The Case of the Extra Hour: Helping Kids with the Fall Time Change

Halloween brings plenty of mysteries. Why is the doorbell ringing again? Where did that last piece of candy go? And this year, why does the clock get an extra hour? Watson and Sherlock are on the case. Sherlock would also like to know whether the extra hour comes with breakfast.

Read the mystery together

Something strange is happening tonight… and it isn’t the ghosts.

At 2 a.m., the clock goes back to 1 a.m. “Where did that extra hour come from?” Watson wonders.

Mystery solved: daylight saving time is ending. In U.S. places that observe it, clocks move back one hour on Sunday, November 1, 2026. The hour from 1 to 2 happens twice. We change the time on our clocks; we haven’t made the sun do anything different. Sherlock’s next question: “Does this mean two breakfasts?” [1]

For grown-up detectives

An extra hour on the clock is not a promise of an extra hour of sleep. Our internal body clocks do not instantly reset when the numbers change. If your child usually wakes at 7 a.m., that same moment becomes 6 a.m. by the new clock. They may also feel sleepy earlier in the evening. The clock changed; their body is still catching up. [2, 3]

A simple plan for this weekend

If you are reading this between finding a costume and answering the door, you have not missed your chance to help. You do not need to turn Halloween into a sleep project.

Keep the familiar wind-down. After the costumes come off, return to the usual reassuring steps: teeth, a book, a cuddle, lights down. Predictability can help even when the evening runs differently. [2]

Ease toward the new schedule. Small changes to bedtime and naps can be easier than a big shift. Keep meals, play and bedtime reasonably consistent as everyone adjusts. [3]

Make room for daylight and quieter evenings. Spend some time outdoors during the day, and choose calmer, screen-free activities as bedtime approaches. [2]

Allow some patience. Adjustment may take several days, sometimes about a week. If sleep difficulties continue or you are concerned, bring them to your child’s healthcare team. [2, 3]

Notice → Wonder → Ask

Try this little investigation with your child. There are no grades, and “I don’t know yet” is a perfectly good answer.

NOTICE: What does the clock say? What clues tell you that you feel sleepy or awake?

WONDER: If we change the clock on the wall, does the clock inside our bodies know right away?

ASK: What familiar things help our family get ready for rest? Let your child choose one to do together.

You can draw a clock, make a detective face, or let Sherlock answer the questions. He may bring the conversation back to breakfast.

Keep investigating

Watson & Sherlock stories begin with everyday questions about the body. Meet the books and their curious detectives at SherlockTheDoodle.com.

Sources for grown-ups

[1] National Institute of Standards and Technology: Daylight Saving Time Rules. https://www.nist.gov/pml/time-and-frequency-division/popular-links/daylight-saving-time-dst

[2] American Academy of Pediatrics, HealthyChildren.org: Daylight Saving Time: Don’t Lose Sleep Over It. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/healthy-living/sleep/Pages/daylight-saving-time-dont-lose-sleep-over-it.aspx

[3] Nationwide Children’s Hospital: Helping Kids Adjust to the Time Change. https://www.nationwidechildrens.org/family-resources-education/700childrens/2025/10/helping-kids-adjust-to-the-time-change