Schedules are so much a part of our lives with our kids that have special needs. With the slightest change, we may be in for upset. This Saturday night, before we go to bed, we will be changing our clocks for Daylight Savings Time (DST).
In order to try to avoid extra grumpiness and confusion, here are some ideas to do in the next few days:
- Try to have your child go to sleep 10-15 minutes earlier.
- Keep your routine as consistent as you can.
- Dim the lights in the evening and make them bright in the morning – so they get used to the extra sunlight next week.
- If your child likes social stories, make one. Or use the web to find a video about DST that they can watch.
- Try to get an extra walk in or any kind of activity to help your child exert some extra energy. Keep this up next week, and longer if you can. I have been known to break out into jumping jacks at home before dinner!
- Sticker or reward charts! If it helps your child to see progress on a chart, make one. You can give a sticker for getting into bed at a certain time and waking up as well .
- Keep communication open with teachers. If your child has had a rough night, let them know.
In addition to adjusting to the change of time, it is a great reminder to do these things at home:
- Change batteries in smoke / carbon monoxide detectors
- Change filters in AC / Heating units
- Check your tires on all cars and if service is needed- schedule
Remember, this is a transition, we also will be feeling cranky with the change, so be patient. Soon enough , we will be enjoying the extra sunlight and the Spring weather to come!