Fall Back! (Daylight Savings Time)

FALL BACK! 

With fall in the air, this means the end of Daylight Saving Time is right around the corner. While some may be excited for the extra hour of sleep on the morning of November 7th, others may be wondering how they can get their child adjusted to the time change. For many kids, this can be a difficult adjustment and can result in a decrease in sensory regulation and an increase in sensory-related behaviors. We created this handout in hopes that it will help make this process go a little smoother.

Preparing for the Time Change

There are two different ways that you can prepare your child for the change in their sleep schedule𑁋plan ahead or adjust their bedtime after Daylight Saving Time ends. You can find descriptions and examples for both methods on the following pages. Please note that one option is not necessarily better than the other. You should choose the method that you think will work best for you and your family.

Bedtime / Wake Up Time Example: 8:00 PM to 6:00 AM

Method 1: Plan Ahead

This method involves slowly adjusting your child’s bedtime and wake up time before Daylight Saving Time ends.

If you choose to do this method, you will start a few days before Daylight Saving Time and adjust your child’s sleep schedule in 15 minute increments each day. Your child will hopefully be on the right sleeping schedule when the time changes on Sunday, November 7th at 2:00 AM. The table below shows an example of a bedtime/wake up schedule to prepare for the time change.

DATE	BEDTIME / WAKE UP TIME
WEDNESDAY  11/3/2021	8:15 PM to 6:15 AM
THURSDAY  11/4/2021	8:30 PM to 6:30 AM
FRIDAY  11/5/2021	8:45 PM to 6:45 AM
SATURDAY  11/6/2021	9:00 PM to 6:00 AM (time falls back during sleep)
SUNDAY  11/7/2021	8:00 PM to 6:00 AM

Bedtime / Wake Up Time Example: 8:00 PM to 6:00 AM

Method 2: Respond After

This method involves slowly adjusting your child’s bedtime and wake up time after Daylight Saving Time ends.

If you choose to do this method, your child who usually wakes up at 6:00 AM will most likely be up and ready to start the day on November 7th at 5:00 AM. He/she will also begin feeling drowsy around 7:00 PM (previously their original bedtime of 8:00). The table below shows an example of a bedtime/wake up schedule to get your child back on the right track beginning Sunday, November 7th.

DATE	BEDTIME / WAKE UP TIME
SATURDAY 11/6/2021	8:00 PM to 5:00 AM (time falls back during sleep)
SUNDAY 11/7/2021	7:15 PM to 5:15 AM
MONDAY 11/8/2021	7:30 PM to 5:30 AM
TUESDAY 11/9/2021	7:45 PM to 5:45 AM
WEDNESDAY 11/10/2021	8:00 PM to 6:00 AM

If you have any questions or concerns regarding your child’s sleep schedule or how to further help regulate during this time,

 please feel free to call us at 865-322-9252.

February Newsletter

Help us welcome our new student, Ms. Mishaela!

How can we say “yes” to our children's feelings and “no” to our children’s behavior? 

• Awareness! Our kids have BIG feelings! They are not able to process their emotions fully. It is age appropriate for our kids to have tantrums, meltdowns, and difficulty calming when faced with something upsetting. Being tired, hungry, sick, agitated, or sad will increase the difficulty processing emotions. 
• Validate our children’s feelings. Let’s practice telling our children that the way they feel is normal. Let them know their feelings are normal even if you don't understand or agree with their reaction. 
• Help calm the immediate emotion. Strategies for calming down: Sucking through straw, blowing out candles, walking, jumping, obstacle course, distraction, use the brushing protocol (if we have trained and educated you on how to perform). Sometimes a little attention, love, and hugs can also calm an upset child. Come to us for more strategies specific to your child. 
• Discuss and process. At this point, they may be ready to talk about their behavior. Talk about other ways they can express anger, frustration, stress without acting out. You can tell them how their behavior made you feel. If they are old enough, help them problem solve what they could have done differently and what they would like to try to do next time they are upset. 

This strategy for addressing behavior takes more time initially, but with practice, it is effective and becomes easier and quicker. It also teaches children strategies they can use when you are not able to be there. This also promotes a great foundation for open and
honest communication as they get older and are faced with even tougher choices.

Why Do We Play?

We get it! In occupational therapy all you see us do is… PLAY! Swinging, building and going through obstacle courses, playing in sand, foam soap, water buckets, ball pits, finger painting, throwing balls.. But, WHY? Well, there’s a purpose to everything we do. Play with a purpose. Kids learn best through play, through experiences, through movement and through interactions with others. It’s how our brain develops and ultimately how we evolve into higher functioning, emotionally regulated adults. 

Why Do Kids Chew?

Shirts, pencils, hands, hair, random objects.. But, WHY? Let’s break it down. Here are a few common reasons your child might turn to chewing and how you can help them cope. The mouth is our first sensory seeking organ from gestation. Babies use their mouths to suck and eventually to blow, lick, eat, chew, kiss and talk. 

Winter Update

As winter is amongst us, we at Growing Wise Therapy want to remind you of our policies, as to provide the best possible care for our Growing Wise family! 

January Newsletter

Happy New Year, Growing Wise Family! 

A big, big thank you for all the love and support this past year! 

We hope the holidays were enjoyable for you all! With new year, we are hoping to incorporate new things! We are planning to do a monthly newsletter through this blog. We hope to keep you updated with any changes and also send information about occupational therapy, actives to do with your kiddos, and also recommendations. We love to be interactive with you all, so if there is anything you would like to see in the newsletter or any questions/recommendations you have, let us know! Here is our January topic!