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Kids don't fall for time change sleight-of-hand
Most of us look forward to that delicious extra hour of sleep--but not preschoolers and their parentsDate published: 10/30/2009 RaeAnne Baker knows many of us are looking forward to that extra hour of sleep that comes with the return to standard time this weekend. She knows how good it feels to stay tucked in bed on a chilly fall morning, how restorative and delicious that bonus sleep can be. She also knows that, as the mom of a 3-year-old son, she won't be getting hers. Like his fellow preschoolers throughout the area--and throughout history--Connor doesn't care what the clock says. He'll wake up when he wakes up. And Baker knows that once the clock falls back an hour tomorrow night, Connor's natural wake-up time will probably be about 5 a.m. Soon after Connor rises, his big brothers, Cody, 5, and Christopher, 7, will be up, too. Only daughter Kayla, 14, will fully appreciate that extra hour, her mom predicted. Baker has noticed the effects of fall and spring time changes not only in her four kids but in the many preschoolers who attend La Petite Academy in Stafford County, which she directs. "Their bodies still wake up at the same time," she said. It usually takes a week, she said, before they're fully adjusted to the subtle differences in their routine--the later meals and snack times, and the fact that it will now be after dark in many cases before their moms and dads come to take them home. Evening also is when Ken Kroko most notices the effects of the fall time change on the children who attend Dawning Point-Chatham in Stafford, which he co-owns with his wife, Leigh Ann. It's not what the clock says that matters to kids; it's the fact that it's dark out. "They're a little more subdued, really," Kroko said. "They start winding down a little sooner." The littlest children may be fearful that their parents are coming late, and they need to be reassured that they haven't been forgotten. But the more noticeable difference is with the older children who attend the center for after-school care, Kroko said. "They get, probably, a little more grouchy," he said. Standard time means it gets dark earlier, and that cuts down on time the big kids get to play outdoors and burn off all that energy. Besides, they're old enough to realize that if they can't play outside at after-school care, they won't get to ride bikes or skateboard once they get home. "It's not bad behavior," Kroko explained. "They're just bummed out." The fortunate thing, both Baker and Kroko say, is how quickly the kids bounce back. "Kids are so resilient," Kroko said. "By the end of next week, they'll be fairly adjusted to it and rolling with the next thing." Laura Moyer: 540/374-5417
Date published: 10/30/2009
I agree Gary
(posted by
Tall_Eddie
, Oct. 30, 2009 1:27 pm)
We need to end standard time, and leave the clocks set to daylight savings time. The whole reason to change the clocks never worked for what it was supposed to do, conserve energy. Lets leave the time so it stays light out later so kids cam go play outside. Besides, we only have about 4 months of standard time now, its practically gone anyway.
Abolish Standard Time
(posted by
GaryShorts
, Oct. 30, 2009 7:45 am)
This is an excellent reason to abolish standard time! Standard time is harmful to children because, as the writer points out, it makes children think that they have been forgotten. Let's keep the clocks the way they are so that children can play outside.
Adjust
(posted by
LastManStanding
, Oct. 30, 2009 6:48 am)
They adjust. But that adjustment is a pain in the butt.
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