Daylight Saving Time is Here: How Parents Can Help Kids Adjust Without the Chaos
Help your kids (and yourself) transition smoothly into daylight saving time
It’s that time of year again…
The clocks have moved forward, and if you’re anything like most people, you’re wondering why we still do this…
For some reason, and I’ve heard this from multiple other people, DST in 2025 is hitting harder, and people are more exhausted and impacted by it.
Why?
We don’t know (yes, I’m one of those feeling it more than normal)
But it is.
And for parents, it’s an even greater beast to figure out as you aren’t just losing one hour, you’re getting burned on two, because you’re going to bed an hour later than normal, and waking up and hour earlier than normal.
So, let’s break this down:
Why do we still do this?
What is it doing to our bodies?
How can parents keep their sanity now that we’ve “sprung forward?”?
A Brief History of This Madness
Daylight saving time has been around longer than your grandparents.
Ben Franklin joked about it in 1784, suggesting that Parisians should wake up earlier to save candles. But it wasn’t until World War I that DST was implemented to conserve energy.
Germany started in 1916, and the U.S. followed in 1918 under the Standard Time Act.
The idea?
Shifting an hour of daylight to the evening so people would use less electricity makes sense in theory, except modern studies show that it doesn’t save energy.
Yet, here we are, still moving the clocks forward every March.
DST has been a mixed bag:
✅ People love it because it gives us longer daylight hours in the evening.
❌ People hate it because it messes with sleep, schedules, and sanity.
And no group feels that second part more than parents.
Why This Time Change Wreaks Havoc on Our Bodies
Losing just one hour of sleep doesn’t seem like a big deal—until you realize your body runs on a finely tuned internal clock (circadian rhythm), and DST throws it off balance.
The effects of DST on health:
🩺 Heart health: Heart attack risks jump 10% the Monday after DST kicks in.
🚗 Accidents spike: Studies show a rise in car accidents, workplace injuries, and drowsy-driving crashes.
🧠 Brain fog & mood swings: Productivity dips and irritability rise as if Mondays weren’t bad enough already.
And for kids?
It’s even worse.
Sleep deprivation in children leads to:
😴 More tantrums (because what kid regulates their emotions more after being deprived of sleep?)
📉 Trouble focusing in school (teachers, brace yourselves as the kids are going to be off for a week or so)
🍭 Cravings for sugar and junk food (because their bodies feel “off” from a lack of sleep, children will have increased cortisol which raises appetite)
Parents, I know you’re already tired as you go through it, so let’s talk about how we can get the whole family back to “right” as quickly as possible.
How Parents Can Make DST Work for Kids (and Themselves!)
Daylight saving time doesn’t have to mean week-long chaos. Here are a few parenting hacks to help your kids adjust with minimal drama.
1. Adjust Bedtime Early
💡 Start shifting bedtime 15 minutes earlier each night 3–4 days before the time change, and 3-4 days after.
→ If your child normally sleeps at 8 p.m., start putting them down at 7:45, then 7:30, then 7:15.
2. Get More Morning Sunlight
☀️ Expose kids to bright natural light first thing in the morning.
Morning sunlight helps reset their body clock faster, so take them outside or open the curtains early.
3. Stick to Routines Like Glue
🔄 Keep mealtimes, naps, and bedtime consistent—even if they resist.
A predictable routine helps their bodies adjust to the new time faster.
4. Limit Screens Before Bed
📱 Blue light from devices suppresses melatonin (the sleep hormone), making it harder for kids to fall asleep.
Try a screen-free wind-down at least 30–60 minutes before bed.
5. Be Patient (With Them and Yourself)
💤 Sleep disruptions can last a week, so expect some grumpy mornings and sluggish afternoons.
Give everyone, yourself included, some grace while adjusting.
Will DST Ever Go Away?
Plenty of people are fed up with daylight saving time, and there’s been real political momentum to ditch it:
✅ In 2022, the U.S. Senate passed the Sunshine Protection Act to make daylight saving time permanent.
❌ But it stalled in the House, and we’re still stuck with time changes, for now.
Some states, like Arizona and Hawaii, don’t even observe DST.
Others are pushing for change.
Will the U.S. finally get rid of daylight saving time?
Maybe.
But not this year.
Make the Most of the Time Change
Yes, DST is annoying.
Yes, it’s an outdated system.
And yes, it messes with everyone’s sleep.
But with a little preparation, especially if you have kids, you can quickly minimize the chaos and return to normal.
So, parents, breathe deep, caffeinate as needed, and hang in there.
The good news?
At least this time change comes with more daylight.
- Zac Small