How Does The Time Change Affect Children?
Time changes have effects on people, although many times we do not even notice them. Children are not exempt from this situation. The main problem that the time change causes in children has to do with rest and the interruption of their sleep cycle.
Not everyone agrees with the time change, and this occurs in most countries where it is implemented. Government officials say this enables significant energy savings. In contrast, those who question them argue that their benefits are not so obvious.
In one position or another, we must all comply if we do not want to be against society. Even the children. The modification consists of turning the clock back one hour at the beginning of winter and advancing it one hour in summer. Both pursue the purpose of making better use of natural light, among others.
The changes caused by the time change in children can be corrected in a couple of days. However, in the meantime, your pace of life may change a bit. We tell you the details about this topic below.
What does the time change cause to children?
According to the Spanish Association of Pediatrics (AEP), children are the age group in which the time change produces more intense and lasting effects. It may take three or four days, or even a week, to adjust to them.
The explanation for this phenomenon is that our brain has hourly regulators that are guided by sunlight. They are in charge of managing the times of eating and physical activity, among others.
This time change in children produces a certain hormonal disorientation. The brain becomes confused and needs some adaptation time to re-synchronize the activities it had “programmed”.
Depending on the age of the child, the problems that he will suffer will be different:
- Infants: they can present changes in their meal times. This can manifest itself during the night or also in the day.
- School-age children: These modifications can make it more expensive for them to wake up in the morning. In addition, as a consequence, they may suffer attention and concentration deficits in the first days of class after the change.
On the other hand, poor sleep can affect the mood of infants. It should not surprise us, therefore, if we notice them irritable, fatigued, and in a bad mood these days.
Recommendations to mitigate its effects
Faced with these consequences caused by time changes in children, experts recommend acting in advance. How is it possible to do it? Here are some helpful suggestions.
In the first place, it is necessary to have a “background work” to smooth out the changes in the time change. By this we mean that those little ones who are used to a regular rhythm of life adapt more easily in these circumstances. On the contrary, those with changing schedules suffer a little more from these modifications.
However, this not all. We can also pay attention to other details that will make a difference:
- Some time before the change, begin to advance the child’s activities between 10 and 15 minutes. Thus, the transition will be more progressive.
- Waking up the children with the room already naturally lit.
- Offer them a good breakfast to replenish the extra energy that is consumed. Nuts help older children regulate their circadian clock.
- Avoid daytime naps.
- Perform physical activity to promote better rest.
- Emphasize nighttime habits that promote the production of melatonin, the sleep hormone. Keeping children away from television, cell phones and computers at this time is therefore very important.
- As much as possible, involve them in relaxing activities such as reading, so that their sleep appears at the right time at night.
Finally, it is necessary to know that you will have to be patient until the effects that the time changes cause to the children are overcome. It is not their fault nor is it that they do not want to collaborate; it is only a change to which our body is forced. Patience and collaboration, they will resume their normal life.
