It’s summertime!  (Duh!)  For many families that means it is time for lots of “Rays and Zees” spending time outdoors with activities and relaxing in the sun.  For all of us that also means thinking about protection from those burning rays, and for parents it is yet one more thing for us to worry about.  Are our kids getting too much sun?  Are they wearing enough sunscreen (or any at all?)  If we do put sunscreen on our kids, what is the right SPF?  15? 30? 45? 60?  Is a sunblock cream enough?  What about hats, and other protective clothing?

From A Mother’s Concern To A Family Business

Almost 10 years ago a then co-worker of mine told me about the web-based business she was starting “on the side” with her husband Ryan.  Jen Clement was a high energy and persistent sales professional.  She was also the mother of three young kids, and living in the “Sunshine State” of Florida, she was particularly concerned about how much sun they were getting, and the potential ill effects of too much fun in the sun.  She began to research sun friendly bathing suits and other clothing that had built in sun protection.  As many of the ray blocking innovations and inspirations came from the sun drenched continent of Australia, Jen was inspired herself to create the Solaroo line of sun-protective UV blocking clothing, and working directly with leading manufacturers, Jen was among the first on-line retailers to offer a wide range of Sun Friendly children’s clothing to the U.S. market.  Thus www.SunFriendlyProducts.com was born.  It wasn’t long before Jen’s “side” business was thriving enough to become a full-time family business for both her and her husband, and today Sun Friendly Products is widely recognized as a leading on-line store for reliable, high-quality, UV protective clothing and products for the whole family.

Here are some tips from SunFriendlyProducts.com for enjoying the sun safely:

1) Limit Time in the Midday Sun – the sun’s rays are strongest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

2) Apply Sun Block before going outside. Most sun blocks take about 20 minutes to be absorbed and become effective. Make sure that you apply a “broad spectrum” sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of at least 15 and reapply every 2 hours when working or playing outdoors. Even waterproof sunscreen can come off when you towel dry, sweat or spend time in the water.

3) Wear a Hat. A hat with a wide brim offers good sun protection for the eyes, ears, face, and the back of the neck – areas particularly sensitive to the sun.

4) Cover Up. Wear UV rated clothing or other tightly woven, full-length clothing.

5) Wear Good Sun Glasses. Check the label when buying sunglasses. Sunglasses that provide 99-100% UVA and UVB protection will greatly reduce sun exposure that can lead to cataracts or other eye damage.

6) Seek Shade. Look to play in shaded areas of the park or the backyard. Just because one is outside does not mean that they have to be in direct sunlight.

7) Have Fun.

As a friend, I am very proud of Jen and Ryan, and I admire them for their hardwork and dedication and the successful business they have built around Sun Friendly Products.  I am writing this article without their knowledge, but their love and concern for their own kids, and their passion for helping other parents make smart, “Sun Friendly” decisions, gives me complete confidence to introduce SunFriendlyProducts.com to you.

How about you?  Are you thinking about protection as you enjoy your fun in the sun this summer?

Jeff Sass is the proud dad of ZEO (Zach, 21, Ethan, 19 and Olivia, 17).  He is also a seasoned entertainment and technology exec and active social media enthusiast.  You can see more of Jeff’s writing at Sassholes! and Social Networking Rehab.

Photo Credit: © Dawn Hudson – Fotolia.com