Talking to Your Child

TALKING TO YOUR CHILD ABOUT SUN SAFETY

RESPONSIBILITY AND SUN SAFETY

Drs. Don Dinkmeyer and Gary McKay, authors of Raising a Responsible Child, state that responsibility is a gift you give your children.Responsibility is also a key step in communicating with your child.By giving your child responsibility, you are showing that you trust andvalue his or her judgments and are creating or strengthening the bondbetween family members. One way to teach responsibility is to helpyour child take part in his or her own health care. Teaching your childhow to protect his or her skin from the sun can bring rewards now –by preventing painful childhood sunburns, and in the future –by reducing the risk of skin cancer.

• EMPOWER!

Find tasks that your child can do without assistance. When shopping for sunscreen, have your child go with you and help you to pick out a brand. There are many fun sunscreens for kids on the market today. Remind your child to look for water-resistant, broad spectrum (both UVA and UVB protective) and SPF 15 or greater!

• ASK!

Asking your child to help with a task increases the chance that he or she will respond in a positive way. Demands rarely produce enthusiasm and can end up making your child feel “bossed around” and resentful. To give your child ownership over his or her actions and make him or her feel more responsible, ask for help with a particular project or task. For example, when getting ready to go on a family summer outing, encourage your child to be in charge of gathering the items you’ll need to stay safe in the sun.

• PRAISE!

Allow extra time to give encouragement and praise. Be patient. Teaching children new skills takes time and learning works best when the pace is relaxed and no one feels pressured. Taking a few extra minutes at home to put on sunscreen may be easier than waiting until you reach the park, playground, or swimming pool, when outside distractions may compete for your child’s attention.

• RESPOND!

Use natural and logical consequences. When your child chooses not to do something, your first response may be to nag until he or she does it. Nagging may result in prompt actions, but it seldom inspires children to repeat good behavior. Instead of nagging, make your child aware of the consequences of his or her choice. For example, choosing not to wear sunscreen and a hat might mean staying in the shade while teammates play baseball. Still, this approach does not mean that your child should “learn the hard way” by getting a painful sunburn!