July is UV Safety Month and – in our opinion – there’s no better way to celebrate than by learning about the best kind of sun protection for our families.

After all, according to the Centers for Disease Control, just a handful of serious sunburns in childhood can increase the risk of skin cancer down the road. It’s critical to teach our children proper sun protection and that it goes hand-in-hand with fun days at the pool, beach, park or splash pad – ensuring a golden experience each time.

So, what is the best kind of sun protection? It really depends. There are many options out there, as well as ways to reduce your risk of exposure and sun burn. We are sharing a few of our favorite methods in this blog; feel free to drop your ideas and favorites in the comments. We’d love to hear from you!

Sunblock and Sunscreen

Everyone knows about sunblock and sunscreen, and the type you use depends on your family’s needs. Sunscreen or sunblock with an SPF of 15 or higher should be used whenever you go outside, and it should be applied at least 30 minutes before heading out. You should also take it with you to reapply (especially to vulnerable places like ears, tops of feet and noses). This is super important if you are sweating or swimming.

Sunscreen sticks can be great for young kids, especially the face and neck area.

Be Selective on Sun Time

If you can, avoid going out in direct sun midday, when UV rays are stronger. Seek shade or stay indoors until later in the afternoon, if you can. Use this time to catch up on summer reading or take a much-needed sanity break and have a “movie afternoon.” Everyone needs down time in the summer, right? That’s something to celebrate!

Rash Guards, Sunglasses and Hats

Another great way to avoid sunburn is to insist on rash guards and hats for everyone in your family. These shirts provide UV protection, and hats are a great way to keep the sun out of your eyes and face. There are even waterproof hats you can choose, so you don’t have to slow down in the pool or at the beach.

Don’t forget your eyes! Sunglasses can be a great way to protect your eyes from UV rays. They even make sunglasses for babies, so grab a few pairs and everyone will be cool and styling!

Family Swim

If you want to have fun in the water without the sun, our Family Swim is a great way to avoid all of the harmful UV rays while getting in some much-needed pool time. One of the best things about it? No chasing your kids down to reapply sunscreen or wrangling with a wiggly toddler to put on (or take off) a rash guard). Mom win! Check your closest Goldfish Swim School location for times!

Bonus: The more you practice swimming, the more you’ll get extraordinary results!

Goldfish Swim School

At Goldfish Swim School, we take water safety seriously. Our instructors use integrity, compassion and trust to teach babies as young as 4 months old to learn to swim. We’d love to meet you and your little swimmers, so find the location nearest you and check out our WOW! customer service today.