What type of sunscreen is best? When choosing a sunscreen to use on your child, look for these five key components: 1. Broad-spectrum coverage Since UVB rays cause sunburns and UVA rays can prematurely age skin and cause melanoma, choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen to protect from both types of rays. 2. Natural ingredients Chemicals like oxybenzone and octisalate are often used in sunscreens and work by sinking into the skin and then absorbing and deferring UV rays. They can p

Of course, you can’t just stare straight at the sun without permanently damaging your retinas. So, check out our guide to the best solar eclipse glasses for eclipse viewing — from disposable paper glasses (which make great souvenirs, BTW) to reusable glasses that will actually stay on your child’s head. Remember, you’ll need filters for your camera or binoculars too, if you’re planning to watch through a lens. SUPER important!

Now that you know exactly what time the eclipse will happen where you live, you can do some early recon work to find your best viewing spot for the event. At our house, it’s the top of the driveway. Once you know where you’ll want to watch, lay out blankets and throw pillows so people can sit (or even lie) down instead of craning their necks standing up. I love this picnic setup we found at Catch My Party, with some really fantastic ideas. Because of course, you’ll want to fi

First things first: know when the eclipse will be passing over your town. The clever team over at Vox has an interactive guide so you can find out exactly when you’ll see the eclipse, based on your zip code. So, plan your party for that moment. Bonus: it also shows an animated video of how much of the eclipse you’ll be able to see from where you live. Because sadly, unless you’re in the direct line you won’t see a full eclipse.

Have fun eclipse activities for kids on hand Here’s the sad news: After all this planning, the actual eclipse is going to last less than 3 minutes. In other words, that’s not much of a party unless you plan a whole lot of extra activities. I love this eclipse craft for kids (above) at Books and Giggles that teaches kids how an eclipse actually works. Also, it’s incredibly simple — perfect for a big crowd of kids.