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Child in front of a mirror moving a body-spot card to a done tray after one tiny sunscreen swipe.
Skill builderSensory-friendly supportFinish And ResetIndoor

Sunscreen Dot Map.

Your child picks a body-spot card, finds the match in the mirror, makes one tiny swipe, and moves the card to done.

Play time
2-5+ min
Age
2-4 years
Energy
Low
Mess
Low
Effort
Low
Where
Indoor
Start here

The recipe.

Low parent effort
9 things

What you need

  • 3 to 5 small body-spot cards
  • 1 washable marker or crayon
  • 1 sunscreen stick or small amount of adult-approved lotion
  • 1 small timer
  • 1 mirror
  • 1 done plate, tray, or paper
  • 1 wipe or towel
  • 1 adult
  • 1 child
2 min minimum

Setup

Then start the loop
Step 01
On a low table or floor spot in front of the mirror, place 3 small cards in a start row.
Step 02
On each card, draw one simple body spot, such as hand, arm, or shoulder.
Step 03
On the other side of the start row, place the done plate, tray, or paper.
Step 04
Beside the mirror, place the timer where your child can see it.
Step 05
Beside your hand, keep the wipe or towel ready.
Step 06
In your hand or right beside you, keep the sunscreen stick or lotion so you control each swipe.
Step 07
In front of the mirror, sit or stand with your child so they can see their face, arms, and upper body.
"Find the spot."
The loop

How play unfolds.

Three-panel sequence showing a child choosing a body-spot card, finding the spot in a mirror, and moving the finished card to a done tray.
  1. 01
    Model one full turn: pick a card, point to the matching body spot in the mirror, make one tiny swipe on the card, and move it to done.
  2. 02
    Let your child choose one body-spot card and find the matching spot on their body, or on your body in the mirror.
  3. 03
    Offer access to one tiny adult-controlled swipe, then take the sunscreen or lotion back.
  4. 04
    Let your child swipe the dot on the drawn card and move the card to the done spot.
  5. 05
    Slide the next card slightly forward and ask, "Again or all done?" Repeat until the timer ends, the cards are done, or your child says or shows that they are finished.

Safety Check

  • Use only sunscreen or lotion the adult has already chosen for this child.
  • Avoid eyes, lips, nose, broken skin, and irritated skin.
  • Keep the sunscreen or lotion container in adult control.
  • Keep the swipe on the drawn card unless you intentionally choose to help with real sunscreen practice.
  • Use a stable or adult-held mirror and supervise cards, markers, and small materials.
  • Offer the wipe when your child asks, pulls away, grimaces, or seems done.
  • Stop if your child mouths the product, grabs for the container, smears more than one tiny swipe, or stays distressed after the product is removed.
  • Do not treat the timer as a requirement to continue after your child says or shows "all done."
Supporting the play

What to say in the moment

Match what you say to what you see.

Prompt ladder
Level 1 (Start)
Hold up one card and name the body spot before the product appears.
Level 2 (Keep going)
Slide the next card forward and wait for your child to point.
Level 3 (Stretch)
Let your child choose which card gets the next tiny swipe.
Level 4 (Extend)
Let your child move the done card, reset the next card, and check the timer.
If your child seems...
What you'd see
Focused
What to do
Say
"You found it."
Add
Name the spot once, then offer the swipe.
Extend
Let your child choose the next card from the row.

Make it easier

Younger end
  • -Let your child point to the matching spot on you in the mirror.
  • -Keep the product in your hand and let your child handle only the card.
  • -Use one card and count that card as a complete round.

Make it harder

Older end
  • +Let your child pick the next two cards in their own order.
  • +Ask your child to keep the swipe inside the drawn body spot.
  • +Have your child say "start" before the swipe and "done" after moving the card.

If it's not working

If you see
If child ignores it
Do one complete parent turn, then offer two cards: "Hand or arm?" If your child still ignores it, count the parent turn as the activity and stop.
If you see
If child misuses it
If your child grabs, squeezes, smears, or mouths the product, cap or remove it. Restart only with parent-controlled swipes, or switch to pointing-only turns.
If you see
If child gets frustrated
Offer the wipe, lower the goal to one card, and end with, "You did one sunscreen map card. All done."
If you see
If matching is hard
Point together in the mirror, name the spot once, and let your child finish by moving the card to done.
Skill spotlight
Finish And Reset

Finishing a small self-care step

This helps a child practice ending one small care step before the next one begins, which matters for sunscreen, lotion, washing, dressing, and other sticky or sensitive routines.

  • •The card-to-done sequence makes a sticky routine predictable before real application.
  • •One tiny adult-controlled swipe gives your child a job while keeping the product amount and container in grown-up control.
  • •The done spot and stop choice help your child practice finishing a small self-care step without being pushed past their limit.
Real-world transfer
  • Sunscreen and lotion routines.
  • Washing one body part at a time.
  • Moving finished items to a done spot.
  • Stopping before grabbing sticky containers.
  • Handling short self-care transitions.

Parent questions

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