How to Help your Kids Adjust to Daylight Saving Time

When your schedule is pretty packed, and your kids have more activities than ever, it becomes crucial that kids adjust to daylight saving time quickly so that they can keep up with school, homework, and activities. Well, on Sunday, March 8, 2026 you will get the chance to move that clock one hour forward or as we like to say: “Spring Forward”. So, what does this mean?! We will actually lose an hour of sleep, but we gain longer daylight. Here are some ways to help your kids (and you) adjust accordingly to daylight saving time (DST).

• Have your kids get to bed 15 minutes earlier 3-5 days before, as smaller, incremental shifts prevent harsh meltdowns and are less jolting to the body. Make bedtime something to look forward to, which yields intrinsic motivation. When my kids were younger, I would read to them a few pages in a book, rub their backs, say something kind to them, and put them to bed. And when they were really young, slow, rhythmically rocking helps with relaxation.
• Get into the morning light upon waking. When light enters your eyes, it helps wake the brain up too. Some creative ways you can incorporate this, is to have breakfast on the patio, open curtains upon rising, or go outside for a quick morning walk. This also lifts the mood!
• Adjust mealtimes accordingly. This helps with allowing the body to catch up with the times. And your body will soon adjust faster to the rhythm. Try not to indulge in snacks a few hours before bed time so that the body gets to rest from all that work of digestion!
• Reduce screen time in the evenings 60-90 minutes before bedtime. Blue light has been shown to delay melatonin release, which will reduce deep sleep. Instead, find a ritual that the kids look forward to before bed such as a quick, warm bath, or bedtime talk about the reels of the week.
• Keep a consistent bedtime routine, which will help keep things in pace. Moms are the gatekeepers of routines, so be mindful to build consistent bedtime routines which your kids will keep as they grow and when they get older.

And if the meltdowns still happen, don’t worry too much, give yourself some grace. Everything just takes a little time to work things out. And before you know it, the adjustment happens. Then it’s on to the next round of tasks, because as we know, this thing called motherhood is a wild ride full of adventures and pitstops along the way!