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!
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!
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.
