Time Change with Children: Daylight Saving Time, Standard Time - Help, the Clock Is Being Changed

Tips for Mastering the Time Change with Your Child

When the clocks change, parents often wonder how to make this as easy as possible for their children so that adjusting to a new daily rhythm isn’t so difficult. And as we parents know, this is often not easy, especially for younger children. Since children need a routine daily schedule, they don’t handle the switch from daylight saving time to standard time and vice versa as easily as adults do. The result: twice a year, children experience sleep disturbances, meal times shift, everything seems off, and mom and dad are literally tearing their hair out… We offer tips on how to smoothly manage the time change with your child and show you how to make the transition playful and easier for them.

When and Why Does the Time Change Exist?

But before we dive into the tips, let’s first clarify since when and why the time change exists at all. We won’t address whether it still makes sense today—that would probably fill entire blog pages...

The idea behind the time change is to save energy—at least that was the reason given when daylight saving time was introduced in the 1980s.

Set the Clock Forward or Back? The Same Question Every Year

And isn’t it true that many people not only question whether changing the clocks makes sense but also always wonder which way to set the time? Forward or back?

Here’s a little mnemonic:
In spring, you put the garden furniture out. In autumn, you put it back in the shed.

• Daylight Saving Time: On the last Sunday in March, clocks are set forward one hour (from 2 to 3 a.m.).
  
  
• Standard Time: On the last Sunday in October, clocks go back one hour (from 3 to 2 a.m.).

Child Sleeps When They Should Be Awake or Is Awake When They Should Sleep

A topsy-turvy world for children after the time change...

In spring, you’re supposed to go to bed earlier even though you’re not tired. That’s hard for adults who understand what’s happening. How must it feel for our children? Adults already have trouble falling asleep and wake up too early in the morning. In autumn, it’s the opposite. So the confusion is practically guaranteed: “Did I set the alarm clock correctly?” “Does the clock change automatically at night?” “Did I change all the clocks in the house correctly?” “When do I feed my baby at night, before or after the time change?” And as soon as the clock is changed, the problems start:

Problems Children May Experience Due to the Time Change

• Too awake for their nap
• Difficulty falling asleep while it’s still light
• Awake at night and not tired
• Extremely cranky in the morning
• Active playtimes shift when it gets dark earlier
• Meal times shift

Preparing Children for the Time Change

The best solution is to prepare children for the time change in advance by gradually adjusting their usual times by about 10 to 15 minutes. Specifically, shift sleep and wake times a little each day: forward in March and then gradually back in October. The reason is that shorter intervals are easier for babies and toddlers to handle because they are less noticeable.

Other helpful tips include scheduling active playtimes so that kids are truly tired when it’s time to go to bed. Parents can influence this well. Exercise is always a good tool because those who are properly worn out will sleep, regardless of whether it’s light or dark. Parents should also ensure that the usual times settle back into place after the change so that the routine returns. It happens more often than you think that everything gets out of control after a time change. To counter this chaos, there are many ways to prepare children playfully for the time change from an early age.

Introducing the Time Change to Children Playfully

Explaining and conveying the time change playfully to children makes a lot of sense. They can engage with it beforehand and often understand the effects more easily. A child who is prepared for a situation will react very differently than one who has no idea what’s happening. Of course, this depends on the child’s age. But nowadays, for example, there are picture books and learning clocks with seasons and a calendar that can be used to explain the situation playfully.

A great example is the howa learning play clock. Children can easily set the season, month, day of the week, date, time, and weather themselves. This way, children develop a sense of the passage of time. With play and fun, everything becomes easier.

For older children, you can explain the time change. This is much easier since they at least understand why they suddenly have to go to bed earlier. It’s important to know that the time change is challenging not only for children but for all of us, especially older people.

With that in mind, we wish you patience this year, mutual understanding for any bad moods that may arise in children or adults, or even for being late to work...

Looking on the bright side: with four seasons, we can be glad the clock only changes twice a year...