At the height of the sunny season, you’re sure to be spending lots of time outside with the kids, either at the park or the beach, on picnics or hikes. Enjoy your family time in the sun this summer, but make sure to follow some sun-safety guidelines, including:

1. It’s best to stay out of direct sunlight as often as possible, particularly from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., when UV rays are strongest. Babies under one year of age should be kept out of direct sunlight entirely.

2. Use sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15. Apply it 20 minutes before sun exposure and reapply it every two hours (more often if sweating or swimming). Choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen, which will protect the skin from both UVA and UVB rays. Look for bottles stamped with the Canadian Dermatology Association logo. Do not apply sunscreen to babies under six months old.

3. In addition to sunscreen, dress your kids in protective clothing (wide-brimmed hats, long sleeves and pants; special lightweight UV-blocking clothing and swim shirts are good hot-weather options), as well as American National Standards Institute (ANSI)-compliant sunglasses, which will protect against eye damage.

4. It doesn’t have to be sunny to get burned: Up to 80 per cent of the sun’s rays can penetrate light cloud cover.