The holiday season is a wonderful time, but being festive can take a lot out of you. Our smallest celebrants are often hardest hit: All of the excitement – not to mention extra helpings of sweets – can lead to a crash when you least expect it. Hence the importance of incorporating regular “quiet time” into children’s routines – especially for children who no longer nap. Setting aside an hour or so in the day for them to retreat to their room without the distraction of television or other people allows them to rest and recharge while encouraging independence, creativity, and self-regulation.

Audiobooks can be a wonderful way for kids to unwind, especially if you avoid the frantic stimulation of most contemporary children’s entertainment. We recommend these five classics instead.

Sergei Prokofiev wrote “Peter and the Wolf” as a way to introduce children to the various instruments of the orchestra; almost a century later, this charming fairy tale still gets the job done. “Gramophone” magazine has a handy guide to the many versions available, which includes one with lovely narration by David Bowie.

E.T.A. Hoffmann's story "The Nutcracker" is a holiday classic, especially when paired with music from Tchaikovsky's ballet adaptation. Claire Bloom's 1977 version is one of the best.

Like "Peter and the Wolf, "Carnival of the Animals" by Camille Saint-Saëns represents various animals through music. Try this excellent version.

The gentle storytelling of Beatrix Potter's "The Tale of Peter Rabbit" is ideal for settling down, especially when heard in the soothing voice of Wanda McCaddon

So accustomed are we to the Disney version of A.A. Milne's "Winnie-the-Pooh" that we've forgotten how enchanting the original can be. Alan Bennett's reading of the stories is a beautiful reminder.