Confessions of a night owl: spring ahead is HARD! Not only do I "forget" to go to bed earlier, but my kids' sleep schedules are unpredictable for at least a week, and I often don’t know what time it is because I usually forget to change the clock in my car. It never fails, that is the one clock I overlook... for days... and sometimes longer!
Glad to know I'm in good company:
Thank you, Daylight Savings Time... pic.twitter.com/lQHDZqjZfh
— The Tonight Show (@FallonTonight) November 2, 2014
Why do we have daylight saving time anyway ... and will it continue?
If you have a kid with a lot of questions, like I do, you might face this question: Why do we set our clocks ahead an hour in March?
Many think that the purpose of daylight saving time was to give farmers an extra hour of sunlight to work their fields, but this is a common misconception. Actually, the first time Daylight Saving Time happened during World War I to save electricity in the evening because it gave us an extra hour of daylight after work in the summer months.
Why has Daylight Saving Time continued? Well, that's up for debate. According to the Department of Transportation, the practice saves energy, prevents traffic accidents, and reduces crime. However, a 2020 study proved at least one of those statements wrong, showing fatal crashes went up 6% in the United States during the time after Daylight Saving Time occurred. Even the American Academy of Sleep Medicine also says the practice should be abolished and has lobbied for the U.S. to eliminate daylight saving time in favor of a year-round standard time.
Will Daylight Saving Time continue? As of the writing of this article the answer is yes. Last year, on March 15, 2022, just days after clocks were adjusted to “spring forward,” the U.S. Senate passed the Sunshine Protection Act of 2021 by unanimous consent, which would have abolished clock changes in favor of daylight saving time year-round. However, it wasn't voted on in the House, meaning the legislation had to start over in the new Congress. But on March 2, 2023, Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Florida, reintroduced it to the Senate, with a similar bill also introduced in the House. So if you want Daylight Saving Time to remain permanent there’s hope for next year.
Getty Images Signature via Canva
Get out the jokes
What does a clock do when it's hungry? It goes back four seconds! | Why did the girl throw the clock out the window? Because she wanted to see time fly. |
Why didn’t the clock work? It needed a hand. | When does a clock strike thirteen? When it's broken! |
What time does a duck wake up? At the quack of dawn. |
Welcomia via Canva
Check your smoke detectors!
On a more serious note (that means we're going to play adults here for a minute), the time change — both in the fall and the spring — is a great natural reminder to do important chores around your house. Kyrie Collins, the publisher of Macaroni KID Highlands Ranch-Parker-Castle Rock-Lone Tree, Colo. recommends using the time change as a reminder to:
- Change the batteries in your smoke/carbon monoxide detectors.
- Review and practice fire escape and family disaster plans.
- Inspect tires, headlights, taillights, and brake lights on all your vehicles.
- Inspect tires, brakes, and reflectors on bicycles and scooters.
- Turn and flip your mattresses.
- Check your medicines, vitamins, and first aid kits, replacing expired items and restocking items that have been used.
- Schedule needed doctor and/or dentist appointments.
