to just talk to the teens about skin cancer and the dangers of melanoma.

It was more effective to focus on appearance (such as premature wrinkling which results from sun damage) and on loss of freedom (such as having to stay inside for days after a bad sunburn).

The program, SunSafe, focused on using posters, contests, buttons, presentations, and Dermascan devices to promote their message. Dermascan devices allowed participants to see sun damage which is otherwise invisible to the human eye.

This study involved 1,927 students in 6th-8th grade. After two years, kids in the SunSafe program showed continued better sun protection behaviors compared to those who had not participated in the program.

If you are a parent who is concerned about sun safety, be sure to talk with your child's teachers, coaches, and medical professionals about creating a consistent message about sun safety. As a parent, it's very important to model good sun protective habits, yourself. Kids learn what they see.