Teach kids to stay in shady areas when the sun is at its strongest.

Playing indoors as a child, you may have heard your mom or dad say something like, "Go outside and get some sun!" While having fun outdoors is an important part of any childhood, medical evidence strongly suggests that too much sun can be very dangerous for both children and adults. One way of minimizing skin damage caused by the sun is to seek cover when its rays are the strongest.

Diane V. Duvall, M.D. graduated from Emory University School of Medicine where she served as Chief Resident in dermatology. She is a Board-Certified Dermatologist with Georgia Skin Care Specialists and lives in Atlanta with her husband and two children. Here she offers a quick guide to a summer that's "made in the shade":

• Midday hours have strongest sun.
  In the summertime, kids want to go out to the pool or yard at the very time that the sun's effects are strongest: between10:00am and 3:00pm. It's important to protect your child during these peak hours by avoiding direct sunlight and staying in the shade. If this is impossible, make sure your kids wear plenty of sunscreen, hats or protective clothing.
  
• Avoid short-shadow hours.
  When you don't have a watch, you can use the shadow rule, which is a nice way of remembering when the sun is too strong to be out for long periods of time. If your shadow is shorter than you are, then your ultraviolet exposure is very high and it's time to be in the shade.
  
• Enjoy long-shadow hours.
  If your shadow is longer than your height, on the other hand, then your ultraviolet exposure is going to be much less. The sunlight during these hours will be less dangerous for the skin, so these are the best hours for your children to be outside.

How Stuff Works: How Sunburns and Sun Tans Work
www.howstuffworks.com/sunscreen

American Cancer Society: Don't Forget the Sunscreen
www.cancer.org/Dont_Forget_The_Sunscreen

Center for Disease Control: How to Use Sunscreen
www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview