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6 Tips to make family reading time more fun!
Reading together with family is very good for kids of all ages. Right from inspiring a love of reading books in young children to helping you connect as a family. Most of all, it’s also really fun! But we know that it’s not always easy to plan a family reading time in advance. So forget thinking about reading as something you need to tick off your list and instead imagine storytime as an amazing show that’s about to begin and the excitement in the kids will naturally follow. Here are 6 tips by Team Zooboo to help make family reading time easier to plan and a lot more fun! Read outdoors Make a picnic out of it or carry your books during garden time. A change of scenery adds some excitement to reading time. You can also spot your favourite natural elements around you while reading. Add a game like – Act it out Adding a game gives a fun twist to reading. Give the entire family a few roles to enact. Let kids get into the character and act it out. They will gain confidence + work on their language skills too. Personalize a storybook Personalizing a storybook in your kids name boosts their curiosity while reading it. Studies have shown higher language skill development, vocabulary development and confidence level in kids who read personalized books. Click here to check out personalized storybooks for your kids. Involve every one Sometimes it is good to let someone else take over the lead while reading. Invite an older cousin, neighbour or grandparent to read stories with you. The diversity in voice modulation and creativity piques a kids interest and involvement. Set up a schedule Make a reading schedule. Pin it up at a place where it is visible to all. Try to add a star chart or some reward upon finishing the required reading time. P.S: Making the reading chart can be a fun art activity too! Reading corner A cute cozy dedicated reading corner helps calm them and sets a routine. It doesn’t have to be anything elaborate. A few curtains and pillows with easily accessible books and good light does the trick. Mind buzzing with new ideas to try out? We hope so! If you’re looking for some books to get you started, browse our bestselling personalised books on a wide range of topics and that too for all age-groups! Explore all the 16 book titles here!
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28 Dad-Kid activities [so that Moms can enjoy Mother’s Day!]
Attention Dads: There are some days that are worth taking the extra effort to remember and plan. Your anniversary, spouse’s birthday and Valentine’s Day are some of those days. But an equally important day, one that’s coming up next month is – Mother’s Day! This year it falls on 8th of May. And no, it isn’t just a day for YOUR mother but also for the mother of your child. So as the father of a young child the responsibility of making this day special for your wife falls on – you. Now you can choose to plan the day as per what your wife will love best. Here's some help: Here's is a guide for Father to plan Mother's Day - click to read. Check out some ideas on gifts that you can create easily for your Wife & Mom - click to read. Share this list of Me-time ideas that moms can do while you keep the kids creatively busy! And if you choose to occupy your kids while their mom takes some time off then here is an exhaustive list of ideas that you can do with the kiddos! Read books together - order some here Take them to the garden Go for a nature walk Enact out a role-play/story Spend the afternoon playing with his/her toys Wash your car together Help them to make a vision board Go cycling together Help them make some no-bake cake Set up a picnic Go on a play-date with other dads Take them for a swim Cool off at the mall Create a DIY race track Make a Mother’s Day card together Watch a movie Take them to grandma-house Help them with homework Clean their cupboard together Go through old photographs Create a scrap book together Take them to the Zoo Explore a kids play zone Go for a kid-friendly hike Play their favourite sport together Go out for lunch/dinner Paint something with them Ask THEM what they’d like to do! Order Personalized Storybooks NOW! Homework Play time Building blocks Play a sport Draw together Go cycling Nature walk/hike Let your wife sleep in! Make a Mother's Day card Bake Mothers Day cake Do some gardening or go to the garden! Wahs your car together Go for a swim! Watch a movie Go for a hike Visit the zoo Make sure you take the day off from other commitments and focus on making the Mom(s) in your life feel loved & appreciated. Remember, Father’s Day is coming soon! (hehehehe)
Help your child become a confident independent reader!
Parents often put in a lot of effort to research which book is right for their child at which age. And rightly so, because an age-appropriate book definitely makes the reading experience a whole lot different. But what about the TYPE of book format? Isn’t it important to gauge the readiness of your child to be an independent reader? The answer is YES it is! Picking the right book format – softcover or hardcover - and transitioning to another can be tricky for some kids. That is precisely why we at Zooboo offer a wide choice in the type of book you’d like for your child. Let us guide you on which Zooboo book format is best suited for your child! Reading WITH parents Recommended: 5.5”x5.5” HARDCOVER When your child is reading along with you, they are probably a little young. The hardbound pages help them gain the confidence to flip a book on their own. And since you’re mostly reading to/with them, the 5.5”x5.5” works perfectly fine at this stage. Starting to read with AND without parents Recommended: 8”x8” HARDCOVER You can gradually transition to the large size book as they will start to want to read parts of the book on their own so the larger font & illustrations will help here. Since you can start leaving them alone with their book, it is important to keep the book in hardcover format. Transitioning from hardcover to softcover Recommended: Upgrade to a ‘waterproof LUSTRE’ finish To make this jump as accident-free as possible, you can upgrade your softcover books to a premium waterproof paper with a lustre finish. This paper quality will provide your child with a lot of sturdiness while they flip pages on their own with or without supervision. Transition to becoming an independent reader Recommended: 8”x8” SOFTCOVER While you will always continue to read together with your child, you can gradually encourage your child to read books on their own, in their free time. At this stage, you can move to a softcover book BUT we advise a 8”x8” book size. The bigger page size enables kids to move pages freely. You can always opt for the premium lustre page finish for this size as well. Independent readers Recommended: 5.5”x5.5” SOFTCOVER Your independent young reader can now definitely graduate to a softcover book format without any hesitations! The 5.5”x5.5” size is handy, easy to carry anywhere and lightweight enough to make it the perfect travel companion. All Zooboo books have rounded edges for child safety. In general, hardcover books work well for younger kids and for those who love to carry books on-the-go. Softcover books are fine for older kids and for those looking for an inexpensive option! Zooboo recommended size for ALL kids: 8”x8” HARDCOVER. Because afterall, a book in which your child is the HERO of the story should be preserved as a keepsake forever right!? :D @vandita.momandmore
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!
Father’s Day special: 8 Daddy & Kiddo bonding ideas!
Happy Father’s Day to all the Superdads out there! This year has been a tough one. From attending office calls that compete with online school sessions to helping out more with home & kids. Bravo to all Dads who have made it this far! While a lot of us are mostly going to be spending the Father’s Day weekend at home, we thought to share with you some super amazing father-child bonding time ideas that are so easily doable at home. Yes, yes we know that kids are waiting desperately to go outdoors... But in the meantime, Daddy’s can checkout out these 8 fun + easy ideas to spend quality time with your kids on this Father’s Day! Psss... To all the Mommy’s: While the father + kids are busy doing these activities, here is a list of amazing ‘Me-Time’ ideas that you can enjoy ;) Alphabet yoga: Since it is also International Yoga Day on June 21st, why not start teaching your kids some simple baby yoga moves? Trust us this alphabet yoga video is so easy to follow & kids as well as adults will enjoy this activity together. Tip: Moms, be ready with your camera to capture this adorable moment of papabear & babybear enjoying some yoga moves! Shadow play: Not only is this a great pre-math activity, but it will also keep your child hooked for hours! All you need is a dark room/corner. Arrange a white cloth as a curtain and flash a powerful light on one side. There are different ways you can create a shadow on the curtain from the other side. You can try the age old method and use your hands to create animals/ birds/ shapes etc. You can also use hand puppets/stick puppets & narrate a made up story to the kids! They will love it & will surely want to try their turn too. You can even place their animal toys on a table and flash the light on them. The shadow created on the curtain will amaze them. Tip: This activity helps remove any unknown fear of the dark from your kids mind. Playing a game in safe dark environment with a parent makes a child feel more comfortable in the dark. Reading corner: Pick your child’s favourite corner or cuddle into bed together & spend quality time reading their favourite books. Enact scenes with voiceovers & also ask them questions after the book to encourage a discussion. Tip: For a truly personalized experience, try Zooboo’s storybooks! You can customize the story with your child’s name & character + also pick the format and page quality of the book. Tea party with lemonade making: No celebration is complete without a traditional pretend-play tea party! Your kid will LOVE setting up the table with their play tea party set. While you enjoy this set up with your kid, why not make some lemonade together & have this as a part of your party? Simply gather a jug filled with some water, sugar & lemon. Help your child squeeze the lemon, add the sugar and stir this mixture. It will be a great cooking experience for your little chef. Enjoy the refreshing drink together in your private tea party set up! (Attendance by invitation only!) Car race track: If you have leftover cardboard boxes then you got yourself an afternoon of total fun! Open up the boxes flat and draw roads using marker pens. Get yourself some toys like vehicles, blocks, animals etc. You and your kid are totally going to love playing make-believe races, traffic lights, road blocks and more on this box board race track! Tip: Don’t have a cardboard box? Paste some masking tape on the floor for the easiest car track! Water play fun: For a water play activity with younger kids, just collect all of your kids plastic/washable toys. Fill up a tub with child-safe soapy water and get some brushes. Enjoy creating bubbles & cleaning all the toys together with your toddler! For slightly older kids, you can wash the family car together! Fill a bucket with warm water & soap and give your child a soft sponge to help you clean the car. Tip: Show them how to turn on the windscreen wipers & clean the screens too. Watch their delight at getting soapy with dad! Movie date: Make some popcorn, wear your matching pyjamas & plan out an easy peasy movie date with your kid! Pick their favourite movie and treat them to some extra screen time for those brownie points! Tip: Our favourite movie suggestions - Inside Out, Ice age, Lion King, Frozen, Wonder, Up, How to train your Dragon, Finding Nemo, Mowgli, Wreck-it Ralph (maybe we should do a whole another blog for this!) Bake for a cause: Bake some simple cookies/cupcakes together with your kids. Give them away at a shelter home or to anyone less fortunate (kids of the house help/ guard etc). You both will enjoy baking together + it will also teach your kids to value their blessings & to share with the needy :) We hope you enjoy some amazing time with your kids on this Father’s Day weekend! If you do something special together then don’t forget to print your fun indoor celebrations into a Photobook! Click here to know all about how you can make one! After all, it only takes a moment to make a moment right? Follow us on Instagram & Facebook to know more about some quick hacks, book reviews and parenting tips. If you liked this article do save & share it with your community! Zooboo does not own rights to any of the activity images. They are used for representation purpose only. Image sources: www.apksupport.com, www.istock.com, www.pbs.org, www.busytoddler.com, www.nannygunna.com, www.nottinghampost.com, www.wikihow.com
