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Applying Sunscreen and Tactile Defensiveness: 8 Easy To Implement Tips

Summer is approaching fast, and so is the need to apply sunscreen.  For children with tactile defensiveness (touch sensitivities), applying sunscreen can be an overwhelming experience.  Here are 8 easy to implement occupational therapy tips for navigating sunscreen this summer.

Applying suncscreen and sensory defensiveness

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What Is Tactile Defensiveness And How Can It Impact Applying Sunscreen?

Sunscreen can be messy, smelly, slimy, sticky, and an overall unpleasant experience when applying it to children with sensory processing differences, more specifically tactile defensiveness. Individuals with tactile defensiveness can be sensitive and often overreactive to touch sensations such as when applying sunscreen lotions.   Tactile defensiveness is a term used in occupational therapy to describe the overreaction to tactile (touch) sensations.

 

Before we get into the specifics of working towards applying sunscreen with ease, first, here is a special note on sunscreen use. 

A Special Note on Sunscreen Use

The American Academy of Dermatology recommends everyone over 6 months of age wear sunscreen that is at least SPF 30 or higher, water resistant, and offers broad spectrum protection both from UVA and UVB rays.  If applying sunscreen is not an option, keep in mind there are other ways to protect yourself according to AmeriDisability.  First, wear sun blocking clothing and accessories such as moisture wicking UV blocking long sleeve shirts, loose fitting light weight pants, wide brimmed hats, and sunglasses can help protect the skin and eyes from the sun.  Also avoiding midday sun when ultra violet rays are strongest. 

 

Now, here are 8 occupational therapy tips to help navigate applying sunscreen with a bit more ease this summer: 

#1: Start Preparing Early and Make It A Part Of Your Routine

During the winter, months before the need to apply sunscreen, start preparing early.  Work through each of these steps slowly as tolerated by the child.  Celebrate small milestones throughout the process.  Preparing early will give you and your child extra time to address tactile defensiveness and how it relates to applying sunscreen. 

 Try to make applying sunscreen a part of your daily routine just as you would taking a shower, brushing teeth, and getting dressed for the day. 

Sunscreen and the sensory sensitive child

#2: Discuss It First 

It is important to discuss the reasons why the need to apply sunscreen is essential for outdoor play and activities.  Depending on age and cognitive abilities, you may need to keep your wording simple and precise.  If so, try wording such as “sunscreen keeps us safe” or even “sunscreen makes our skin happy”.  Try using a ‘first, then statement’ as well such as “first sunscreen, then outside.”  Discuss the importance of putting it on before attempting to apply sunscreen. 

#3: Have Fun! 

It’s important to keep it light and fun.  Do not place demands on a child especially a child with known tactile defensiveness.  Take it slowly, step by step as tolerated.  Make it a game, smile, and have fun.

#4: Demonstrate

If needed, demonstrate how you put sunscreen on first.  Talk about why it’s important to put sunscreen everywhere you don’t have clothing.  And don’t forget to smile and be at ease.

sunscreen and the sensory sensitive child

#5: Heavy Work

Before applying sunscreen, first start with heavy work activities that involve proprioceptive input (input to the muscles and joints) followed by deep touch pressure (more on this below). Both of these activities help to relax and regulate the sensory system so that it can be more prepared for the sensory experience of applying sunscreen.   

Try some of these heavy work activities before applying sunscreen:

  • Animal crawls such as the crab walk, bear crawls, or slither like a snake.  Try races or relay races.
  • Wheelbarrow walking 
  • Hang by the hands or do pull ups from a pull up bar or strong sturdy branch.  Time yourself and see if you can beat your time.
  • Carry something heavy as appropriate for that individual.  Carry a stack of books, laundry basket, or filled grocery bags. 
  • Push a filled laundry basket across the carpet.  Add age-appropriate weight, if needed, such as books or canned goods.  Make this activity into a game of relay races. 
If you have a sensory diet that includes heavy work activities set up by your occupational therapist, try some of those before applying sunscreen.
Sunscreen and the sensory sensitive child
DIY weighted lap pad, pool noodle, and a DIY weighted stuffed animal

#6: Deep Touch Pressure

Next, start with activities that include deep touch pressure.  Deep pressure helps to relax and regulate the sensory system so that it can better tolerate environmental stimuli such as applying sunscreen. Make sure to avoid light touch as this can be alerting and irritating for some with tactile defensiveness. When doing some of the activities below ask how the pressure is to make sure it’s not too much or too little. Also, watch for facial signs or grimaces so that you can make sure to adjust the amount of pressure that feels good and relaxing to the individual.  

Try a few of these activities to see which is a good fit:

  • While lying on the stomach, massage the back, arms and legs.  
  • Again while lying on the stomach, use a beach ball, exercise ball, or soft kick ball and roll it over the back, legs, and arms adjusting the pressure based on their needs.
  • Roll up snuggly in a blanket like “bug in a rug” making sure the head and neck remain out of the blanket.  
  • Using a pool noodle or something similarly soft and round, apply pressure and roll it over the back, legs and arms while lying on their stomach.
  • Bear hugs are another great way to add proprioceptive input.
  • Self-directed facial massage (see note below)
  • Use a weighted blanket, weighted lap pad, or weighted stuffed animal (see the links below)
  • Use a body sock (see link below)

Equipment that can be used to apply deep touch pressure:

DIY weighted stuffed animal
Weighted lap pad occupational therapy

#7 Applying Sunscreen and Tactile Defensiveness

Before just slathering it on, go slowly, and start with the most difficult area to apply sunscreen first.  Most often, the most difficult area to apply sunscreen is the face, make sure to read the section below before getting started. When applying sunscreen to the body, make sure to rub on the sunscreen using deep touch pressure rather than a light touch, as tolerated by the individual.  As mentioned before, individuals who experience tactile defensiveness, light touch can be alerting and irritating causing more of an adverse reaction. In other words, make sure to maintain a steady, deep touch pressure, as preferred by the individual, while applying sunscreen.  Again, if your hands are cold, make sure to warm up your hands before beginning due to temperature sensitivities.  Also, rub the sunscreen between your hands before applying to warm it up as well. 

Read This Before Applying Sunscreen To The Face

Practice Self-Directed Facial Massage

Oftentimes, the face is the most difficult area to apply sunscreen.  Before applying, first practice self-directed facial massage.  Make sure to avoid cold hands due to temperature sensitivities.  Warm up your hands first if needed by rubbing them together or warming them under warm water. 

Demonstrate how to do your own gentle facial massage with a deep touch pressure that feels good.  First, sit or stand across from each other. Start with “before we put on sunscreen on our faces, let’s first get our faces ready.”  Rub the palms of your hands together then give your own face a gentle massage over the cheeks, the bridge of the nose, chin, above the lips, and forehead, and even rub over the outside of the ears. Skip the eyes.  “Make sure the pressure is just right- not too hard, not too soft” for the child.  Saying this out loud can help. Then follow the same routine giving a gentle facial massage to the individual as if you are applying sunscreen to their face.     

Continue repeating the steps above a few times a day until the individual is okay with a gentle massage to the face.  When ready, try a facial lotion or sunscreen.  Make sure to test any new lotions or sunscreen on the wrist first to check for allergic reactions. 

Practice With Facial Lotion

If needed, practice with your daily facial lotion first.  Apply once or twice a day with the routine above.  Make sure to test any new lotions of sunscreens on the wrist first to test for allergic reactions. 

*Roll-on facial sunscreen is also an option.  See note below under Summer Products.

#8:  Give A Reward- But Not Sugar Or Screens

I’m a huge fan of rewards.  But I am not a fan of rewards revolved around candy and other sugary treats or even screens.  Consider other rewards such as high fives, bear bugs, huge smiles and cheers, stickers, a favorite activity or family game.

Sunscreen and tactile defensiveness

Self- Apply Sunscreen? 

Self applying sunscreen is great as long as full coverage is applied.  Sometimes working in front of a mirror can not only provide feedback on sunscreen coverage, but it can also give the individual more of a sense of control. 

Can Messy Play Help Tactile Defensiveness?

Another activity that can help tactile defensiveness is messy play.  During free time, messy play is a great sensory experience.  Heavy work activities along with deep touch pressure can help get the sensory system ready and organized prior to messy play.  Participating in messy play overtime can help with applying sunscreen and tolerating various textures on the hands and skin.

Here are some ideas for messy play:

  • Play with shaving cream on a table top drawing designs, shapes, letters, or pictures with the index finger.  Add glitter for an added grittiness texture.  
  • Participate in food play.  For example, build a 3-D structure using marshmallows and toothpicks, smash grapes and peas, play with slippery cooked noodles, paint the hands with beets, or dip raisins in yogurt or peanut butter. 
  • In the bathtub, put shaving cream on the bathtub wall and draw using the index finger.  This is a great upper body strengthening activity as well.  When finished, use the shower head to wash away easily. 
  • Play with slime, kinetic sand, or theraputty.  Add in beads, buttons or other small objects hidden in the putty or slime as an extra fine motor strengthening component. 

Sensory Friendly Summer Products

Long Sleeved Bathing Suits

I personally love bathing suits that cover the arms, shoulders, and back especially for kids.  Of course, these types of bathing suits can be found online, but they can also be found at your local Target, or sporting goods store.  Check out some of these on  Amazon.   

Wear A Wide-Brimmed Hat And Sunglasses

Wear a wide brimmed hat to help protect your face, shoulders, and eyes from the sun as well as sunglasses to protect the your eyes.

Sunscreen Types

Stick Facial Sunscreen

Roll-on face sunscreen is also another sensory sensitive option to try such as Neutrogena or Aveeno Baby brands. These can be purchased online, or at your local grocery or pharmacy.   

*As always with new sunscreens, always apply a small amount to the arm or leg to make sure no allergic reaction occurs.

Spray Sunscreen

Spray on sunscreens are also a great choice, but may or may not be tolerated by someone with tactile defensiveness  due to the light sensation of the sunscreen being sprayed on. It depends on the individual. Spray on sunscreens can be found at your local grocery store or pharmacy. 

*As always with new sunscreens, always apply a small amount to the arm or leg to make sure no allergic reaction occurs.

Resources

Sensory Friendly Summer Products

Sensory Equipment

Sunscreen Resources

 

Here are some other projects you might like: 

conversation ball
DIY handiwriter
The pincer grasp

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