By Emily Bailey
Daylight Savings is just around the corner, and if you’re like me you struggle to get a decent amount of shuteye. Losing an hour of sleep doesn’t make it any easier. If it’s hard for you imagine what it would be like for your kids. You know what a change in schedule can do to their routines. Lets face it losing an hour of sleep isn’t something most people choose to sign up for.
Here are are five simple tips (originally collected here) that might help you and your family survive the switch to daylight savings time this Sunday.
- Start early – change the clocks early (Friday night). This allows your body to adjust to the time change before Sunday!
- Exercise – When you workout, your body releases a chemical called serotonin, which helps your body to adjust. Try to workout early in the day, rather than late at night. Working out late at night can actually interfere with your sleep quality. Kids do best when they are outside playing for at least 60 minutes a day. Tired kids go to bed!
- Nap wisely – Try to resist taking large naps late in the day. If you are tired, try taking a brisk walk around the block or nap earlier in the day (no more than 20 minutes).
- Digest – With the time change you may be hungry earlier or later than before. Give yourself ample time to digest diner before going to bed. Heavy meals will interfere with the quality of your sleep.
- Lighten up – The right combo of dark and light will help your body’s circadian rhythm readjust so you can fall asleep on your new schedule. When the kids wake up, open up the blinds, they will associate light with daytime. At night, dim down the lights, your kids will begin to associate darkness with bedtime.
Hey WaumbLand and UpStreet parents, to make it even easier for you, on Sunday March 10th, will be having a pajama party this Sunday! Your kids will be provided with oatmeal muffins and juice boxes for breakfast!
Adjusting to Daylight Savings will never be easy, but simply making a few changes to you and your family’s routines beforehand can make all the difference.
Emily Baily is the Connexus Children's Ministry LDP (Leadership Development Programme) intern for 2012-13. She also has half a lifetime of baby sitting experience under her belt. Her future plans include studying nursing full time beginning this fall.
