A6

Charline Cormier-Pellerin

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When the temperatures finally find themselves rising above the standard subzero weather that we live with during the winter months, and closer to 30 degrees Celsius, it certainly puts smiles on our faces. Gone are winter coats, boots and all other essential snow gear, as they are replaced by lighter spring and summer fashions. Of course, with every season comes both the good and the bad. Along with June bugs and mosquitoes, another one of summer's downsides is definitely sunscreen.

There is no denying the importance of sunscreen. And as much as smothering it all over your body might be a nuisance for some adults, trying to get it onto uncooperative children is a whole different story and definitely a challenge, especially if one (or more) of them happen to be ticklish.

Most of my brood is indeed ticklish and attempting to apply that protective cream to their delicate skin is about as much fun as walking on thumb tacks. I usually start with their legs. For whatever reason that region is the least likely to cause them to jump off their chairs. The arms are also pretty safe, that is until I reach their armpits.

Necks cause my kids to squirm and instinctively raise their hands in protest. I've seen it take up to 20 minutes to get this area effectively covered, amidst giggling and screams, with my begging the whole time to "please stay still", "please look up" or saying "it will only take one more minute" and "please let me finish". After enough of this, I'm just about ready to let them go as is and hope for the best. But of course, with the UV soaring as high as it does, I bravely carry on. A small solution for protecting the necks of little squirmy kids is one that I have adopted from various friends of mine. Rubbing sunscreen on both palms and fingers, I run both hands across the neck from the ears forward to the chin. Most of the time, this is pretty effective in getting the entire area in one clean sweep. Of course, one must not forget the back of their necks and ears; and if they are wearing bathing suits, the rest of their bodies.

Next, its time to work on their faces and it's their eyes that always concern me as their fidgeting increases. Luckily, so far I have managed without incident.

With all the ways that today's parents have it easier than parents of yesterday (for example: disposable diapers), sunscreen is one area where the opposite holds true. When we were young, our parents simply sent us out to play in the sunshine for hours without worrying about its repercussions. Today, nobody leaves the house without first being coated with an abundance of UV protection. Having said this, in order to get to wherever you have to be on time this summer, don't forget to give yourself a little extra time for applying sunscreen to the children. You're going to need it.

* Charline Cormier-Pellerin, Moncton resident and mother of four children, writes a regular column on parenting and its many adventures for This Week.