Sunscreen does not have to be the daily standoff it often becomes. With a bit of imagination, we can turn it into something your kids actually look forward to, a game, a routine, a small ritual they help run themselves. And the payoff is bigger than a calmer morning, because a child who enjoys sunscreen now is far more likely to keep the habit for life.

This is a playful menu of ideas for making sunscreen fun, grouped by what tends to work at different ages. Pick the ones that suit your child, mix them up when they get bored, and lean into whatever gets giggles or makes the routine easier. If sunscreen is currently more of a battle than a game, our companion guide on why kids resist sunscreen and how to fix it tackles the underlying causes first.

Why making it fun actually matters

This is not just about avoiding a tantrum. When sun protection is positive and routine, children are far more likely to keep doing it as they grow. Australian early-childhood guidance notes that children who see the adults around them using sun protection, and who help with their own, are more likely to adopt those habits themselves.^[1] Research has also found that teenagers who used sunscreen tended to have parents who made sunscreen an everyday part of childhood.^[2]

In a country with some of the highest UV levels in the world, that lifelong habit genuinely matters. Cancer Council recommends sun protection whenever the UV Index is 3 or above, which across most of Australia is most of the year.^[3] Making it fun is simply the most effective way to make it stick.

Games for toddlers and little ones

Dermatologists note that toddlers cooperate more readily when they feel in control, so the ideas below lean on giving them choices and a role in the process, and several use a soft brush, which the Skin Cancer Foundation notes can help children who dislike the feel of things on their skin.^[5]

1. The face-painting makeover

Little kids love face paint, and a soft applicator brush turns sunscreen into exactly that. Sweep it on like you are painting a masterpiece, narrate it ("now a stripe across your nose, now your cheeks"), and let them have a look in the mirror at their white paint which turns "invisible paint" when you rub it in. The soft bristles feel far nicer than cold, sticky fingers or roller, which is half the battle for sensory-sensitive kids.^[5] A refillable brush like the SUNNYBOD™ Sunscreen Applicator is made for this, hands-free and mess-free.

2. Dots and squiggles

Instead of rubbing sunscreen on for them, dot it onto their arms and legs in little spots, hearts, or squiggly lines, then let them join the dots and blend it in. It turns application into a drawing game, and gives them a job to do. Just double-check they have blended everything in afterwards.

3. Silly mirror faces

Ask for a "puffer fish face" to puff out their cheeks for easy cheek coverage, a big "lion roar" for the jaw and neck, or "close your eyes like you're asleep" for the forehead. Doing it in front of a mirror turns it into a performance rather than a chore.

4. Spots like a leopard, stripes like a tiger

Give your toddler a choice that puts them in charge: "Do you want spots like a leopard or stripes like a tiger today?" Dab or sweep the sunscreen on in that pattern, let them practise the matching animal sound, then blend it in together. Offering a simple either-or choice gives a wriggly toddler a sense of control, which is often what turns a refusal into a giggle.^[5] Just check it is all rubbed in once the roaring dies down.

5. Wake up the teddy

Let your child "put sunscreen on" a favourite teddy or doll first, then it is their turn. Modelling the routine on a toy makes it familiar and unthreatening, and gives a hesitant toddler a moment to warm up to the idea before anything touches their own skin. A dab of actual sunscreen on the teddy is optional, and a dry brush works just as well for the pretend version.

Games for the whole family 

6. The sunscreen train

Everyone lines up and applies sunscreen to the back and shoulders of the person in front, then turns around and does the other way. Kids love being part of a "train," it gets the awkward back-and-shoulders area covered, and it turns a solo chore into a group activity. An adult should still check everyone is properly covered at the end.

7. Beat the timer

Set a timer or sing a short song and see if everyone can get fully covered before it finishes. Knowing there is a clear end point ("done by the end of the song") helps younger kids tolerate it, and the race element appeals to competitive older ones. Just make sure speed does not mean missed spots, so a quick check at the end keeps it thorough.

8. You do mine, I'll do yours

Let your child apply sunscreen to your arm while you do theirs. Children love the role reversal, and it is one of the most powerful tricks of all, because when they see you wearing sunscreen happily, they are far more likely to want it too. A brush like the SUNNYBOD Applicator for liquid sunscreen makes this easy for small hands to manage without a greasy mess.

9. The sticker reward chart

For school-age kids who respond to a goal, put a chart on the fridge and let them add a sticker every day they wear sunscreen without a fuss. A week of stickers earns a small reward, like choosing the weekend movie or treat night. Positive reinforcement and a visible streak they do not want to break can turn a daily negotiation into something they remind you about.

Turn the fun into a lasting habit

Games get the sunscreen on today. Routine is what keeps it happening. The two work together. A fun ritual that occurs at the same point every day stops being a negotiation and starts being just "what we do."

• Anchor it to something fixed. Sunscreen right after breakfast or straight after getting dressed, becomes automatic the way teeth-brushing is.
• Be the role model. Do your own sunscreen cheerfully and visibly. Children copy what they see far more than what they are told. And make sure they see you reapply throughout the day ^[1]
• Give them a role. Let them hold the brush, pick which arm first, or be "in charge" of the timer. A sense of ownership lowers resistance and builds independence.^[5]
• Keep it positive. Praise the help, skip the lecture about skin cancer for little ones, and keep the mood light and fun.

As children reach school age, lean into independence. Let them apply their own arms and legs while you supervise and check the tricky spots, and keep an applicator in their bag so they can top up at school. For the daily mechanics of teaching kids to apply their own, see our guide on how to use a sunscreen applicator.

Keep the fun sun-safe

However playful it gets, the sun-safety basics still apply. Cancer Council recommends:^[3]

• A broad-spectrum SPF 50 or SPF 50+ sunscreen, applied 20 minutes before going outside.
• Reapplied every two hours, and after swimming, sweating, or towel drying.
• An adult checking that all exposed skin is covered, including the easily-missed ears, neck, and hairline.
• Sunscreen used alongside the rest of Slip, Slop, Slap, Seek, Slide: clothing, a hat, shade, and sunglasses.

For babies and very young children, shade and clothing are the main forms of protection.^[4]

Frequently asked questions

What is the easiest way to make sunscreen fun for a toddler?

Turn it into face painting. A soft applicator brush lets you "paint" sunscreen on with narration and a look in the mirror, which most toddlers enjoy far more than cold hands. Pair it with a silly face game, like a puffer-fish face for the cheeks, and keep it short and predictable.

How do I get my child to keep sunscreen on as a habit?

Anchor it to a fixed point in the day, like right after breakfast, so it becomes automatic and then reapply before they go to play at lunchtime. Do your own sunscreen visibly, give your child a role such as holding the brush or running the timer, and keep the mood positive. Consistency plus a sense of ownership is what turns it into a lasting habit.

My child still hates sunscreen even when I make it a game. What now?

If games are not enough, there is usually a specific cause, like the feel, the smell, stinging eyes, or a need for control. Our guide on why kids resist sunscreen and how to fix it works through each cause and the practical fix, and may help where the fun approach alone has not. 

At what age can my baby wear sunscreen?

For babies under 6 months, Cancer Council advises keeping them out of direct sun and relying on shade and clothing rather than sunscreen as the main forms of protection. From 6 months, sunscreen can be applied to areas that cannot be covered by clothing, but shade and protective clothing remain the priority for little ones.^[4] If you have any concerns about your baby's skin and for suitable formula recommendation's, check with your doctor or healthcare provider. 

What can I do if my child has sensitive skin or hates the feel of sunscreen?

Many children who resist sunscreen are reacting to the sensory experience of cold, sticky hands rather than the sunscreen itself, and a soft applicator brush can make a real difference by removing that hands-on contact.^[5] For skin that reacts easily, a fragrance-free formula is often gentler, and our guide to sunscreen for sensitive skin covers how to choose one. If your child's skin reacts to sunscreen with redness, sensitivity, or a rash, speak to your doctor or pharmacist for specific advice tailored to your circumstances.