Summer is coming to an end, but kids' internal clocks might not have gotten the memo yet. Bedtimes may have drifted late, and now the alarm clock goes off early. Even families without a school-age child often find the whole household schedule shifting around them.

‍

For young children, that gap can show up as harder mornings, shorter fuses, and more resistance at bedtime.

‍

Here are a few steps to share with families in the visit:

1. Move bedtime earlier in small steps. Ten to fifteen minutes every 2-3 nights tends to work better than a sudden hour. Help caregivers set a target by working backward from wake time.
2. Protect the routine on the hard nights. The same three or four steps in the same order — bath, pajamas, teeth, two books, lights out — become the cue young children rely on, and busy evenings are when they're easiest to skip. Encourage parents to stay consistent when they can, and shorten the bedtime routine if it helps increase consistency.
3. Name what overtiredness looks like at this age. Caregivers often describe a child who is clingy, weepy, or "hyper" without connecting it to sleep Young children who are short on sleep frequently look wired rather than drowsy. Naming that early can reframe the behavior and make the plan feel worth the effort.

Try saying: "The first few weeks of a new bedtime are usually harder — that's expected, not a sign it isn't working."

In case you missed it, we recently shared this tip on dispelling sleep myths by text. Interested in getting more tips like this sent to your phone? Text HCP to 274 448 to subscribe.