For any parent, reminding children to put on sunscreen before heading outdoors is not always simple. The kids don't usually remember to do this and, if parents themselves do the lathering, most children end up squirming and fidgeting. They just want to get started playing, right?
In order to address this problem, Nivea in Brazil partnered with an advertising agency to create a doll that would help kids understand the dangers of going outside without slathering on sunscreen protection first. The dolls turn a "painful shade of pink" just like real skin when it isn't applied with sunscreen. The doll returns to its original shade as soon as sunscreen is applied, according to Gizmodo.
The dolls—which are treated with UV-sensitive material that can actually get sunburned—were tested by kids on the beaches of Rio de Janeiro and they had fun playing with them, according to the Daily Mail.
"Everybody knows that kids hate applying sunblock," said a representative of the ad agency, FCB Brazil. "That's why we created Nivea doll, a toy that sunburns when exposed to UV rays. Kids learn the importance of skin care as they apply sunblock on the doll to protect it."
"Our goal is to offer benefits that go beyond skin care," said Tatiana Ponce, Nivea's marketing director in Brazil. "We believe that investing in educational actions is the best way to raise awareness," Ponce added, saying that with the dolls, parents will have an easier time teaching their kids about wearing sunscreen.
Watch how these sunburned dolls actually work in the video below:
