Back to School safety tips from Coppertone Kids

The kids are back in school, and it's nice to know that they are busy and happy and in the care of teachers I know and trust will look after them. It's tempting to release all parental responsibilites once they walk into that classroom, but we all know parenting is a 24/7 job, and we have to be thinking of our kids' health and safety, even when they're at school. To that end, Cooppertone Kids has provided me with a few back-to-school safety reminders that I think are useful enough to repost and share with you:

· Comfort, convenience, and safety are important in a backpack. Find one with wide, padded shoulder straps to distribute the weight over a large area of your child’s shoulder; an abdominal strap to distribute the pack's weight evenly on his/her back, waist, and hips; and reflectors or reflective fabrics to add visibility at dusk or dawn.

· Students spend so much time staring at paper, it may surprise you to know that the higher the contrast, the more strain on your son or daughter’s eyes. If the school allows it, give your child yellow or green paper. These colors actually offer reduced contrast and brightness, easing the strain on their eyes.

· The sun’s rays are the strongest between 10a.m. and 4p.m. and although summer is waning, the sun remains strong in fall. It’s still very important to make sure your child is properly protected during recess. Try a wide brimmed hat, and Coppertone Kids Pure and Simple, which is gentle and tear-free or Coppertone Kids Stick, which is quick and easy to apply.


I posted a similar plea to parents to keep their kids sun-safe in the fall, and I'm doing it again. I think it's even more important to be vigilant about kids' skin during the fall/ Indian Summer days, because we no longer have the awareness of sun, sand, surf -- and skin cancer. The kids are sill wearing exactly the same clothes they did during the summer, and they still play out in the sun during recess, lunch and P.E.

So we still ask the kids to put sunscreen on their exposed areas (face, neck, ears, arms and legs) before we walk to school in the morning. And each of them has a stick of Coppertone Kids Sunscreen Stick so they can reapply during lunchtime. We all love the stick because it's not messy. If it's not a hassle to put on, kids are more likely to reapply sunscreen on their own! It make me feel a lot better knowing that my kids' skin is protected from the sun, even when I'm not there to help them.

Disclosure: I received some Coppertone Kids samples as a thank-you for posting this information. Back-to-School safety tips were provided by Coppertone Kids and are indicated in italics. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.