It is that time of year to spring forward and although many look forward to longer hours of sunshine, for many families it is a frustrating time adjusting to less sleep. This time of year can throw schedules out of whack leaving children in tantrums and parents desperately looking for and an extra mug of coffee. Here are some helpful hints to help your family transition through daylight savings time with ease.
Blackout curtains are your friend.
Most parents of babies know the importance of blackout curtains and would not survive without them, but as children age parents can sometimes forget how magical the advantage of controlling the light in a child’s bedroom can be.
Practice good night time routines.
Limiting your children’s media use in the hour before bedtime will help slow down brain activity and prepare children (and adults) to ease into sleep on a regular basis. In fact, it is a smart idea to remove all electronic media, including tablets, TVs and phones, from their bedrooms to relieve distractions and encourage good sleep habits.
Adjust naps and bedtimes.
Getting more rest prior to the time change will make the shift easier for your children. Keep children sleeping on a regular schedule and increase their total sleep time by 15 to 30 minutes a day for a few days prior to assure they are getting good quality sleep leading up to the time change.
Be patient.
It is hard to be patient when you are also sleep deprived but children will feed off the energy of their parents. If you are patient and calm with your child, in most cases you can stop the circle of frustration in its tracks.
