Sunshine for a Sunny Disposition

Does your child get enough sunshine? Sunlight can lighten our mood, especially for those who are affected by seasonal adjustment disorders. Exposure to sunlight can help heal some skin conditions, such as acne and psoriasis. It’s an old tried and true method for curing diaper rash, but sunscreen interferes with the body’s ability to synthesize vitamin D.

Vitamin D Deficiency in Children

Are today’s children at risk for a vitamin D deficiency? Several recent studies say yes. Forty percent of infants and toddlers tested, and forty-two percent of the teens tested showed a serious deficiency in this vitamin, which is important for healthy teeth and bones. New research suggests a link between vitamin D deficiency and certain cancers, osteoporosis, types 1 and 2 diabetes, irritable bowel syndrome, seasonal adjustment disorder, and autoimmune disease. Vitamin D deficiency is well-known to cause Rickets, a disorder causing soft, weak bones that become deformed if the condition is not reversed.

Sunlight and Vitamin D

We get vitamin D from the sun. Our skin synthesizes it. Pretty cool, huh? We can’t overdose on this natural source of vitamin D, which is not the same when taking supplements. But now we wear sunscreen when we go outside, and most of us spend far too much time indoors for our own good.

So how much sunlight do we need, and if we go outside without sunblock, are we increasing our risk of skin cancer? Also, where you live in relationship to the equator makes a difference. The further north or south, the more the sun’s rays slant as they enter our atmosphere, and part of the rays are deflected away. We require twice as much sunlight as someone living near the equator because of that. People with dark skin require more sunlight that those with light skin complexions.

Sunbathing May Be Good For Your Health

Years ago it was popular to sunbathe infants every day. Some doctors still recommend exposing the face, hands, arms, and legs to sunlight for fifteen to thirty minutes. New research suggests that moderate exposure to the sun daily can actually help prevent skin cancer! The key word is moderation. No more than half an hour a day of sunlight, before you slather on sun screen or move into the shade.

Personally, I feel better when I get my daily dose of sunshine. After half an hour, I can move to the shade, or put on a light shirt to protect my arms from burning. And if bringing my crabby two-year-old granddaughter outside once or twice a day will improve her general disposition, prevent her from developing rickets, increase her bone density and tooth enamel, and perhaps protect her from a host of other life-threatening diseases, isn’t it worth it? It frightens me when I take her to the playground, and see how empty it is. Where have all the children gone?

Sources:
Positive Effects of Sunlight on the Skin

Photo Credits:
Top: photo by Jenny Lee Silver
Middle: photo by Charlotte Morrall
Bottom: photo by Ernst Vikne

Tags: activities for preschoolers, children, health & safety, large muscle activities, outdoor activities, playgrounds, rickets, Seasonal Adjustment Disorder, skin cancer, vitamin D