We all know how grouchy we are about losing an hour of precious sleep for Daylight Saving Time, but we can can usually deal with copious amounts of coffee and deriving comfort from the knowledge that our Circadian systems will even out (eventually). Unfortunately, we can’t really do the same with our kids who just don’t get why they have to be out of bed extra early for school, gymnastics or basketball practice. And it’s especially hard for little kids who don’t fully appreciate the wonderful fact that it’ll be light out later in the day.
Take a Nap
Even if your kids are too big for naps, the National Sleep Foundation recommends taking a little snooze on Sunday afternoon to catch up on any ZZZs you missed on Saturday night (just make sure it isn’t too close to bedtime). If you can’t convince the little ones to take a full-on nap, try putting on relaxing music, dimming the lights and having some quiet time.
Sleep In
Yeah, we know it seems unlikely, but the National Sleep Foundation also recommends sleeping in if possible. Make the room as dark as you can, and remove any clocks the kids may have in their room. It might be a long-shot, but it’s worth a try for everyone’s sanity.
Consistency Is Key
While the light outside and time are changing, it doesn’t mean your daily routines have to (at least not too much). Even if your kids are feeling the effects, try to stick to your typical day-to-day as much as possible. It’ll help them adjust without too much chaos both during the day and at bedtime.
Wait For Them to Adjust
The adjustment to Daylight Light Savings Time, and getting those aforementioned Circadian Rhythms under control is like adjusting to jet lag. Sometimes it just takes time.