10 Ways to Stay Grounded During Daylight Savings Time
Daylight savings may seem like a small adjustment, and most adults see it as an inconvenience, but for kids whose biological clock is programmed to getting up, eating, bathing, and such, at a particular time each day, that one-hour changes everything, physically and mentally.
The small event that shatters the norm
To help your kids, there are ways to save time that will get them back on track.
Tech Save time using technology. You already use it for a hundred other things, why not as a tool to help your family transition to the new hours of the day. Technology helps to save the day.
Babies
A baby, without knowing it, is on a schedule. They need diaper changes, feeding, and naps at roughly the same time every day. It will take a couple of days, but your baby will adjust. They might adjust to sleeping quicker with a baby bassinet on Top-mom.com.
Routines
Maintain your day to day. Kids need structure, and while daylight saves time with kids can be tricky, it is important to stick to their usual day. Routine is important for mental development.
Sleep
If you know that daylight savings are coming up, move your kids’ bedtime back an hour for a couple of days before. They will get used to it more easily if it’s less jarring. This will save them confusion and stress.
Not a big deal
If your reaction is stressed or handle it poorly, your kids will also be stressed. Make it into a small thing. It’s no big deal, so let them know you think its no big deal. They will follow your lead.
No tech after dark
Another great idea in save time tips, and this should apply every night, is to take away electronic devices an hour before bed. It allows them to power down, too.
Group nap
One of the ways to save time that the parents might enjoy is the family nap. All together or separately, it helps everyone balance out the changes with a family supportive dynamic.
More than sleep
Other things in your child’s routine will also be effected by the time change. Keep an eye on all of them, not just the new sleeping cycle. Small things can have unexpected effects on mood and lethargy.
Remain centered
While your little ones might not know what is happening, you do. And because they are oblivious to what daylight savings are, they might react poorly, and it is important that you stay calm and have patience. They will balance out. It just might take a couple of days.
Let it happen
It might go against your instinctual parent nature, but fighting the change won’t help. It is going to happen whether you intervene or not, so it is best to do what you can, and for the parts you can’t, be loving, supportive, and ride it out.
While there are several ways to save your family from the drama in dealing with the unexpected effects of this twice-a-year clock switch, ultimately it will boil down to you, the parent, and how you handle it. Save time with kids by setting the right example. Have you ever experienced issues with your children’s health and wellness due to daylight saving?
The author understands why this temporal concept exists, but as the times have changed, it is somewhat at odds with thy, it has not been conceptually dismissed. He is also thankful that most watches and electronic devices adjust automatically.
Author’s Bio
Amalia Liberman is a wife and a mother of two as well as a novelist and writer, the author has been featured in Women’s Health magazine and also written different articles in lifestyle magazines. Her passions lead her to search out knowledge with all her searching and she doesn’t mind sharing her findings.
