Growing up in New Zealand means endless opportunities for outdoor adventure. It also means living under some of the highest UV levels in the world. That makes children especially vulnerable to long-term sun damage.
“If there’s one message for parents,” says Dr Lorna Clayton, “it’s that sunburn in younger people is really serious. A single blistering sunburn before age 20 may double or triple melanoma risk later in life.”
A child’s skin is thinner and still developing, which makes it more prone to DNA damage from UV radiation. Even mild redness means harm at a cellular level. Research shows that each episode of severe sunburn raises lifetime risk of skin cancer.
“We want to go all out to prevent that from happening,” says Dr Clayton. “Older patients often tell me, if only we’d known about sunscreen and sun safety when we were young. Now we do know, and the responsibility is on us to protect our children.”
By preschool age, children can help apply their own sunscreen with supervision. Make it a routine like brushing teeth.
“It’s about teaching the same skills you model,” says Dr Clayton. “If you keep going with it, they start to pick up those habits and make them their own.”
Try the " Dot Dot " game for small children. Apply dots of sunscreen (ideally with funny sound effects) all over the skin and let the child rub it in.
For older children pretending you are facepainting or applying silly makeup can engage the child with application. If you are brave, let them apply sunscreen to your own face or arms.
Choose SPF 50+ broad-spectrum formulas that feel light, dry quickly, and don’t sting eyes. Kids are more likely to use products that feel comfortable.
Quick tips:
Modern UPF 50+ fabrics make protection simple. Look for:
“My kids wear long-sleeve togs,” Dr Clayton shares. “They don’t like the feel of sand stuck to sunscreen, and clothing makes it easier for me to manage the risk.”
Caps don’t protect ears, cheeks or necks. Wide-brim or legionnaire-style hats offer real coverage.
“We see a lot of skin cancers on ears because of cap wearing,” she adds. “A brim all the way around makes a real difference.”
Convincing teenagers can be tricky. Instead of endless reminders, involve them in the why.
“They do have to buy into the message themselves,” says Dr Clayton. “If you keep modelling good, sensible behaviour, they’ll usually come around and they can be a positive influence for their peers”
Encourage them to use the SCAN method (Scan, Changing, Abnormal, New) to spot changes in their own skin and report anything unusual.
Parents sometimes worry that constant protection might lead to low vitamin D. The truth is that in NZ’s intense UV climate, most people get enough vitamin D through brief incidental exposure - walking to the car, hanging washing, or playing outside for a few minutes.
“Even with sunscreen, we make plenty of vitamin D,” says Dr Clayton. “You don’t need to burn to be healthy.” Children of all skin tones need sun protection to prevent skin cancer. Those with darker skin may need more sun exposure to make vitamin D, but this should be balanced with safe practices. Brief, regular exposure outside peak UV hours is usually enough - and supplements are available if needed. Talk to your health care provider if you are worried about low vitamin D levels in your child.
Sun protection is one of the simplest ways to safeguard a child’s long-term health. When families model and teach sun-safe habits together, they set their children up for a lifetime of healthier skin.
“That’s the best gift you can give your kids,” says Dr Clayton. “You have one skin for the rest of your life, so take care of it. It’s your best outfit.”
✔ Childhood sunburns cause lasting harm.
✔ Model good behaviour - kids learn from you.
✔ Use shade, hats, UPF 50+ clothing and SPF 50+ sunscreen daily.
✔ Make sunscreen accessible and easy.
✔ Engage teens with facts, not fear.
✔ Teach the SCAN method for awareness.
✔ Protect today to prevent problems tomorrow.
