I remember playing outside when I was a kid for hours on end. My sisters and I would be up and down the block until the fireflies came out. Hours on end meant at least 6 hours in the beaming sun. Not once did we think about getting sunburned in the places our tube tops didn't cover. Not once did we think that years of unprotected sun exposure could actually cause cancer.

Who knew about sunscreen back then? Not the parents or kids on our Brooklyn, NY block. That was back then. This is now. Now you know. Now you know that skin cancer and sunburn is not just a white person's issue. Now you know it's not an issue that only pertains to adults. Children need protection, too--year-round protection.

With many of us dusting off our pool covers or packing our kids' summer camp pool bag, we need to be as prepared and as protected as possible. Keep the tips below in your mental or physical beach bag.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends the following guidelines for sunscreen for children:

• Use a sunscreen of at least SPF 15 to filter out over 90% of the sun’s ultraviolet rays. While SPF 15 filters out 92% of the rays, SPF 30 provides only a slight improvement filtering out 97% of the rays, and SPF 45 only slightly more.
  
  
• Choose a sunscreen that filters out both UVA and UVB rays; and a waterproof sunscreen if your children are playing in the water.
  
  
• Apply sunscreen 20-30 minutes before going outdoors. Apply sunscreen to all exposed skin, especially the face, ears, neck, shoulders, and arms which are most exposed to the sun. Don’t put sunscreen on your children’s eyelids, since it can sting if it gets in their eyes.
  
  
• Reapply sunscreen at least every 2 hours and after swimming.

Remember that sunscreen is only one line of defense; follow these additional guidelines:

• Do your best to avoid outdoor play at mid-day when the sun’s rays are strongest (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.)
  
  
• Play in the shade as much as possible. This is especially important for babies under 6 months of age.
  
  
• Dress your children in light-colored, loose-fitting clothes that cover as much skin as possible.
  
  
• Have your children wear a hat with a brim that shades their face, and preferably flaps that shade the neck. Sunglasses with UV protection can also help protect your children’s eyes.

Wilma Ann Anderson is the Editor-in-Chief and Co-founder of Mahogany Baby. She's also an accomplished singer, and works as a model and film executive. This mother of four has freelanced for ESSENCE and Working Mother magazines, enjoys crafting, and is based in New Jersey.

*photo: Timothy Aaron-Styles