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Some Suggestions for Dealing with Daylight Savings |
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by jenlemen  (December 2006) (rank 19th) |
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I can still remember the neighborhood kids playing long into the night while we were snug in our beds. As a child I simply could not imagine that bedtime could be happening when the sun was shining outside--who cared if it was nine o'clock at night! Here are a handful
of suggestions for getting little ones back on track with Daylight Savings Time throws everyone for a loop:
- Talk to your kids. It may seem obvious, but sometimes we go through these transitions without so much as a word of explanation. Tell your kids the clock is changing on this day, show them the clock and tell them that this means we'll have more daylight for playing and working. Your little ones won't understand--yet--but school-age kids will be quicker to comply if they know what to expect.
- Stick to the schedule. It's tempting to follow the sun as your bedtime guide, but you'll be sorry come morning when you're trying to get everyone out of bed. I do my best to guard bedtime in the spring while the kids still have school, and then I lighten up when summer comes along with fewer early morning wakeup calls.
- Simulate night-time. My friends in Seattle (where the sun doesn't set until 10pm on a summer night) swear by black-out blinds. These special shades are designed to guard against residual light and can make a dark pitch black in a pinch. If this is out of your budget, dark blankets will serve just as well. Kids have an easier time going to sleep if the room feels mostly like nighttime.
- Allow for more wind-down time at bedtime. You might have to start earlier than usual--especially if your kids have been outside playing longer than the old schedule permitted. Add thirty minutes to your bedtime routine and spend the last fifteen reading books in your darkened room by candlelight. Forbid television, movies, active music or any other stimulating activity before bed.
- Expect some adjustments. The body is meant to sleep with the nighttime sky and wake with the sun. While you may be able to stick to your old schedule, be prepared to alter your schedule slightly to make space for the light. The kids will enjoy a few extra minutes at play in the evening or time with you in the morning when the sun wakes up.
Let me know how you're dealing with Daylight Savings these days in the comments below.
