New Zealand parents know the sun has a sharp edge. Our UV levels climb higher than almost anywhere else on Earth, and long days outside can be brutal on young skin. Hats are essential, yet getting the kids to wear one can feel like negotiating with an angry seagull. The good news is that children will often keep hats on heads when the hat in question is comfortable, familiar and designed for the way they move.
Sunday Afternoons has built a reputation in Aotearoa for creating children’s sunhats that kids actually want to wear. Once you understand why, the whole daily hat dance becomes much easier.
Comfort is the real deal breaker
Children respond instantly to how something feels. Scratchy seams, stiff brims and heavy materials cause irritation, which triggers a quick removal before you even finish adjusting the chin strap. A great kids' hat feels soft, light and forgettable in the best possible way.
Sunday Afternoons uses smooth, lightweight fabrics, soft internal bands and breathable panels that stop overheating. In hot Kiwi summers, this can be the difference between a child relaxing in the shade of their brim or ripping the hat off in frustration. Comfort creates compliance without any parenting heroics.
Fit is a form of trust
New Zealand children spend a lot of time on the move. Running down the beach, climbing playgrounds, jumping off rocks into rivers and exploring in the bush all place demands on a hat. If the fit is loose, wobbly or slides forward during play, the hat becomes a distraction.
A well-fitted hat builds a tiny sense of trust. It stays put without squeezing and moves with the child rather than against them. Adjustable sizing, soft chin cords and deep crowns help keep the hat stable in wind gusts, on boats and during energetic play. When a hat is no longer noticeable or hindering play, they stop thinking about it entirely.
Children respond to shape and movement
Many kids dislike large stiff brims because they can restrict their vision. Flexible brims solve this by offering full UPF protection without blocking sightlines. Children can play, look up, spin, roll and jump without feeling like they are inside a tunnel.
The Sunday Afternoons design team leans into this with brims that bend, move and bounce back. These shapes work alongside real-world kid-life, enabling little ones to nap comfortably in a stroller or carrier, and allowing the bigger kids to enjoy New Zealand’s active outdoor culture, where play tends to be fast, messy and energetic.
Breathability keeps them cooler
Children run hotter than adults. Add midday sun on a summer beach at Mount Maunganui or a long walk around Abel Tasman, and a child’s head becomes a tiny radiator. Overheating leads to quick hat removal.
Hats that breathe well change everything. Mesh panels, moisture-wicking bands and quick-dry fabrics help children stay cooler, which means they keep the hat on longer. This is practical sun safety: comfort extends wear time, and wear time is what protects skin.
Style matters, even for preschoolers
Adults sometimes underestimate how strongly children respond to colour, pattern and personal identity. A child will proudly keep a hat on if they feel it reflects something about them. Bright colours for beach adventures, fun prints for bush walks, or simple neutral tones for older kids all help create a sense of ownership.
When a hat becomes part of a child’s play identity, the habit becomes automatic. They reach for it themselves.
Positive routines beat constant reminders
Children love predictable rituals. A hat that is always comfortable, always fits and always feels like part of their adventure becomes an easy daily habit. Many Kiwi families use simple routines: hats by the front door, hats in the beach bag, hats clipped to the pram, hats on before sunscreen.
The easier the routine, the more seamless the behaviour.
Why Sunday Afternoons works so well for Kiwi families
New Zealand parents choose Sunday Afternoons because we focus on practical UPF protection suited to our climate. The hats are lightweight, adjustable, crushable, washable and built specifically for long days outside. They hold their shape after being stuffed into a pack, survive beach salt and dry quickly after swimming.
Children keep them on because they feel good, stay put and fit the rhythm of outdoor Kiwi life.
