Tiger and Tim adventures are now available in books! Here’s why you should bring home a copy (or copies) of the Tiger and Tim children’s books.
You all know that I love books and reading is one of my favourite hobbies (along with eating, playing, and napping!). So Tim and I have a special treat for all the Tiger Cubs out there – Tiger and Tim children’s books!
Yup, you’ve read it right! Tiger and Tim is not only found on YouTube, now kids can read our adventures in books over and over again! Our books are the same original and funny stories in our videos for kids but made even better because Tiger Cubs can either read the stories on their own or with the grown-ups – a great off-screen activity at any given time!
But just in case you’re not yet convinced, I’ve listed down a few reasons why your Tiger Cubs should read the Tiger and Tim children’s books, and hopefully, you’d give one (or all three) a try!
Engaging story
Just like our show’s episodes, kids will find the Tiger and Tim children’s books engaging! Aside from Tim and I, our stories feature my many animal and human friends from all over the globe (yes, including Her Majesty, the Queen herself!). We’ve written these stories with your Tiger Cubs in mind, so they will have just as much fun reading them as they did watching them on the screen.
Appropriate for Kids
Just like our videos for kids, the Tiger and Tim children’s books are age-appropriate for young Tiger Cubs. I had loads of fun writing these stories (with a little bit of help from Tim, of course), and I know that Tiger Cubs and even grown-ups will undoubtedly love reading them over and over again! Just like the videos that your Tiger Cubs watch on YouTube Kids, you can be sure that the Tiger and Tim children’s books are appropriate for young kids and even the ‘young once’!
There’s a moral lesson in every story
What’s a good children’s book without a moral lesson at the end? And, of course, our books always include a moral lesson in every story. Moral lessons teach children (and tigers!) how to behave in the world. Young Tiger Cubs are very impressionable, and they love to learn about the world around them, including how to become a good person – and that is something they can learn when they read Tiger and Tim children’s books!
Good for literacy and language development
Reading books will always be great for the literacy and language development of Tiger Cubs, so why not make reading fun and more exciting with Tiger and Tim children’s books? Our stories are funny (like our videos for kids) and full of varied words that will help with your Tiger Cubs’ vocabulary. Reading with your Tiger Cubs will also develop their language skills, while older Tiger Cubs can practice reading our books on their own, too!
Vibrant and fun illustrations
The Tiger and Tim children’s books quickly come to life, thanks to the fun and vibrant illustrations! We know that kids love colours, so we made sure that our books are eye-catching and exciting, making the plot, characters, and setting even more interesting, especially for very young readers. Kids love our videos, and now they can peruse (a new fancy word I learnt from Tim) the illustrations up close with the Tiger and Tim books!
The star of the books is ME!
Do you know what the best part of the Tiger and Tim children’s books is? It stars ME! Who else would it be about? Not Tim (but he plays essential roles in the stories) and definitely not The Art Critique but TIGER – and that’s me, the TIGER PRINCE!
Want to check out our books? I know you do! Tiger and Tim children’s books are available in e-book and paperback versions at affordable price ranges. Check out Tiger and Tim’s African Adventure (where we met fun jungle animals!), Tiger and Tim Become Masterchefs (where I learnt to cook breakfast for the first time!), and Tiger and Tim A Royal Tiger Tale (featuring a MAJESTIC figure) on Amazon. Be on the lookout for more upcoming Tiger and Tim books that will be released soon!
Hey, cool cats! This week’s blog post is a little bit different. Recently, Tim had a lovely chat with Lois of Fish Face Publishing. Lois is an accomplished author of books for kids and a big fan of our learning videos and our storybooks, too! She even featured our story ‘A Tiger’s Tale’ on her website. So awesome!
In case you still do not know, we recently released our own Tiger and Tim children’s books on Amazon. Yup, you read that right! The original stories we feature on our videos for kids are now also in e-book and paperback versions which you can read with the whole family. Now your Tiger Cubs can watch our funny videos AND read our storybooks for kids – a great way to learn through reading!
Have fun reading the interview and check out the Tiger and Tim books for kids after. Don’t forget to catch our latest show out now on our YouTube channel! Talk to you again soon, kids and grown-ups!
Tim: Hi Lois, it’s great to be here! Thanks for having us, and thanks for everything that you do around literacy.
Lois: Can you tell us a little bit about your interesting background? When did you become a BBC presenter and show host?
Tim: In 2010 I was selected by the BBC from around 3,000 applicants and became part of the BBC Journalism Trainee Scheme. It was a great privilege for me, and one of the highlights of my life giving me opportunities that I had only dreamt of – to be a sports journalist on television. I got my first job soon after that in sports broadcasting as an assistant producer, very much an early stage entry job which evolved and led to an application to the BBC. I was employed by them full-time from 2011 and was there for eight and a half years. I used my training to become a Presenter, Reporter, and Journalist, focusing on national and international news. As a BBC broadcaster, I worked on TV bulletins on BBC One, BBC Two, BBC News and BBC World, as well as on BBC Radio and BBC online. I have also worked for NBC in America and the English Premier League as a freelance reporter.
Lois: I believe that ‘Tiger and Tim’ were born from the Covid-19 lockdown, to heal and help people, especially children, from the effects of loneliness and isolation. What sparked your idea of being best buddies with a tiger, and did the books or the shows come first?
Tim: That’s a great question! I’ve always been a fan of Wimbledon and loved watching Tim Henman who was known as ‘Tiger Tim’. As much as I liked watching him and wanting him to win, I never thought of him as a tiger! But it made me think that it was a cool name, and obviously I’m Tim, which got me to dream about a book series – the adventures of Tiger and Tim, which I never did anything about. But then when I was in lockdown I thought this is exactly what kids needed. I looked at literacy stats and I was truly shocked. 20-25% of primary school kids leave not being able to read and write! I thought I could transpose my ideas into a show! I saw a gap in the market for kids’ learning, which evolved into a part human and part animated show. My background in broadcasting and journalism was well suited to this, and when I was younger I did a lot of acting which stood me in very good stead. We are now looking to get the show licenced all over the world to address the global literacy gap.
Lois: You have some wonderful titles in your book series. Where do your ideas come from?
Tim: I have lots of ideas! Too many! It’s about choosing the right ones. Seeing the kids react and love the show is very rewarding. The names of the books, well that’s my thinking, plus I have two educators who work with me and help with some of the ideas. We call the kids who read our books and watch the show, Tiger Cubs, because ultimately we are a vehicle to make them into great young people.
Lois: I know that you feel very strongly about the literacy problem that exists around the world today. Did you always have this passion, to tackle the literacy gap and educate in this way?
Tim: I don’t think I have always had this passion because I didn’t know about it until 2020. When I came up with the dream of the adventures of Tiger and Tim over ten years before I actually implemented it with the show, I didn’t know about the literacy gap. Covid 19 changed everything for everyone, and it brought forward digital learning by at least 10 years and has massively impacted the literacy standard and the literacy gap. I haven’t always been a fighter for literacy equality until 2020, but I have always at heart been an educator. I have a 1st class honours in History. I know the value of education. There can be no more important message than reading being the gateway to all learning. I’m the son of a speech and drama teacher who very much inspired me to become a broadcaster and journalist, and actor when I was younger. I truly believe that Tiger has a chance of trying to close the literacy gap because he represents the children. He is a child prodigy himself who has learnt everything himself. When he left the jungle to come into the “real world” Tiger couldn’t read or write, he learnt it all, and any child can do the same. That is what he stands for, he stands for all of them, and I’m just here to help him on his way, to deliver on that.
Lois: It’s obvious that you are a complete natural when it comes to entertaining! What is your first love? Being an author, or an actor presenting the shows?
Tim: I’m definitely not a complete natural, I’m very shy underneath, but like all actors, you perform for your audience. My mum taught me really well when it came to acting, and that’s how I started when I was 7 or 8, I began acting. I sat the LAMDA (London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art) exams. Many of the most famous actors trained with LAMDA including Dame Judi Dench. I carried on for about 11 years taking the exams until I achieved the gold medal in acting. But definitely I was trained. And I’ve always loved the written word.
Lois: What is it that you find most challenging in your work?
Tim: That is definitely time! I’m always late Lois! To help all the millions of kids who I want to help is a big commitment. It’s not easy and takes time.
Lois: What is it that gives you the greatest sense of achievement in your work?
Tim: The vision that I have, to help millions of people. Consider how bad literacy statistics are in the UK, and then imagine how bad it is in other countries where children don’t have the resources of the UK. There are kids around the world who don’t have a single book in school or out of school! That’s wrong. It’s not going to be an overnight change. It needs to be a global movement, and Tiger and Tim is the vehicle for that social movement, and Tiger ultimately is the vehicle for that. I’m just his sidekick. He is truly the star. He really is a star in the making. We need someone like him to change the narrative, because if we don’t, things are going to get much worse.
Lois: Thank you Tim, for giving us a fascinating and inspirational insight into the world of ‘Tiger and Tim’! Before you go, just tell us what’s next on your agenda. Is it another book or a show?
Tim: It’s both Lois! We’re always releasing new shows as regularly as we can, but it comes down to financials, unfortunately. We’re looking for an investment raise for the show to be commissioned on TV, and ultimately for it to be taken all over the globe as a result of that commission. That’s our next plan. For every show we now make, we make a book. Education is best when it doesn’t feel like education. Reading and video are not to be separated. You have to go to where the kids want to go, to take them to where you want to go. Ultimately that is what Tiger and Tim is all about. So books and shows are going to be here for the foreseeable future including formal learning. In my dreams, it is to be known in every country around the world and by hundreds and millions of children and helping, more importantly, hundreds and millions of people and Tiger Cubs around the world. Thank you Lois, thank you everybody, appreciate your support, and I hope you will join us on the journey and support us.
Please subscribe to our YouTube. Please follow the links! Appreciate your time Lois. Appreciate everybody who is reading this. We’re on the homeward stretch of Covid now. Out of every dark situation always comes light, and I believe that Tiger offers more light than most, and I hope others will agree with me. Thanks everyone!
Spring is upon us once again, cool cats! And you know what that means – it’s EASTER!
But sadly, Easter this year may be a bit different because of the safety protocols we have to follow. But that doesn’t mean Easter has to be cancelled, especially for kids. While watching learning videos (like Tiger and Tim!) is excellent on any day, there are other ways we can celebrate Easter. With a little bit of creativity and a dash of fun, this year’s Easter will be a memorable one!
Here are some ways we can celebrate Easter even at home:
Indoor Easter Egg Hunt
Who says you can’t have your yearly Easter egg hunt indoors? Well, I say you can! Mums, dads, and other grown-ups at home will have to get a little creative in hiding the eggs in various nooks and crannies of the house. Whip out your camera and record the kids‘ reactions when they present their baskets – watching the funny videos for everyone at the end of the hunt is a great way to end the day.
Plant flowers
Spring is the time of bloom, and Easter symbolises rebirth. What better way to put both ideas together than planting flowers? Typically, flowers are planted during the autumn season so that they’ll bloom right in time for spring. But you and your Tiger Cubs can grow them any time of the year! You can buy flowers that are already in bloom and transplant them into your backyard. If you already have flowers in your garden, spend the afternoon watering them with your kids.
Gardening is a great learning opportunity for kids, too. Before gardening, watch some videos about the life cycle of plants so that they be able to appreciate gardening even more.
Do some Easter arts and crafts
The Art Critique is busy filming his Picture This segment in Tiger and Tim learning videos for kids, but he made sure to suggest!
Spend the day creating some fun Easter arts and crafts like bunny ears and Easter bonnets. There are tons of great ideas to choose from online, so there’s one for every kid out there. Don’t forget to take a photo of the artwork (LANDSCAPE, PLEASE!) and send it over to us to get a chance to be featured by The Art Critique himself!
For other days of the year, check out The Art Critique’s art activities inspired by famous artists here!
Read Easter and Spring books
While we are excited for the arrival of spring, sometimes, Easter Sunday happens to be a rainy day. But do not fret! Books are here to save Easter! Read spring and Easter-related books to keep the day going. Check out this Book Finder tool for titles to stock up on before Easter comes.
You know that I love reading books. But do you what I also love to do? Writing stories! The stories we’ve been sharing with you on our learning videos on our channel are also books for kids! Click here, here, and here! Choose which Tiger and Tim children’s book you’ll get for your Tiger Cubs as their Easter present. The best part is that our storybooks are suitable for all seasons and holidays of the year!
Cook Easter brunch
Food makes any celebration even more fun, and Easter is no exception! Prepare a lovely Easter brunch just in your backyard. Keep the meals simple so that your Tiger Cubs can help out in the kitchen. Browse recipes on YouTube that are easy enough for kids. Yum yum!
Play Easter games
Take a break from watching videos on the screen and spend some time playing funny Easter games for kids and grown-ups!
Care for a round of Easter Bingo? Perhaps some Easter Egg Toss would be your family’s new Easter tradition? There are also Easter-related board games available that will make the celebration even more joyous. Check out other gadget-free Easter games right here.
Our Easter celebration may be different this year but as long as we are with our families and loved ones, Easter, even done indoors, can still be fun and exciting.
Well, hello there, boys and girls! It is me once again, the one and only Art Critique here to inspire you about the beauty of art!
Let me take a break from filming Picture This (check it out on YouTube, kids!), and share with you once again my expertise and knowledge in the sophisticated world of arts.
Last time, I discussed with you how young Tiger Cubs could benefit from doing arts and crafts. And because I love arts so much, I would like to share some activities inspired by famous artists worldwide (also known as my friends). Doing these activities could serve as a nice break from remote learning and watching educational videos for your kids!
So gather the art materials, and let’s get creating!
Pablo Picasso
Without a doubt, Pablo Picasso is one of the most famous artists in the world (ahem, aside from me, of course!). Picasso is known for his Cubist-style of painting – where artworks are created with stark geometric shapes. That’s fancy talk for squares and rectangles!
Take a look at the following art activities inspired by the legendary Pablo Picasso:
Starry, starry night, paint your palette blue and gray…
Oh, don’t mind me. I’m just singing away my love for the works of Vincent Van Gogh. The Dutch Impressionist painter is known for his dreamy paintings, Starry Night and Sunflower, to name a few.
Van Gogh lived an extraordinary life. Before trying out these activities, you might want to show a short documentary on YouTube to your kids about the artist’s sad but incredible biography (I tear up just by thinking about it).
Here are some fun art activities for kids inspired by the master, Vincent Van Gogh.
Claude Monet is another master in painting dreamy landscapes. The French artist is also known for his impressionist-style artworks, including the world-renowned series called Water Lilies, featuring what else but water lilies!
Get the kids to learn more about the Impressionist movement by watching some videos online before making the artworks here:
Kids love to play around with colour (and so do I!). So without a doubt, they will love doing some Matisse-inspired artworks!
Henri Matisse is a French painter known for his expressive use of hues and shadows. There are several videos online that kids can watch to learn more about this influential artist.
Here are some art activities inspired by Henri Matisse:
Abstract art is one of my favourite art movements, and I have painter Paul Klee to thank for pioneering this famous art style. Klee is known as the Father of Abstract Art and has wowed (and puzzled) people with his works.
Making abstract art is a fun way for kids to express their creativity. Watch some videos about Abstract Art and Paul Klee to further appreciate this style of painting.
Here are some art activities inspired by Paul Klee:
More art activities are inspired by famous artists out there waiting for you and your Tiger Cubs to discover! Don’t forget to share your children’s masterpiece with us, and I might just feature it on Picture This! Very exciting!
To get a chance to be featured, simply take a LANDSCAPE photo (yes, it has to be said in all-caps for emphasis, mums and dads!) of your child’s work of art and send it through this link. Who knows, your future Picasso, Van Gogh, Monet, Matisse, or Klee might be featured on one of Tiger and Tim’s learning videos for kids! Now that is just SUPER!
I’ll have to get going now… art needs some curating and critiquing somewhere in the world. I’ll be waiting for your submissions, boys and girls! Toodles!
From the amazing facts to the spooky ones… learn more about ancient Egypt with these fascinating facts for kids!
There’s something about ancient Egypt that intrigues me. The pyramids, the marvellous jewels, the artefacts, and even the mummies (yikes!)… It’s so interesting to me and my human buddy Tim Hague, that we explored this exotic wonder in one of our learning videos for kids. (Check it out here).
Tim and I were so fascinated that we wanted to share with you 10 fascinating facts about the world of ancient Egypt! But, we’re warning you, some of them may be weird and spooky!
Ancient Egyptians loved their pets – especially cats!
Everybody loves their pets, and ancient Egyptians were no exception! Their pets ranged from baboons, elephants, crocodiles, and even tigers. However, only the rich and powerful of their society had many pets (I wonder if I was a majestic pet tiger of some Egyptian Pharoah in my previous life?!).
While they mostly regarded animals as their property, ancient Egyptians put cats on a pedestal. Cats were extra special to them because they believed that these furry felines brought them good luck.
Both men and women wore make-up
I can’t imagine Tim Hague wearing make-up, but men in ancient Egypt wore make-up just as much as women did!
However, the kind of make-up they used to wear is quite different from today. Ancient Egyptians loved to paint their faces with intricate designs and vibrant colours. For them, make-up was more than just a way to decorate their face; it was also used for protection from the sun and even used as medicine.
Ancient Egyptians believed in the after-life
For ancient Egyptians, life does not end with their death. Instead they believed that they continued living in their after-life. They also believed that they needed all their possessions in the after-life, everything from their jewelry, furniture, and even their slaves! I wonder if they could watch learning videos for kids in their after-life?
Many of the things we use today were invented by ancient Egyptians
Ancient Egyptians were clever and resourceful (like tigers!) and prolific inventors. Most of the items for kids and adults that we have today were invented by the Egyptians, including musical instruments, medicine, pens, papers, locks, keys, and even toothpaste!
Ancient Egyptians built HUGE pyramids
Do you remember Sneezer from our Time Travel learning video for kids episode? In the story, he went on an adventure inside a pyramid and met a mummy (spooky!). But for ancient Egyptians, the pyramids were significant to them because the gigantic structures served as their tombs. Pyramids are so huge that the biggest pyramids are equivalent to the size of 16 Empire State buildings! No wonder Sneezer got lost inside the pyramid!
Many of the items owned by ancient Egyptians can still be seen today
Since ancient Egyptians brought their possessions with them inside the pyramids, most of their stuff was so well-preserved that it can still be seen today. Many of the items are now housed in different museums all over the world. Maybe I should start carving a statue of my human buddy Tim Hague to put in a museum someday!
Paintings are significant for ancient Egyptians
Ancient Egyptians loved to tell their stories through paintings. There are several paintings found inside pyramids and temples that show how they lived during their time. Through their paintings we learned a lot about them and their world. For kids, these paintings serve as lessons from the past, much like the videos we watch today.
It takes 70 days to complete the mummification process
The process of mummifying the dead is a looooong process. For ancient Egyptians, the whole process is considered very sacred, and they did it with the utmost care. The entire process took about 70 days to complete. For tigers and kids, that amount of time feels like an entire year!
Ancient Egyptians loved playing board games
I love me some good board games! It’s one of my favourite activities to do with Tim Hague when boredom strikes. Did you know that ancient Egyptians loved to pass the time by playing board games, too? Their favourite is the game called Senet. Like our learning videos, playing board games is an excellent way for kids to sharpen their minds!
Ancient Egyptians used mouldy bread as medicine
What do you do with mouldy bread? Do you throw it away? Well, ancient Egyptians used it as medicine! Mouldy bread is believed to heal wounds and stop the spread of infection immediately. Talk about smart ways to use stale food!
(Insert video here: https://youtu.be/dH5EqzkE41U)
That rounds up our fascinating facts about ancient Egypt! If you are hungry for more information on mummies, pyramids, and mouldy bread (kidding!), watch our Time Travel learning video here! For kids who love books (who doesn’t?!), they can also look forward to our Tiger and Tim children’s storybook about Sneezer and one interesting mummy coming out very soon!
March 7 is a special day for book-lovers like me. Do you know why? It’s because it’s World Book Day!
Reading books is one of my favourite things to do in the world! Whenever we’re not busy making our learning videos for kids, me and my buddy Tim Hague often read books together and write our own stories! I get excited when Tim asks me to choose a new book to read, because there are so many to choose from! So many, that my tiger brain often struggles to select the right one. For kids, the process of selecting a book can be exciting and overwhelming. However, there are many ways that grown-ups can help their Tiger Cubs pick the right book, and we’ve listed down a few ideas to help you out.
Before your next visit the library or bookstore, check out these essential guidelines to help you choose the right books for your child:
Infants and Toddlers
Tim introduced me to books when I was a wee little cub, and for babies and toddlers, early exposure to books is essential to their brain development. The little ones are usually attracted to books with brightly coloured pictures, while books that sound good to read, this means books with rhyming word patterns, are also another popular choice. Since infants and toddlers are still developing their motor skills, and are very curious about the world around them, sturdy board books and cloth books work best for this age group.
Preschoolers
Besides our learning videosfor preschool-aged kids, reading books that show objects and experiences familiar to them is always a hit. A fair amount of repetition of words in books can help them understand new words better. Like me, they also love toy-like books that have pop-ups or are made with different materials. These type of books makes reading more enjoyable for tigers and kids!
Early School Years (5 to 8 years old)
Around this age, children start to learn how to string sounds together and read words more efficiently. For kids this age, books and learning videos with beautiful illustrations that are attractive work best. Kids aged 5 to 8 years old also love picture books that have a strong plot and character development – like Tiger and Tim storybooks!
Upper Elementary Levels (9 years old and above)
Tiger Cubs already have specific interests at this age, and they like reading books that are about their hobbies and things they find fascinating. I love reading cookbooks because I’m passionate about EATING! I even became a MASTERCHEF!
Choosing books from the library or at the bookstore can be a little intimidating for kids and sometimes tigers, too! Here’s a handy trick my smart human BFF Tim Hague taught me to help me pick which book to bring home.
Just remember – P. I. C. K.!
P – Purpose
The purpose is the reason why your child wants or needs to read. Is it for pleasure, or is it because they need to learn something? Will they be reading the book aloud? If so, who will be their audience?
These questions can help your child narrow down their choices.
I – Interest
What your child is interested in can also help them determine which book to read. Do they like to read books and watch learning videos about animals, trucks, or adventures? For kids, the choices are endless! Consider having them pick both fiction and non-fiction books to get them more interested in the things they like.
C – Comprehend
For kids (and tigers) to enjoy reading, they need to comprehend or understand the book. A book too easy or too tricky might make your child lose interest in reading it.
Some children’s books are labelled with the appropriate age or reading level, which can also help when choosing which book to read. You can help your Tiger Cub determine if they were able to comprehend the book that they just read by asking them:
Did you understand what you read?
Do you remember what you read?
Did you know most of the words?
K – Know the words
Children need to be able to decode the words from what they are reading. Knowing the meaning of the words makes reading more manageable and fun for tigers, kids, and even adults!
To get a good idea if the book is too easy or too difficult for your child, you can help your child gauge it by looking at the number of unfamiliar words:
If the book has 0 to 1 unfamiliar word, then it is too easy.
If the book has 2 to 3 unfamiliar words, then it is just right.
If the book has 4 to 5 unfamiliar words, then it is too difficult.
It’s always good to keep in mind that by having unfamiliar words in the book your child is reading, it will help him or her practice their contextual clues skills.
There you have it, cool cats! Reading can be even more exciting for kids and cute tigers like me when considering these tips! Learning through books and videos for kids is a great way to have fun while discovering the world, so I hope you continue to read more!
There’s more to sports than just winning and losing. Here are essential values kids can learn from sports.
Playing sports remains one of the most popular hobbies for many children, including tigers for kids like me! If you remember, one of our learning videos for kids was all about sport (check out The Wonderful World of Sport here), and playing football is one of my many favourite activities (just ask Coach Tim Hague)!
But when kids pick up a sport and spend countless hours playing it, they are not just honing their skills, but are also learning different valuable lessons along the way.
Here are some of the life lessons kids can pick up from playing sports.
Teamwork
Learning the importance of working as a team is something that Tiger Cubs grasp when playing a sport, especially team sports. Teamwork is not just about playing as one unit. It also includes learning communication skills, building trust, respecting each other, and working together to achieve a common goal. All these skills are essential not just in sports but in real life, as well.
Leadership
Many Tiger Cubs are natural-born leaders (like me! I got it from my buddy Tim Hague), and playing sports can give them opportunities to lead. They can also learn how to make decisions and be responsible for their actions. Besides leading, kids also get to experience how to be a good follower, something a good leader also needs to be.
3.Grace’
As much as Tiger Cubs are all winners in my eyes, there will always be a winning team and a losing team in sports. Letting kids experience the highs and the lows of playing sports can teach them to be gracious winners and losers.
Playing sports allows children to be humble when they win and also accept defeat. It felt terrific when we won against the Wolfpack Wanderers in episode five of our learning videos for kids, but it’s also not nice to show-off, mainly because I know the other team worked hard too and they probably don’t feel so great about losing.
Hard work
To excel in sports, one must practice, practice, practice! In improving their skills, children learn the value of hard work and sacrifice. All those long hours of working on drills on the court or the pitch will not only improve children’s agility, but their resilience as well.
I know this very well because we worked hard every day to win the game for our fans – adults and kids alike, as part of team Tiger United. And our hard work paid off in the end – as we hope you saw from The Wonderful World Of Sport video!
Friendship
Being involved in sports gives children the chance to socialise and meet a lot of other kids, and spending time playing already lays the groundwork for a good friendship. Meeting kids from other teams during matches and tournaments also expands a Tiger Cub’s understanding of different people. Children can also develop life-long friendships with adults, such as their trainers and coaches, like the one I have with my coach, Tim Hague!
Respect
One of the messages that we love imparting on our learning videos for kids is the value of respect, and kids can also learn the importance of this virtue through being involved in youth sports. They develop respect for the game and its rules, for their coaches and teammates, for the opponents, and most especially for themselves.
These are just some of the vital life lessons children can develop from getting physical with sport, and there is still so much more that they can learn from the whole experience. I love playing sports because it keeps me healthy and strong, in mind and body!
Watch The Wonderful World of Sport episode and our other learning videos for kids on our YouTube channel!
Make Valentine’s Day 2021 extra memorable for you and your Tiger Cubs with these fun activities!
Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, cool cats! V-Day is not just for the grown-ups, though. Kids can also get in on the fun of celebrating the Day of Hearts! Having something special to do on Valentine’s Day is a nice little break from remote learning and watching educational videos for kids, too.
So gather up your “special Valentines” (mine is my best friend, Tim Hague, of course!) and make this year’s Valentine’s Day a memorable one!
Special breakfast
Most Mums and Dads prefer to go on a lovely dinner date, so why not make breakfast (or brunch) a special one for the kids on Valentine’s Day?
The breakfast meal itself doesn’t have to be fancy to make it memorable. You can make some heart-shaped pancakes and pair them with delicious pink strawberry milk or a cup of hot cocoa to warm both the belly and heart! Don’t forget to top it off with some heart marshmallows, and you and your Tiger Cubs have yourselves a fun and unique Valentine’s Day breakfast!
Love Letter
What’s Valentine’s Day without writing and receiving sweet love letters? Write your Tiger Cubs a friendly little Valentine love letter, and you can read it together. For older kids, you can also have them write their love letters to other members of the family. Writing a love letter on Valentine’s Day is a lovely gesture that can also be a great learning opportunity for your kids.
V-Day Bake Session
Valentine’s Day is a day when sweets and treats reign supreme, and staging a fun-filled baking session is an excellent idea to spend the day! Heart-shaped cookies, red velvet cupcakes, and red-and-pink doughnuts are just some of our favourite desserts for Valentine’s Day. Thankfully, there are plenty of recipes on Pinterest that you can do with your Tiger Cubs.
If working the oven is not your forte (like my buddy Tim Hague!), there are several ready-to-eat options from your local bakeries / supermarkets / cafes that you can still enjoy. If it’s safe in your area, you and your little ones can take a short trip to choose some Valentine’s Day desserts.
There are many Valentine’s Day crafts available online to choose from. You can make some cute heart-shaped cards or some paper flowers. Younger kids can practice their fine motor skills with this heart stamp craft using empty tissue rolls.
Snap some photos of your V-Day artworks and send them to us for a chance to be featured on our future episodes (with The Art Critique)! Another fun way to enjoy Valentine’s Day and Tiger and Tim learning videos for kids🙂
Valentine Movie Marathon
Who doesn’t love watching a good movie on Valentine’s Day? Stream some great family-friendly Valentine-themed films that the whole family can enjoy (take a look at our picks of streaming apps here). Classic favourites like the “Lady and the Tramp” and “A Charlie Brown Valentine” are brilliant picks for the young ones and the young-at-heart. Watching movies and videos is also an entertaining way to gain new insights and learnings for kids.
Decorate the house
Another fun way to celebrate Valentine’s Day with your Tiger Cubs is to decorate the house with everything hearts, reds, and pinks! Make some heart garlands and hang them in the living room. You can also get some cheap heart-shaped balloons and have your older kids help you inflate them. Use pink and red napkins and other Valentine’s Day-themed plates and cups. If your area permits it, you can have your kids tag along to the nearby flower shop to pick some lovely flowers for the home, too.
Read Valentine-themed Books
There are plenty of V-Day-themed books that are excellent for kids (and tigers, too!) of all ages, and you can take advantage of them for some fun Valentine’s Day readathon at the comforts of your own home. Books like “Llama Llama I Love You” and “The Day It Rained Hearts” are popular choices for this special occasion. After reading some Valentine-themed books, check out our Tiger and Tim books, as well!
Besides spending some quality time with your little ones, they are also developing their reading and literacy skills simultaneously, something Tiger and Tim learning videos for kids also do!
Do a Drive-By
The lockdown restrictions may have made it difficult for your kids to see other people outside your bubble, but there is still a safe way to celebrate Valentine’s Day with their friends.
You and your Tiger Cubs can do a drive-by to their friends’ house. The kids can bring a small gift or a lovely little Valentine’s Day card to give to their friends, cousins, aunts, and uncles who are within your vicinity. I’m sure that seeing their friends and loved ones at this time is something your kids won’t forget. Just make sure that everyone is practicing safety health protocols at all times.
Whatever you decide to do with your Tiger Cubs on Valentine’s Day, the vital thing to remember is to have fun and enjoy each other’s company, not only on this day but on different days, too!
Have a sweet little Valentine’s Day, cool cats! I love you all. Love and hugs from Tiger xoxoxoxoxoxo
Getting bored at home? So watch some good learning videos that are safe for kids from the following child-friendly streaming apps then! Let’s beat those lockdown blues!
Hey, cool cats! We are now in the middle of Lockdown Version 3.0 in the UK, and I hope everyone is holding up ok! At this point, I have searched almost every nook and cranny of my best buddy Tim Hague’s house (sorry Timbo!) in search of my next adventure just to fight off the humdrum of daily life.
A lot of grown-ups are also working from home whilst the Tiger Cubs are in the thick of remote learning, making things a little too close for comfort on the homefront. Luckily, technology has proven to be very useful during these times! Tiger Cubs can watch learning videos for kids in different family-friendly streaming apps that are not only safe but also have many educational videos to choose from – a huge help for Mums and Dads! I like to plop on the couch myself and enjoy some of my favourite shows on these streaming apps, suitable for tigers and for kids!
Here are some of the best streaming apps that are kid-safe and parent-approved (and where you’ll also find Tiger and Tim episodes!)
YouTube Kids is perhaps one of the most accessible streaming apps for kids. There’s a whole lot of learning videos and cartoons for young to older kids. Suggested videos are also age-appropriate, and each child would have their own profile.
Grown-ups also get control of many of the app’s features, such as pre-approved videos and a timer.
HappyKids.TV is another excellent kid-friendly streaming app that grown-ups can trust. Tiger Cubs can choose from a wide variety of learning videos, shows, and nursery rhymes for toddlers and kids – including Tiger and Tim! HappyKids also carry all-time favourite shows such as Teletubbies and Care Bears, as well as new shows aimed at older children, such as anime and game-based titles. The videos are also grouped according to age, so the grown-ups can be sure that what their Tiger Cubs are watching is age-appropriate.
But what’s the best part of HappyKids? That your Tiger Cubs can watch Tiger and Tim episodes on the app for free of course!!
Looking for more kid-safe options? There are more learning videos and fun shows for kids on Kidoodle TV! Aside from over 40 Tiger and Tim episodes, there are lots of fun and educational videos for tigers and for kids to watch. Kidoodle also has a free app which does not contain explicit and annoying ads. Every piece of content is reviewed by a human to make sure that it’s parent-approved!
Toon Goggles offer free learning videos and shows for kids – from preschoolers to pre-teens. There are hundreds of titles to choose from, and the app recommends shows based on age and interests. Upgrading to a premium account also allows unlimited, ad-free streaming. Toon Goggles features fun filters so that Tiger Cubs (with the permission of grown-ups) can share their photos and videos on the app! Another cool feature of Toon Goggles is that Tiger and Tim episodes are also available here to be enjoyed by tigers and for kids alike!
Looking for something more than just watching videos? Then KidsBeeTV is the answer! Boasting more than 1,500 learning videos (including Tiger and Tim, of course!) for kids aged four and above, KidsBeeTV features fun interactive quizzes that children can answer after watching videos too. The app also offers educational games for tigers like me and for kids to enjoy while learning!
Channel-based Apps
Popular kids channels, such as Disney, Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, and PBS, have their respective apps that feature shows that are also found on their corresponding TV channels. Aside from learning videos and shows for kids, these apps also include songs, educational games, and other cool features.
For the Whole Family
My buddy Tim Hague loves to relax with a good movie once in a while. Good thing there’s Netflix and Amazon Prime for family-friendly movies we both can enjoy!
If you are looking for streaming apps for the whole family, then Netflix and Amazon Prime are obviously great (and well-established) options. Both apps carry a vast selection of family-friendly content, both TV shows and movies. Not only do Netflix and Amazon Prime have popular titles, but they also produce their own content that are often strong contenders for family movie nights!
With these streaming apps that are kid-safe and family-friendly, being stuck at home is not that bad, after all! Tiger and Tim and the other learning videos for kids featured in these apps are opportunities for your Tiger Cubs to learn and discover more about the world around them. Watching family movies is also a great way to bond and spend some quality time in each other’s company – don’t forget to grab the popcorn!
‘Til my next blog post, cool cats! See you later!
Love from Tiger xoxoxo
For more blog posts from the world’s smartest Tiger, click here.
Stuck at home? Let the tigers and other animals for kids come alive with these online zoos!
Howdy, y’all! It’s me, Zack the Zookeeper, your favourite wildlife buddy from the Lone Star State – Texas in old US of A! I’ll take over this week’s blog (with permission from Tim Hague, and Tiger of course!) to share something really fun with you!
Now I know that a lot of you boys and girls are sad that most of the zoos all over the world are still closed due to the pandemic. But don’t you be lonesome for long, guys and gals! Luckily, plenty of zoos and animal sanctuaries live stream their animals online, making them accessible to anyone, anytime, anywhere!
Take a break from watching our learning videos for kids and let’s get our zoo game face on to see some animals live online!
Our first stop is in the capital of the U.S of A, Washington, D.C., where the Smithsonian National Zoo is located – one of the oldest zoos in the country!
Home to hundreds of animals of different kinds, the Smithsonian National Zoo also live streams their animal cam to let patrons catch a glimpse of the variety of species living under their roof. The zoo boasts of webcams for their cheetah cubs, the naked mole-rats, lions, elephants, and perhaps the most famous one among the bunch: the Giant Panda Cam. A few months ago, one of their giant pandas gave birth to a cute little panda cub named Xiao Qi Ji, and everyone has been hooked ever since!
Animal Webcam Educational activities are also available on their website which can help make watching these beautiful animals more meaningful for children.
Let’s travel to the other side of the fence this time and check out the San Diego Zoo in San Diego, California.
The zoo has a wide selection of live animal cams to choose from – from aquatic animals like penguins and polar bears to creatures from the wild such as elephants, giraffes, apes, baboons, and tigers. For kids, these cams are an excellent way to learn more about the jungle and its inhabitants! Feast your eyes on the zoo’s new hippo cam and platypus cam, as well!
Yeehaw! There’s no place like home! Houston Zoo is one of the most popular destinations in my home state and I am mighty proud of the different animal species that call the zoo their home!
Although Houston Zoo has reopened its doors to visitors, their yard and habitat cams are still a hit online. Watch gorillas, chimps, rhinos and elephants as they lounge about in their respective habitats. There’s also a live cam for the bright and delightful flamingoes. And perhaps the most interesting one of all is the leafcutter ant cam! No need to squint to see these hardworking ants in action.
It’s time to travel across the pond and check out Cotswold Wildlife Park, located in Oxfordshire, England. But there’s no need to book a Trans-Atlantic flight all the way to the Cotswolds to see the different wild animals in the park; all you have to do is to visit their website and watch penguins and meerkats do their thing in their respective habitats! That’s a lot of exciting new learning and discovery for kids and adults alike in this virtual zoo.
Another favourite of the Brits is Edinburgh Zoo. Lounge around your living room whilst watching the pandas via the zoo’s panda cam! I do love me a panda! Or perhaps you’d like to spend some quality time socialising with the penguins online? Koalas are famous among online visitors, too. And don’t forget to check out the tigers in their tiger cam for kids! Wooh! Tigers!
I wonder if Mr. Tim Hague went to the Edinburgh Zoo when he was a wee little boy?!
If you’d like something different from the usual animals, then head on over to Folly Farm’s website and check out the barn animals in their care! The live webcam allows viewers to watch different varieties of donkeys, sheep and goats going about their hay… I mean, day!
If you have become a fan of these friendly farm fixtures, why don’t you and your Tiger Cubs adopt one? You can adopt a donkey from Folly Farms for £30! Sloths, red pandas and adorable little piggies are also up for adoption. You don’t get to bring these animals home, but you get to help feed and care for them through your donation. AWESOME!
It’s time to go all the way Down Under and check out the animals at Melbourne Zoo!
Besides live cams of otters, lions, penguins, giraffes and the elusive snow leopards, kids can also watch virtual tours of the different habitats and sanctuaries within the zoo. I better ask my buddy Tim Hague if he wants to join me on an Aussie trip! He sure loves to travel!
Take a trip on the wild side with the gentle giants of the jungle – elephants!
Watch the elephants in the Tembe Elephant Park in South Africa as they frolic in their natural habitat via the park’s live webcam. Did you know that some of the biggest elephants in the world live here? You might not find some tigers here but for kids, watching these amazing creatures drink, bathe and interact with each other is truly a treat! I once wrestled an elephant, fun times I can tell you!
We’ve seen jungle animals and farm buddies and now it’s time to get some underwater action!
Georgia Aquarium offers a great selection of live webcam streams featuring different majestic sea animals. Relax after a long day with a beluga whale or watch an exciting piranha feeding session. You can even stream the Indo-Pacific Barrier Reef right in the comfort of your living room!
Last but not least, do you wanna watch something fascinating? Then the live wolf cams in the International Wolf Centre is definitely something you and your Tiger Cubs should check out!
Wolves are known for being mysterious creatures and now we can finally shed light on what makes them so amazing via these 24/7 streams of the different wolf packs in their care. I love it!
Are the “Wolfpack Wanderers” (from our “The Wonderful World Of Sport” episode) living here? I better ask Tiger, after all, he did beat them in the final of The Cub Cup Championship with his winning penalty kick!
There you have it, folks! After watching Tiger and Tim learning videos for kids, give these live zoo webcams a shot for some fun learning and discovery.
Talk to you again soon, I’m off to swing from the trees like Tarzan! Love from Zack The Zookeeper xoxoxo
P.S. Be good y’all and read the other Tiger and Tim blogs here.
