We hope you had a good holiday season surrounded by your loved ones and that you were able to recharge your batteries (with the kids running around). As the new year begins, we thought we'd bring you longer, more comprehensive articles from time to time on topics around the book Bonne Nuit, by Doupando, such as evening routines, sleep, reading... in short, anything that encompasses our world.

Sakina lit un livre bonne nuit

Sleep is an evolutionary necessity, even though sleep patterns change with age. Getting enough sleep and waking up when your body is ready to do so will always make your days more productive.

When night falls, many of us feel very tired and we look for an activity to distract us, some of us will watch TV or go on the Internet to take our mind off things, but this should not be the last activities of our brain before going to bed, because the blue light emitted by screens prevents us from falling asleep and having a good rest. According to studies, the best bedtime routines include activities like taking a shower, listening to music or reading a (printed) book; in fact, reading is one of the most recommended routines for the body to understand that it is time to rest, and it is a habit that can be cultivated from childhood.

Reading before bed helps reduce stress levels

A recent study from the University of Sussex in the UK found that just six minutes of reading before bed can reduce stress by 68%. Reading is an ideal activity to free the mind from the pressures of everyday life and prepare the body for sleep.

A routine that predisposes babies to sleep

Having a routine for children can be a great help in getting them to bed. Children have a lot of energy, which they release through play. For example, when it's time for bed, switch your child from loud play to a quieter activity, such as a bath and massage, and then read a story to get them to sleep. If you follow a regular schedule and schedule reading as the last activity for your child, he or she will be more relaxed because he or she will learn to connect the story to bedtime.

Benefits for the brain

According to data from the U.S. National Sleep Foundation, taking time to read to relax can help the body prepare for sleep, but that's not all! Children with reading routines develop greater activation of a region in the left hemisphere of the brain, called the parieto-occipitotemporal association cortex, which is responsible for several high-level neurological functions, such as language, visuospatial recognition, writing, reading, symbol processing, arithmetic, working memory, musical memory, face and object recognition.

Reading before going to sleep is more than just a sleep routine: it is therapy for the brain.

Improves concentration in children

Nighttime is the time of day when we are most tired and just want to fall asleep in bed; however, we need to make time to read a story to our children. When a parent, in addition to reading, portrays the story (changes in tone of voice with the characters, laughing, crying, onomatopoeia, etc.), they are able to easily hold their child's attention and improve their ability to concentrate.

Cultivate the habit of reading

Choosing regular reading times (especially before bedtime) helps children learn to sit with a book and relax. Children discover that through literature, they can discover completely new, original and fun worlds, which encourages them to read.

If you want to make reading a part of your child's routine, all you have to do is get stories that are right for your child. A personalized book is a great option for your child to feel drawn to and identified with the story you are telling. That's why Doupando created the "Good Night" book to help parents with their evening routine. The concept of personalization does not stop at the simple name of your child, it goes further by personalizing each of his physical characteristics so that the child feels unique!