Starting primary school can be both exciting and scary for young Tiger Cubs. Here’s how grown-ups can help them get ready for school.
Spring is almost up, and the new academic year is about to begin in a couple of weeks. I’m sure all the kids at home watching YouTube (Tiger and Tim, I hope!) or playing outdoors are very excited to go back to school! As for some Tiger Cubs, the new semester will be much more anticipated as they officially start primary school.
Starting school is always funfor kids (old home videos and pictures will prove this!), and parents and grown-ups can make it even more special for them. The adults at home can help kids prepare for their first-ever big school experience in several ways.
Here’s how you can help your Tiger Cubs get ready for primary school.
Support their independence
Young Tiger Cubs love to assert their independence. Foster their desire to do things on their own through simple chores and tasks at home. Duties such as getting dressed, going to the toilet, eating, and even solving simple problems can teach kids a lot about themselves. Adults can show and model these behaviors for the young Tiger Cubs at home.
Start with literacy and numeracy
Kids who are just about to start school are not expected to have advanced literacy and numeracy skills. However, you can always get them started at home. Introducing them to numbers and simple words through funny educational videos or songs for kids is an excellent way for them to get started. You can also begin to help them recognise their name. If they are up to it, they can even learn how to spell and write their name. Drawing and colouring are also fun activities that can help them hone their fine motor skills.
Help them build social skills
Being in the classroom and learning with classmates is such an enjoyable environment for Tiger Cubs! You can help them improve their social skills to get them ready to interact with others through practising simple greetings. Initiating casual conversations with them is another fantastic way to build social skills. Through discussions, children can learn simple social rules such as taking turns when talking. Talk to them about things they like, such as their favourite YouTube Kids videos or their favourite characters from various kids’ shows.
Practice learning to concentrate
The ability to concentrate for about 10 to 15 minutes is a valuable skill at school. Kids can learn practice at home through extended play using building kits and puzzles. In addition, time-tested games can help sharpen their focus. Grown-ups can also give kids simple tasks at home that would require them to follow a set of instructions to help practice their concentration.
I practice my concentration skills whenever I watch funny videos for kids online (Nothing could distract me)! Or whenever Tim asks me to wait for the dinner to be ready!
Make school exciting
Perhaps the simplest way to get Tiger Cubs ready for school is to get them excited about it! There are many ways grown-ups at home can make school exciting for the kids. First, Tiger Cubs can visit the school before classes start. Second, adults in the family can share memorable experiences they had in school. Third, Tiger Cubs can also help out preparing their school materials days before school opens. Lastly, kids and grown-ups can watch funny videos and movies for the whole family related to school to get them excited.
Starting school is always an exciting time for Tiger Cubs. Parents and grown-ups at home can make kids’ experiences more memorable by getting them well-prepped for the year ahead. It makes me wish there’s a tiger school somewhere!
Summer is here and what better way to spend it than frolicking outdoors? Here are some fun activities for kids this summer!
Warm days are upon us, cool cats! After a year of lockdowns and homeschooling, it’s nice to rediscover the outdoors once again. Take a break from watching kids videos on the TV and take advantage of the summer days with these fun outdoor activities for kids (works for tigers, too!).
Don’t forget to take loads of funny photos and videos for kids to look back on after doing these activities!
Bird watching
Birds are such lovely creatures! Sadly, most children only get to study these flying wonders of nature on educational videos on YouTube Kids. However, you don’t need to go to a bird sanctuary to watch some birds. Most likely, your local park is full of different kinds of birds that your Tiger Cubs can meet (with a pair of binoculars, of course!). You can even turn your backyard into a mini-bird sanctuary – just set up a bird feeder and watch the birds take over!
Go on a picnic
No summer is complete without a good old-fashioned picnic! Plop down with your favourite snacks in a park or playground and let kids have fun and enjoy the outdoors. Remember to take photos and videos to document these fun picnic dates for kids and grown-ups!
Go hiking
There’s no better way to enjoy the wonders of nature while breaking a little bit (or, in Tim’s case, a lot) of sweat at the same time than going on a hike! Choose a nearby route or take a drive to a nature park reserve. Your Tiger Cubs will have a blast looking at nature up close and not just on educational videos for kids.
Build a terrarium
Another way to experience nature this summer is through building a terrarium, something you and your kids can do together. To create your mini-garden in a bottle, first you’d need a jar, then you’d need to fill it with pebbles, soil, moss, small plants, and succulents. Let your kids design their terrariums, or you can check out YouTube tutorials on making and growing a terrarium with your kids.
Create sidewalk art
Want some fuss-free summer activity? Grab some colourful sidewalk chalk and let your kids go crazy creating their sidewalk masterpiece. Remember to snap some photos and send their sidewalk art to The Art Critique! We might just feature your kids on our YouTube channel!
Fly a kite
Warm summer days are meant for flying a kite! You can either buy or make your kite. Then head out to the park with your kite and let the Tiger Cubs discover the simple wonder of flying a kite.
Have a Nerf battle
Take advantage of the warm days and stage a fun Nerf battle in your backyard with your kids. Load your water guns and blast away! Video it or it didn’t happen, okay?!
Play some old-school games
Go on a trip down memory lane with your kids and play some old-school games such as hopscotch, jump rope, tag, kick the can, and so much more!
Stargaze
Warm nights call for camping out in the backyard. Why not gaze at the stars to make things more fun and exciting. Prep the kids by watching some educational videos online or reading books about the different constellations to appreciate this fantastic activity better.
Have a beach day
Summer days are meant to be spent at the beach! Now is the best time to put on your swimsuits and frolic in the waves with your Tiger Cubs. Don’t forget to pack sunscreen!
Summer is such a fun time to be a kid, and grown-ups can make this season even more fun and memorable. While at home, don’t forget to catch up on Tiger and Tim episodes on our YouTube channel and let the good times roll!
Hello, Tiger Cubs! Have you seen the latest Tiger and Tim learning video for kids? (If you haven’t, you can watch it here) It’s all about the rainforest! We had so much fun in that crazy rainforest adventure. On top of that, we also learnt a lot of essential facts and information about the rainforest!
Our newest episode is just like our other videos. Kids learn while having fun – that’s TIGER-RIFFIC, don’t you think?! Shows like Tiger and Tim give kids a chance to learn about the world, and you cool cats know that I love learning new things!
Going back to our latest episode – as we know, the rainforests all over the world need our help. Saving the rainforests are not just the job of grown-ups, everyone (kids and tigers included!) can take part in protecting planet Earth, including the rainforests!
So here are simple ways kids (and adults) can help protect and save the environment, particularly our rainforests.
Buy sustainably sourced foods
Sustainably sourced foods are food products that have been produced through responsible practices, from planting down to the selling of these goods. This simply means that the environment was not harmed or negatively affected in making the food. For this reason, buying sustainable food products like bananas and coffee is one step in helping save our rainforests.
Use less paper
Tim once told me that paper is made from trees. Because of this, whenever we use less paper in whatever way possible is already a huge deal for the rainforests around the globe. Using less paper and recycling the ones that we use can save a ton of trees in the rainforest, which means the ecosystem of our forests will continue to be preserved.
Here’s a short explainer videoso kids can have a better understanding of how paper is made.
Donate to organisations that protect rainforests
In our learning video for kids, Tim and I always say that we have to help others as much as possible. Donating to different environmental causes and organisations, such as the Rainforest Trust, Survival International, and Amazon Conservation Association, among others, regardless of the amount, can help a lot in supporting the work of these organisations. You can encourage your Tiger Cubs to allot a portion of their allowance and save up a certain amount they are willing to donate to protect and save the rainforests. I am saving up a part of my ice cream money so I can also help the rainforests!
Adopt an animal
Protecting the animals that are living in rainforests is also an essential aspect of saving the environment. Tim adopted me from the jungle, and your kids can also adopt their very own wild animal – virtually adopt, that is! Different wildlife protection groups allow virtual adoption of various endangered animals; wherein everyone is encouraged to donate to the cause of protecting these animals. Adults and kids alike can watch videos of their adopted animals to get to know more about them.
I got lucky because Tim and I found each other. Now your kids can have their very own (virtual) Tiger, too!
Learn more about rainforests
Last, and not least, is to keep learning more about how amazing rainforests are and how they can affect our daily lives. Our Rainforest Rangers learning video for kids is a great start. But there are many more other resources and shows that kids can watch to further their knowledge and understanding of how rainforests work and how we can work to save and protect them.
There you have it, cool cats! The world’s rainforests need our help, and every little step towards saving and protecting them will have a significant impact in the years to come.
Well, hello there, my royal Tiger Cubs! It’s me again, Tiger! Before we release a new Tiger and Tim video that kids (and grown-ups) will definitely enjoy, I’m back with another round of fun facts for all of you!
As you can recall, Tim and I had a fun trip around London and even met the Queen herself in one of our learning videos for kids – our Great British Culture episode! We looked at the different fun places and things that we can find in the capital of England, and now I would like to share with you more cool and exciting things about the land I call my second home.
Big Ben
No one will ever deny the beauty of Big Ben. Found at the north end of the Westminster Palace, it is one of the most recognisable icons of Great Britain.
Not many people know that the name ‘Big Ben’ actually refers to the bell that is inside the clock tower. Its actual name is the Great Bell, and the clock tower is named after Queen Elizabeth II (whom we also met in one of our videos for kids!). Another fun fact about Big Ben is that it is the largest four-faced clock tower in the world!
Queen Elizabeth II
The world’s longest-reigning living monarch is none other than Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. I was so nervous when we met her, but I think I managed to give a perfect bow – I don’t know about Tim, though! (Watch how we met the Queen in our Storytime with Tiger and Tim learning videos for kids!)
It is no secret that Queen Elizabeth II is an awesome queen, but what made her TIGER-RIFFIC is her love for animals! She loves horses and dogs, corgis, to be more specific. Her corgis have made their way to different paintings, official photographs, and even statues! Meanwhile, she is known to spend a lot of time with her horses at the Balmoral Castle, and she also loves watching horse racing events.
London Underground
If London is the heart of England, then the London Underground are the veins that keep the city alive! Also called The Tube, it first opened its tracks to Londoners in 1863. Since then, it has served millions of passengers every year.
Apart from its official name and its more popular nickname, the London Underground has also been called ‘Twopenny Tube’ back in the day, referring to the train’s flat fare. Grown-ups and kids can also watch shows while inside the stations because musical performances or busking is allowed in the London Underground.
Fish and Chips
Ahh… fish and chips! No true Brit can ever say no to our national dish!
It’s hard to tell how this delicious combination first came about, but it has been a staple in the British diet for hundreds of years! It has been served to soldiers and saved many families from hunger during the Second World War. Aside from being delectable, fish and chips are nutritious, too! Do you know what can make fish and chips even more scrumptious? Have them while watching Tiger and Tim learning videos for kids!
Union Jack
As Tim mentioned in our Great British episode, the Union Jack is the official flag of Great Britain. Its official name is not actually Union Jack, but rather the Union Flag. And did you know kids that it shows the three flags of the three countries that make up Great Britain – England, Scotland, and Ireland? Each cross also represents their respective patron saint. The red cross belongs to England (Cross of St. George), the white saltire represents Scotland (Cross of St. Andrew), and the red saltire represents Ireland (Cross of St. Patrick).
Double Decker Bus
No part of a London tour is ever complete without riding those famous red double-decker buses!
But this iconic mode of transportation was not always red. Before 1907, the bus’ colour would differ, depending on the bus’s route. However, The London General Omnibus Company decided to paint their buses red to stand out from the competition. Eventually, they became the largest bus operator in London, and the rest was history!
Beefeaters
As Tim said in our Great British Culture episode, the guards that are manning Buckingham Palace are called the Beefeaters (find out in our learning videos for kids why they are called Beefeaters!). These guards who are decked in their colourful uniforms are the ceremonial guards of the Tower of London. Initially, the Beefeaters’ job was to guard the prisoners in the tower. Nowadays, they act as tour guides for people touring the city.
Additional fun fact: Their actual name is ‘The Yeomen Warders of Her Majesty’s Royal Palace and Fortress the Tower of London, and Members of the Sovereign’s Body Guard of the Yeoman Guard Extraordinary. Phew! I think I’ll stick to Beefeaters – it’s sounds more fun, too!
There are so many more amazing facts about Great Britain that I could go on and on! If you want to get a taste of London and the Great British culture – check out our Tiger and Tim episode, and I’ll see you all again 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!
