Tips For Parents About Daylight Saving Time

Daylight saving time is a practice of setting the clocks ahead one hour from standard time, typically during the spring. It was first used in World War I to save on energy costs and it’s still used today for many reasons.

In the US and Canada, Daylight Saving Time always begins on the second Sunday in March and ends on the first Sunday in November. In other countries, the start and end dates may differ. People use the expression to spring forward to start daylight savings time and fall back to end daylight saving time. Springing ahead means you spring 1 hour ahead and lose an hour of sleep. So fall back you set your clocks back one hour and gain an hour of sleep. Most people like to gain an hour of sleep but don’t love all that early darkness!

The history of daylight saving time dates back to ancient civilizations when people would hoard daylight hours during periods of low sunlight. But it wasn’t until 1879 that Benjamin Franklin first proposed the idea of switching the clock forward to conserve coal that was being used to power street lights.

How to Deal with Daylight Saving Time as a Parent

• Adjust Your Child’s sleep schedule

Starting a few days to a week ahead of time, put your child to bed 10 to 15 minutes later (to fall back) or earlier than you normally would.

• Buy Black Out Shades

When Daylight Saving Time starts, you will definitely want or invest in black-out shades. It will still be light out for young children when their normal bedtime is 7 PM. This will help their bodies wind down with the darkness.

• Stick to A Routine

Continue with a solid nighttime routine like reading books, a warm bath, and milk before bedtime. This will trigger their bodies to know that it is time for bed too. Make sure your child is not using screens at least 2 hours before bedtime.

• Be Patient

Some children do really well with change but the majority of them prefer a structured bedtime routine. If your child is cranky during the process, just know within a few days things will be back to a normal routine. If all else fails, make sure you get them very tired out with lots of outdoor playtime. It’s great in general and will help them sleep well at nighttime.