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7 ideas to calm your child during the festive chaos
With the festive season right around the corner there is always a flurry of excitement in the air. Cleaning the house before Diwali, shopping for new decor, gifts & sweets, planning Diwali get-togethers... it can get overwhelming for even the most adept planner isn’t it? Typically during such times, do you find your kids getting anxious, overactive, irritable or just filled with extra excitement with no outlet? Not to mention the anxiety that some kids may have due to the noise pollution caused by firecrackers! Well, we have put together a few ideas that can help calm your child during the festive chaos. Save & share this to help fellow parents! Stress balls Squeezing a stress ball often relaxes muscle tension and gives fidgety kids something to do. Turn this into a bonding activity by making some stress balls at home together with your kids. How: Fill up balloons with rice, flour or pulses. Image source: www.onecrazymom.com Discovery Bottles These bottles are a great way to calm newborns, toddlers, older kids as well as adults! All you have to do is take empty plastic bottles and fill them up with any of these options: Glitter & water + oil Colourful pom pom balls Colourful water + baby oil Blue water with sea shells Coloured water with soap for bubbles Different shaped buttons www.messymotherhood.com www.funathomewithkids.com www.teachertypes.com After filling the ingredients seal the bottle cap firmly using glue or tape. Read books with them The best way to make kids calmer is by reading to them. Especially when the story is all about them, kids tend to get immersed into it & forget about the ‘discomfort’. Try personalized storybooks for your kids and watch them get totally hooked to the story. Order your books here. @momknowsmebest @mewithmysonshine @chatterfromamom Quiet Corner Create a thinking corner in your house where your kids can go to spend some quiet time by themselves. Often kids don’t need anything but some space to calm themselves down & feel normal again. Make this corner feel warm & cozy by adding in some storybooks, a blanket, some soft toys & posters. @annareyner @whitneymarie_F Lavender Playdough Lavender induces calmness & sleepiness. Create some lavender infused playdough & keep it ready for use when needed. Use regular flour, warm water, edible oil, salt, purple food colouring & some glitter to make your regular playing dough. Add a few drops of lavender essential oil to this & knead it to form soft dough. www.theartkitblog.com Open-ended art Give your child some paints, newspapers & open-ended material for a relaxing art activity. Spread the newspapers on the floor and lay out the paints. Tie up some twigs, leaves, use stones, pebbles, empty bottles & cans – let them use any material they like as a paint brush. www.kindercare.com www.handsonaswegrow.com Browse through their Photobook together If you have a journey book of your child or a family photobook then bring it out and distract them with pictures of them as a child or happy family times from the past. It helps children feel secure & safe. Create yours here. @justmommyfied @thecompulsivemommy @thecompulsivemommy You can easily prepare some of these ideas and keep it ready in advance to avoid stressful times during festive seasons. You can also order personalized storybooks by Zooboo as Diwali gifts, return gifts or just an addition to your kids library! Write to us at customerservice@zoomin.com for bulk orders or order from www.zooboostory.com to avail the best discounts & offers! Keep smiling, keep reading!
10 Tips to make your child love reading!
Does your child run away from books? Are you looking for ways to making reading time more fun and less boring? Are you tired of extended screen time for your child? If you answered yes to any of these questions then this useful article is exactly what you need, trust us! This week we partnered with the amazing Mom Blogger @Vandita.momandmore who spends dedicated time reading different types of books to her 2.8 year old son Viaan. When it came to helping fellow parents, she was more than happy to share her personal tips on raising a budding bookworm. Here are 10 super useful, realistic, tried & tested tricks penned by her! “I don't consider myself an expert, just a fellow parent trying her best to inculcate a love for reading in my little guy. Whether my son will continue to love books or not, I don't know! But for now, I'm doing my bit! Here are my top 10 tips to raise a reader: START EARLY - If possible, start when the child is in the womb. I know not everyone is comfortable with it. So you determine what's early enough for you. I started reading to my son when he was 3 months old. 2. TRY PERSONALIZED STORYBOOKS! - Try personalized books to engage your kid. Reading his name in his storybook was a big excitement factor for my kiddo! I tried Zooboo’s ‘What's behind the door Viaan?’ and he was thrilled to read his name in the storybook. His interest in reading definitely went up after that. 3. CONSISTENT ROUTINE - Schedule reading time in a day - it may be before each bedtime and make this consistent. But don't watch the clock, watch only your child. Watch which parts they laugh at, what they ask for repeats of, which pages they like to linger on. 4. HAVE BOOKS EASILY ACCESSIBLE - Place books in different areas of the house - for eg, a small bookshelf in the dining area, a basket of books on the play mat, some books by the bedside table, and some in the child's closet. The books should be easily accessible to the child without any adult help. 5. READ EVEN WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE AN ACTIVE AUDIENCE - Don't expect little ones to sit through a book with rapt attention each time or even sometimes. I have often read to my son even when he's roaming around the room and playing with something else. But he's still receiving the language input and picking up on my tone, fluency, expression and body language. 6. MAKE IT INTERACTIVE - Have fun with role-playing - try out different accents and voices for characters. Have your children point to pictures and words and repeat them. 7. RE-READ FAVOURITES - It will give kids the opportunity to hear or see something that may have been missed the first time and provides another chance to hear a favourite part 8. CREATE BUZZ AND EXCITEMENT AROUND BOOKS - Gift books to your kids every chance you get. Gift books to other kids on occasions or have them donate a book to someone in need. Involve them in the gift buying, wrapping and giving process. 9. TALK, TALK, TALK! - A child's vocabulary grows through rich conversations. No matter your child's age, narrate what you're doing, talk in full sentences, and sprinkle your conversations with interesting words. 10. BE A READER YOURSELF - Monkey see, monkey do! Model the right behaviour, let the child see you enjoy books. Remember, you get to decide if you make reading aloud taste like medicine or chocolate!” Try a mix of these tips with your own parenting styles to encourage the habit of reading in your kids. Research has shown that personalizing a child’s books makes them more curious to read. Try it out yourself with Zooboo’s books that allow you to customize your child’s name on the cover page and throughout the storybooks! Did you know that Zooboo books have been penned by some of India’s award-winning authors? Click here to read more about the amazing panel of Zooboo’s authors.
This Daughter’s Day, take a pledge to empower your girl!
“Daughters are angels sent from above to fill our hearts with unending LOVE!” This year, International Daughters Day on September 26th 2021 is a truly special day. After all, daughters are one of the most special gifts of God isn’t it? They say that a daughter can outgrow your lap but she will never outgrow your heart. And so let us shower our beloved little girls with all the love, blessings, nourishment & gifts that we can as they continue on their journey towards becoming independent global citizens of tomorrow. And you know the best gift you can give her? The gift of reading & imagination. The gift of dreaming & having goals. The gift to be whoever she wants to be! Today, let us pledge to empower girls of all ages to make them capable of facing challenges, securing their rights & fulfilling their dreams. Here are some tips & tricks that can help you raise an independent young girl: Books! Introduce books to her from an early age. Start with reading picture books and read-aloud books. Gradually let her explore books independently on a variety of topics. Try to include books with boy as well as girl characters. Books with an Indian touch to the plot, characters picturization are easier for kids to relate to while growing up. Books like Zooboo’s ‘What shape would you be?’ help to impart an important message to kids about – ‘You are good and you are enough just as you are’. It embeds the learning of ‘self-appreciation’ early on in their minds. Strong Female role models Expose her to as many strong female role models as possible. Narrate stories of women who have made achievements in different fields. Encourage discussions around breaking stereotypes & balancing all types of roles in life. Some women role models that you can narrate stories about: Malala Yousifazi – activist Kalpana Chawla – first woman of Indian origin to venture into space as an astronaut Indra Nooyi – CEO of Pepsi Co. Michelle Obama - Lawyer, advocate, First Lady of the United States. Ela Bhatt – activist & founder of Self-Employed Women's Association of India (SEWA) Mary Kom – Indian Olympic boxer (the only female to make a six times winning record of World Amateur Boxing Championship) Faye DSouza - Independent Journalist Sensitize them to gender neutrality With the MCC adopting the gender-neutral term ‘batter’ in place of ‘batsman’, it is time for Indian parents to adopt a more gender sensitive approach in day-to-day life as well. Here are a few gender-neutral terms that you can use at home to inculcate a sense of equality in the minds of your kids from a young age: Synthetic instead of man-made Common person instead of common man Fire fighter instead of fireman Police officer instead of policeman Principal instead of headmaster Replace ‘man’ in phrases and quotes by ‘person’ To read more about gender neutral language click here. Awareness about world issues Generate awareness in your kids about major issues in the world including environmental concerns, religious and political issues and especially issues faced by women like violence, basic rights violation, lack of education, gender pay-gap etc. Try to keep personal prejudice aside and encourage open discussions on these topics. Create a sense of comfort in them to let them voice their opinions without hesitation. Regularly ask for her opinion Involve your daughter in making decisions right from an early age. Asking her opinion in day to day matters will build confidence in her. It will ensure that she feels valued and isn’t afraid to think, have an opinion and confidently share it too. Encourage her to try new things Whether it is perceived to be ‘a boys activity’ by society or not, if your daughter wishes to try something new, different or unconventional, encourage her to do so. Support her in every way you can to move out of her comfort zone and take up new challenges. Whether it’s an unusual sport or a new adventure, she should feel courageous to follow her heart. We hope these small cues help you in raising conscious, confident and global citizens of tomorrow. And remember, the first step towards this journey starts with inculcating a habit of reading books. So start with Zooboo books today! Keep reading!
Shop with BIBA Girls & win a FREE personalized Zooboo storybook!
On this International Daughter’s Day (September 26th 2021), let us shower our beloved little girls with all the love, blessings, nourishment & gifts that we can as they embark on their journey towards becoming independent global citizens of tomorrow. Here is a sweet little deal to help you brighten up your daughter’s weekend: !! EXCLUSIVE DEAL FOR BIBA SHOPPERS !! Shop with BIBA Girls from September 24th-26th & win a FREE personalized Zooboo storybook! What is Zooboo... and what exactly is a personalized storybook? About Zooboo Born out of the love for story-telling, Zooboo (www.zooboostory.com) allows you to personalize your kid’s storybook with their name! Discover high quality storybooks written by India’s award-winning authors. All books include stunning illustrations & a host of concepts like opposites, colours, shapes, descriptive words, animal sounds, animal features, emotions, family bonding and more. You can personalize each book with your daughter’s name which will reflect on the cover page as well as throughout the storybook, thus making her the STAR of her book. You can also customize the character as a girl. Personalize 10+ book titles from award-winning Indian authors on www.zooboostory.com. All the books are age-appropriately written for 0-9 year olds and can be ordered in 5.5”x5.5” or 8”x8” size in softcover or hardcover formats. Each book has rounded edges for child safety. Steps to order your FREE Zooboo book: After your completing your purchase with BIBA you will receive an SMS with the free book coupon code. Log on to www.zooboostory.com & select the book of your choice based on your child’s age & interest. Here, you can add their name, pick the character, select the book type & preview the entire story as well To finish your order you will be directed to www.zoomin.com where you would need to register At checkout, apply the coupon code (sent in an SMS to you by BIBA). The 5.5”x5.5” softcover storybook worth Rs. 399 is FREE for you, enjoy! Terms & Conditions: Complete your purchase with Biba to be eligible for the free storybook. Coupon code sent to you by Biba will give you a discount of Rs.399 on Zooboo website thus making the 5.5”x5.5” softcover storybook free. Add Rs. 100 to upgrade to a hard cover book & Rs. 200 to upgrade to the larger size of 8”x8”. Shipping charges will be applicable. Coupon code can’t be combined with any existing offers on www.zooboostory.com. You will need to log in to www.zoomin.com to complete the purchase of your book. Order your books today & enjoy the magic of personalized storybooks!
Meet the Zooboo authors!
"A word after a word after a word is power." - Margaret Atwood Writing a book is no piece of cake. And writing a children storybook is even more challenging! Storybook authors have to get into the heart of little kids who want fun + excitement as well as in the minds of parents who want some learning out of books... sounds tricky isn’t it? Well, Team Zooboo is thrilled to have on board with us award-winning authors from the Indian children’s storybook industry! We are proud to be associated with this prolific team of writers who have authored the 5 exciting new Zooboo books. Haven’t checked the new books out yet? Click here to read all about the 4 new books + the 5th latest sibling special book! Here is a little introduction to the 5 new Zooboo book authors Nandini NayarBook: What shape would you be?0-3 years | Shapes, imaginative play, self-appreciation Nandini Nayar is the award-winning author of over 60 books for children of all ages. She is India’s most prolific children’s writer, with books published by well-known Indian publishers like Tulika, Karadi, Amar Chitra Katha, Scholastic, Puffin, HarperCollins, Juggernaut, Pratham, Eklavya, Talking Cub and Mango. Her international publishers include Oxford University Press, Pakistan, Frances Lincoln, and Tricycle Press. What Shall I Make? was named an outstanding book by the United States Board on Books for Young Readers. Pranav’s Picture, What Shall I Make?, Guddu’s Photo and The House of Fourteen Cats feature in the list of books recommended by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE). What Shall I Make? and What Did You See? feature in 101 Indian Children's Books We Love (Zubaan). Her early chapter book, Mini’s Questions, was on the recently announced Parag Honour List 2021. For more information, please visit her website www.nandininayar.in Veena SeshadriBook: Is your cat in the Zoo?0-3 years | animal sounds, rhyming words, learning to be responsible Veena Seshadri is a Bangalore based editor and writer whose work has been featured in publications in India and abroad, and broadcast by the BBC World Service and AIR. She has been awarded the first prize in the Hindu-Picador, Femina, and British Council short story competitions, and in the British Council All India Playwriting Competition. She has written books for children, such as The Man Who Thought He Was Smarter than His Wife, and The Woodcutter of Gura, and has worked on five children’s magazines as an editor and content provider. She has also been a consulting editor for a reputable publishing house in India, and is the co-author of Chicken Soup for the Indian Spiritual Soul and India: A to Z. Roopa PaiBook: A1 Summer6-9 years | Sibling bonding, connecting with nature, fun with gadgets, respecting elders Roopa Pai is one of India’s best-known writers for children. This Bangalore-based author has written over 25 books, ranging from picture books to chapter books and fiction to non-fiction, on themes as varied as sci-fi fantasy, popular science, maths, history, economics, Indian philosophy, life skills, and most recently, medicine. Many of her books are bestsellers and are enjoyed as much by adults as by children. Her most popular books include the 8-part Taranauts, India’s first fantasy-adventure series for children in English, the life-skills book Ready! 99 Must-Have Skills For The World-Conquering Teenager, the bestselling So You Want To Know About Economics, and the award-winning The Gita For Children, listed by Amazon India as one of ‘100 Indian Books To Read In A Lifetime’. Her TEDx talk ‘Decoding The Gita, India’s Book Of Answers’ has received over 1.8 million views to date. Her most recent book for children is From Leeches To Slug Glue: 25 Explosive Ideas That Made (And Are Making) Modern Medicine. Naimisha SanghaviBook: Lost Smile4-8 years | vocabulary skills, understanding emotions, imagination skills, dealing with disappointment From an economics and business graduate to an upcoming writer, Naimisha’s journey started with developing and writing course material and activities for academic world. A writer by choice and ‘edupreneur’ by profession, she has been developing content for children for over 20 years. The urge to always have some creativity that nudges the mind and heart of children, is her topmost priority whenever she writes anything for children. Jinny KaraniBook: A Surprise for4-8 years | opposites, descriptive words, father-child bonding Jigna Karani has been in the field of education since 20 years. She is a trained Montessori teacher with a B.Ed in Special Education for Learning Disabilities and M.A in Ancient Indian Culture. She has worked in renowned schools in South Mumbai teaching subjects like English, History and Math across various grades. She has worked extensively with children aged between 2 to 10 years, conceptualizing and implementing various new techniques for better learning of children and helping them acquire different skills. Enhance your children’s language skills with books written by these expert authors. Opposites, colours, adjectives, descriptive words, shapes, animal features, animal sounds, numbers, backward counting, imaginative-play, family bonds, learning to be responsible, self-reliant, self-appreciative... Zooboo books include SO many learning concepts weaved into exciting story plots! Pick from 10+ titles to personalize for your kids today! Enjoy 50% off + free shipping on these books. Order today!
7 reasons why you will LOVE this sibling special book.
How many of us miss those carefree days spent enjoying the school summer vacations with siblings & cousins? Can you remember at least one memorable trip to your native village? The brand new Zooboo book ‘A1 Summer’ is a heart warming narrative that is all about a summer vacation spent away from devices, internet, pizza & sleepovers! As two siblings try to adjust to the life in a quiet village, they discover that seemingly simple activities can bring a whole lot of joy & fun. Don’t you agree that this is a highly valuable lesson to teach children in the current times? We can promise you that this book will be a SUPER HIT amongst the elders, parents as well the kids of the family! Here are 7 reasons why: Customize it in 4 waysOne of the best parts about this book is that is customizable in FOUR different ways. Yes that’s right! You can add names & characters to reflect all types of sibling relationships: elder sister-younger brother, two sisters, elder brother- younger sister & two brothers!If you’re gifting an only child then you can surely add a cousin or friends' name. 2. Adjusting to change:Kids often need more time than adults to adjust to a change in environment/routine. This book sheds light on how transitions that might seem difficult initially can be overcome with time & patience. 3. Respecting the elders in the family:Kids often don’t realize that they might unintentionally come across as disrespectful, especially to the elders of the family. This important lesson is something we encourage all parents to gently explain to the little ones while reading this book. Persistence & gentle clarifications are the key. 4. Learn new words:This book is filled with a host of new words – action words, descriptive words, adjectives, verbs & so many more language skills for your child to pick up while reading! 5. Life away from devices:A key highlight from this special book is to encourage kids to understand & appreciate a life away from devices. In this day & age, kids all over are compelled to depend on devices whether for education or leisure. A twist in the narrative persuades the young ones to admire the quiet life & simple pleasures of a village life. 6. Helping others:Another social skill that is featured in the book is the good deed of helping others. Whether it is being there for your family when they are upset or helping those less fortunate than us by our skills – this book is filled with an emotional connect about empathy. 7. Delightful illustrations:We can’t put into words how adorable the illustrations are in this book. Don’t take our word for it, check it out yourself while previewing the book on the website! A1 Summer is a great read for all 6-9 year olds, but we have been told that adults can’t seem to put it down either!Aren’t you excited to read about 2 sibling’s summer vacation in the village? What changed for them? Did they adjust well? What fun activities do they plan? Well you’ll just have to read it to find out!Click here to customize this book in 4 different ways & pick from 6 book formats! Stay safe & keep reading!
A peek inside 4 NEW Zooboo books!
We, just like YOU, love everything that has to do with books, reading, concepts, bright illustrations & personalization. And after months of hardwork, research, testing & trials we are proud to announce the addition of FOUR new books to the world of Zooboo! Just like the first 6 titles, these new books are packed with fun, excitement & a ton of learning concepts. You can personalize them by adding your child’s name on the cover page and throughout the story. You can also pick the character of the protagonist (girl/boy). To read more about the first 6 books, head over to Article 1 & Article 2! We are so excited for your kids to enjoy these amazing new books, that we put together a short summary for each of them, just for YOU! 1. What shape would you be? About: What if you could be any shape that you wished for? This fun-filled book is an exciting way to introduce your child to the world of shapes! With every page your little one will learn a new shape in a totally unique way. Don’t miss this book filled with quirky illustrations. Ages: 0-3 years Key learnings: This book focuses on shapes, imaginative play, colours and action words. The story wraps up with a sweet message of self-appreciation & loving ourselves just as we are! 2. Is your cat in the Zoo? About: This book will make your child fall in love with the animal kingdom as he/she searches for their lost pet cat in the Zoo. With a cute rhyme scheme and eye-catchy graphics, this one might just become your child’s favourite animal book! Enjoy a walk through the Zoo and learn about different animal sounds with this one. Ages: 0-3 years Key learnings: This book will introduce your child to different animals in the zoo, animal sounds, rhyming words & rhyme-schemes. You can also talk to them about the responsibility of owning a pet & about pet care. 3. A Surprise for About: A day spent with daddy dearest while enjoying the excitement of a fun fair, that’s what this entertaining book is all about! Watch your kid grin as they experience the thrill of ridding on a roller coaster and the joy of playing carnival games through this engaging book. Filled with bright and colourful illustrations, your child NOT be able to put this one down. Ages: 4-8 years Key learnings: This book focuses on a host of opposites, descriptive words, adjectives and ofcourse father & child’s special bond. 4. Lost Smile About: This fantasy tale will take your child on an exciting adventure in an enchanted forest! In the quest for their lost smile, they will meet magical creatures and explore the woods together. This one will mesmerize your child with its delightful illustrations, unique characters & engaging storyline. Ages: 4-8 years Key learnings: Your child will be able to enhance their language skills, learn new words & augment their imagination & social skills with this book. It is also a good way to teach your kids about dealing with disappointment and becoming self-reliant. Head over to www.zooboostory.com to explore these super exciting 4 new books today! Personalize them & gift them to any 0-8 year old & watch their eyes shine as they read their name in it. All our 10+ books are the perfect keepsakes, educational gifts and apt additions to any kiddos library. Personalize them now!
6 activities to make this Rakhi a memorable one for your kids!
Rakshabandhan is one of the most awaited festivals for all brothers & sisters right? The excitement of gathering with all cousins, tying colourful Rakhis to all brothers, eating sweets & of course – exchanging gifts! Are your kids looking forward to Rakhi celebrations this year too? Do you want to organize some fun activities for your kids to make it even more memorable? If you found yourself nodding your head and getting into a festive mood then read on and enjoy 6 indoor activities to make this Rakshabandhan a fun filled one for you and the kids! Rakhi rhymes & video Start by talking to your kids, their cousins & any other tiny tots that have gathered - about the meaning and relevance of the Rakhi festival. Encourage them to understand that brothers and sisters always try to help each other out. Even though they sometimes fight, eventually they always have each other’s company. Tip: You can show them some Rakhi rhymes & songs like this & this. Rakhi Greeting Card! Kids love anything that allows them to dabble with paper, crayons, paints, baby scissors etc. Now that they are settled down, let them enjoy some creative time by making a Rakhi greeting card for each other. Provide them with any art material that you have handy & let them get as arty as they’d like! Tip: You can make this occasion a special one by FRAMING their hand-made greeting cards! How? Use a scanning app to click & picture of their artwork. Upload the picture on Zoomin.com & select the Frame of your choice. Trust us, your kids bond will grow each day as they look at these frames in their rooms! Rakhi tying ceremony & GIFTS! Keep a Rakhi aarti thali, sweets & their gifts ready. As soon as their greeting cards are ready you can help them perform the Rakhi aarti & tying ceremony with each other. If you’re looking for some Rakhi gifts in a budget then be sure to check out Zooboo’s storybooks. You can pick personalised storybooks as per your kid’s age group. Select from 6 expertly written books & add your child’s name to personalize them! Tip: Apply the code BUY1GET1 during checkout. The same or lower priced book will become free for you. So enjoy two books for the price of one! Bonding Games It’s time to play some interactive games with your kids (you can join in too!). You can play some classic games like twister, sequence for kids, scrabble etc. Or make up your own fun game like ‘freeze’. How to play Freeze: Put on some music & let them have fun dancing. Stop the music in between & shout FREEZE. They have to freeze in the position they are and first one to move looses. Tip: Let your kids take turn to be the one to play and pause the music too. It will make them feel responsible & grownup. Bring out old photographs To unwind, bring out the old photographs of you, your family & your kids. They will enjoy going through the old pictures & you can take a trip down the memory lane. Show them pictures of all their cousins & relatives as kids and let them guess which baby is who. Tip: Turn this into a family tree chart making activity! How? Get some paper, old & new pictures and make a chart that displays photos of each kid under tags ‘now’ and ‘then’. You can get a set of 24 best quality prints here. Family movie time Finally when all the fun activities are over, surprise your kids by getting some popcorn & watch a move together for some family time. Tip: Our suggestions for some movies about siblings: Narnia, Hansel & Gretel, Jumanji, Zathura, Spy kids, Little Women. Make this Rakhi a fun-filled one for your kids by gifting them personalized Zooboo storybooks. Birthday book Plays Bo-peep! Which colour do you like Here are 4 reasons why Zooboo is the perfect gift! It’s an educational gift that has eye-catchy illustrations to hook your kids It features your kid as the HERO of the story The books are filled with immense learning & concepts Now buy 2 books and pay for just 1! Use code: Buy1Get1 Use code: BUY1GEt1 What more could you ask for? Order them as the perfect Rakhi gifts today!
