Sun Safety for Kids in Australia: Simple Tips for a Sun-Smart Summer ☀️

Summer in Australia means longer days, beach adventures, swimming, playgrounds and plenty of time outdoors with our little ones.

But as we get ready for warmer weather, it’s also a great time to refresh our sun safety habits as a family.

Australia’s National Quality Standard (NQS) includes children’s health and safety under Quality Area 2. Guidance published by the Australian Children’s Education & Care Quality Authority (ACECQA), featuring recommendations from Cancer Council, encourages early childhood services, educators, parents and carers to think about how sun protection becomes part of children’s everyday routines.

And there’s an important lesson for all of us: sun safety isn’t only for hot, sunny days.

☀️ Why is sun protection so important for children?

We often associate UV exposure with a very hot summer day, but UV radiation can’t be seen or felt, and UV levels aren’t determined by temperature. That means UV can still be high on a cool or cloudy day.

According to Cancer Council guidance published by ACECQA, infants and young children are particularly vulnerable to UV damage because of their sensitive skin, and protecting children from excessive UV exposure early in life is important for reducing future skin cancer risk.

So what can we do?

Here are some practical sun safety habits families can incorporate into everyday life.

👕 1. Cover up with protective clothing

Choose clothing that covers as much skin as practical while keeping children comfortable.

For swimming and beach days, think about combining swimwear with additional sun-protective clothing, particularly for areas of the body that will be exposed for long periods.

At Tolu Australia, our kids’ swim boardshorts offer UV protection and are designed for active days around the pool and beach.

Remember, boardshorts only protect the areas they actually cover, so they should be used alongside other forms of sun protection.

👒 2. Make the hat part of the routine

A broad-brimmed, bucket or legionnaire-style hat can help protect a child’s face, ears and neck.

Little ones don't always love wearing hats at first! The key is consistency.

Just like putting on shoes before leaving home, try making the hat an automatic part of getting ready to go outside.

Hat on = ready for outdoor play!

🌳 3. Look for shade

Whenever possible, encourage children to play in the shade.

Trees, covered playgrounds, umbrellas and other shaded areas can help reduce direct UV exposure.

But remember that shade alone isn't enough. UV can be reflected from surfaces such as sand and concrete, so shade should be combined with clothing, hats, sunscreen and other appropriate protection.

🧴 4. Sunscreen before heading outside

Cancer Council recommends applying SPF50 or SPF50+ broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen to exposed skin around 20 minutes before going outside.

Reapply it every two hours, or more frequently after swimming, sweating or towel drying.

Make sunscreen part of the family routine. As children get older, you can start involving them in applying their sunscreen, with adult supervision.

Try a pump pack or roll-on sunscreen, as these are usually easier for children to use. Have a mirror available so they can see what they’re doing.

Encourage children to apply a small dot of sunscreen to their cheeks, nose and chin, avoiding the eye area, and then gently rub it in.

Always check the sunscreen’s expiry date before use and store it in a cool place below 30°C to help maintain its effectiveness.

👶 5. Take extra care with babies

Babies need particular care in the Australian sun.

For infants, regularly check their clothing, hat and shade to make sure they're adequately protected and avoid direct sun exposure.

Current guidance recommends minimising sunscreen use on babies aged six months or younger, with physical protection such as shade and appropriate clothing being particularly important.

If you are unsure about sunscreen use for your baby, seek advice from an appropriate healthcare professional.

😎 6. Don't forget their eyes

Sun safety isn't just about skin.

When practical, children can wear close-fitting, wrap-around sunglasses that protect as much of the eye area as possible.

Look for sunglasses labelled as meeting AS/NZS 1067, in categories 2, 3 or 4.

And yes — convincing a toddler to keep their sunglasses on might be the hardest part! 😎

 

📱 7. Check the UV — not just the weather

One of the most useful habits parents can develop is checking the UV Index, rather than relying on how hot or sunny it feels outside.

Sun protection is recommended when the UV Index reaches 3 or above.

Families can check daily UV levels and recommended sun protection times through the SunSmart Global UV app and SunSmart resources.

So before heading to the beach or playground, don't just ask:

“How hot is it today?”

Also ask:

“What's the UV today?”

💧 8. Keep little ones hydrated

Sun safety is also a good reminder to prepare properly for hot days outdoors.

Pack plenty of drinking water and offer it regularly, particularly when children are active.

Our Tolu Australia insulated kids’ water bottles are designed for little adventures — keeping drinks cold for longer, fitting most pram cup holders and making it easy to have water ready when you're out and about.

🏖️ 9. Make the after-swim routine easy

After swimming, getting children dry and comfortable quickly can make beach and pool days much easier.

Our kids’ hooded beach towel ponchos make it easy to wrap little ones up after the water while giving them freedom to move, play and get changed.

They're an easy addition to the family beach bag alongside swimwear, sunscreen, hats, sunglasses and water.

❤️ 10. Be their sun-safety role model

Perhaps one of the simplest tips is also one of the most powerful.

Children learn by watching us.

When they see Mum, Dad, grandparents, carers and educators putting on hats, applying sunscreen, looking for shade and checking the UV, those behaviours gradually become normal.

Instead of sun protection being something children are constantly told to do, it becomes simply what the family does before going outside.

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☀️ Join Our Sun Safety & Summer Sensory Play Workshop

Want to turn these sun-safety lessons into something fun for your little one?

Tolu Australia is collaborating with Holdsworth Community Playgroup for a special Sun Safety & Summer Sensory Play morning.

We'll combine summer-themed sensory play with practical sun-safety information for families, helping children become familiar with healthy summer habits through play.

Tolu Australia will also have some of our summer essentials available to purchase, including: Kids’ boardshorts with UV protection, Kids’ hooded beach towel ponchos, and Insulated kids’ water bottles to help keep little ones hydrated

And we'll have a special raffle with a Tolu prize for one lucky winner! 🎁

📅 Thursday, 29 October 2026
⏰ 9:00am–12:00pm
📍 Holdsworth Community Centre
64 Holdsworth St, Woollahra NSW 2025
🎟️ $12 per family

Come along, meet other local families and help your little ones learn about summer and sun safety through play.

Because the best summer adventures are fun, colourful — and sun smart. ☀️🌊

Sources & further information

The sun-safety recommendations in this article are based on guidance from Cancer Council Australia and ACECQA, including ACECQA's information about Quality Area 2 – Children's Health and Safety under Australia's National Quality Standard.

Parents and carers can find further information through ACECQA and Cancer Council's SunSmart resources.