No sunscreen, please, we're Canberran.

My son is fair haired and fair skinned. He would burn to a crisp without sunscreen being liberally and regularly applied to him. By putting him into pre-school, whether Gov or private, I hand over my duty of care. If you are not there, it’s hard to monitor.

My son does put on his own sunscreen, but he doesn’t get it quite right – often big white patches on some bits, and none on other bits. It’s not his fault – he’s only 4. But he’s learning.

It would be the same in any situation – not just pre-school, school or day-care. If you hand your child over to anyone as part of an agreed arrangement – i.e. babysitting, uncle, grandparent – you expect that they will be taken care of according to expecting norms.

Anyway, as I said, the pre-school seemed reasonable yesterday and I’m sure that if I explain that I prefer he is supervised whilst applying his own sunscreen for a while, I’m sure they will do it.

OP you raise a valid point. And duty of care provisions would apply for sure IMHO.

I think child care centres try to encourage kids to do their own sunscreen when they are old enough.

grunge_hippy said :

surely if you are all so concerned about this you would have taught them to do it themselves? It’s not hard. My kids can do it and have so since they were about 3.

Either that get them to wear light cotton long sleeves and long pants and a hat…. and stop complaining!

My partner works at a childcare centre. She says that the staff all adhere to sound sun-smart policies, which means they help the littlies put on sunscreen.

But they expect that kids at pre-school level have been shown by their parents how to do it. However, they will help if needed.

A perfectly reasonable policy and one that seems to work.

Not sure what the problem is with the OP, and I can’t for the life of me understand why this thread, like so many on RA, descends into a slanging match. Talk about road rage online!

Alderney said :

Sandman said :

It’s pre-school, not public funded au-pairs? Stop shirking parental responsibilities and apply your own sunscreen.
As for post 5, good luck with your lawsuit considering the school has said they won’t apply the sunscreen. Not sure what your main argument will be but might I recommend a lawyer? Your first choice shout be Dennis Denuto but if he’s too busy then Lionel Hutz would be a good second option for you.

What part of ‘must be reapplied every 2 hours’ don’t you understand. What past of ‘duty of care’ do you not understand? What am I talking to a moron like he has intelligence?

I’ve always found it best not to shout at my lawyer or, as we call them in this country, solicitors.

http://www.lawyersweekly.com.au/home
http://www.australianlawyersdirectory.com.au/
http://lawyersalliance.com.au/
http://www.lawyers.com.au/

The industry itself seems to throw the word lawyer around a lot, so I’m not sure that your complete dismissal of the word as though using it is some heinous crime is quite warranted. However, you do seem to be quite the legal expert with your threats of lawsuits. Those threats are quite possibly the reason this policy exists. 20 toddlers running around and it wouldn’t be too hard to miss a spot. No doubt the preschool teachers don’t appreciate being yelled at by parents such as yourself over every little thing. Your attitude and implied liability is why they do what they do.
My kids get sunscreened up before they go to school. They have a bottle each in their bag but I know that doesn’t get used during the day. Neither of them has ever come home with a sunburn and all the preschools in my area have either a lot of large shady deciduous trees or enough shade sails to hide a tank regiment. If your child Is that susceptible then there are plenty of other options you could pursue.

Thanks for this sentence in your reply too “What am I talking to a moron like he has intelligence?” . It made me LOL.

how often are the kids actually outside during their preschool day? I’d say twice?

Speaking as a human being here, and looking around at some of the people with whom I share this fine burg, I don’t think I’d like to apply sunscreen by hand to 20 random grommets. Roll on or spray on would probably be OK, but not by hand.

And from a different perspective, what would you do as a parent if your little’un came home and told you how vigorously their carer had rubbed the sunscreen in today. All over the place, and with such a funny smile!!

Lol, Parents want everything done for them these days dont they.

Little Johnny got a sore foot, time to send him home.

That’s why the recent Gens are soft cocks

What part of ‘must be reapplied every 2 hours’ don’t you understand. What past of ‘duty of care’ do you not understand? What am I talking to a moron like he has intelligence?

What part of “just buy a f*ckin’ roll-on and get it over with” didn’t you understand?

We did. It was a whopping three bucks at Aldi. Another first world problem solved. Maybe you could pick up a box of tissues while you’re there.

Fresh from meet the teacher at new pre-school in Isabella, and the word is that the teachers will offer help if your child needs it. Sounded sensible to me, but yes, did hear that they prefer roll on dispensers for obvious reasons. Did advise to have your child slathered before dropping off, but will of course re-apply later in the day.

surely if you are all so concerned about this you would have taught them to do it themselves? It’s not hard. My kids can do it and have so since they were about 3.

Either that get them to wear light cotton long sleeves and long pants and a hat…. and stop complaining!