Daylight Saving Time – Spring Forward

GET READY to “Spring Forward” 1 hour on this Sunday, Mar 8, at 2:00 AM clocks are turned forward 1 hour to 3:00 AM!

Tips for Managing the Time Change:

It is easy to forget. For starters, it is easy to miss Daylight Saving Time entirely. This is true for anyone, but especially someone who might have difficulty with executive function, like an Autistic person. If you forget to set your clock forward when everyone else does, you could be more likely to miss your appointments by being an hour late.

When we set the clocks forward, not only does the sun set later, but it rises later too. This can mess with our circadian rhythms, and might make it harder to get to sleep.

How to Make the Adjustment Easier

Explain what Daylight Saving Time is and why it exists if the concept confuses or annoys your Autistic child. Explain its history if they are not familiar with it. Tell them it is perfectly okay to find it illogical, but explain that they have to keep up with the time changes so they do not disrupt school and appointments.

Mark it on the calendar. Missing the time change or only realizing it is happening the day of can be destabilizing, and even lead to a meltdown. Prevent this problem by clearly marking the time change on the calendar and setting automatic reminders.

Block out evening sun. If the sun setting an hour later is causing you or your Autistic loved one to miss out on crucial sleep, try using blackout curtains.