<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0" xmlns:itunes="http://www.itunes.com/dtds/podcast-1.0.dtd" xmlns:googleplay="http://www.google.com/schemas/play-podcasts/1.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[UrmilaBooks]]></title><description><![CDATA[Raising inventors, not consumers. We curate books and 'boredom experiments' to build resilience in a digital world. Explore our journey from Pragati Prakashan to Urmila Books. Read about our legacy.]]></description><link>https://www.urmilabooks.in</link><image><url>https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!MwNF!,w_256,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe8dc4ea6-3ec0-4dfb-b2d8-c97e9b0139d9_500x500.png</url><title>UrmilaBooks</title><link>https://www.urmilabooks.in</link></image><generator>Substack</generator><lastBuildDate>Mon, 20 Apr 2026 01:08:44 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://www.urmilabooks.in/feed" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><copyright><![CDATA[Urmila Books]]></copyright><language><![CDATA[en]]></language><webMaster><![CDATA[urmilabooks@substack.com]]></webMaster><itunes:owner><itunes:email><![CDATA[urmilabooks@substack.com]]></itunes:email><itunes:name><![CDATA[UrmilaBooks]]></itunes:name></itunes:owner><itunes:author><![CDATA[UrmilaBooks]]></itunes:author><googleplay:owner><![CDATA[urmilabooks@substack.com]]></googleplay:owner><googleplay:email><![CDATA[urmilabooks@substack.com]]></googleplay:email><googleplay:author><![CDATA[UrmilaBooks]]></googleplay:author><itunes:block><![CDATA[Yes]]></itunes:block><item><title><![CDATA[Beat the "Winter Slide" with These 5 Cozy Reads]]></title><description><![CDATA[Keep reading skills sharp this holiday with 5 cozy, screen-free stories kids actually want to read.]]></description><link>https://www.urmilabooks.in/p/beat-the-winter-slide-with-these-5-cozy-reads</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.urmilabooks.in/p/beat-the-winter-slide-with-these-5-cozy-reads</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[UrmilaBooks]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sat, 13 Dec 2025 13:42:44 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/735ae284-fb29-4ccf-99d6-5102b04c0661_400x223.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong>The Struggle is Real.</strong> </p><p>Winter break is a magical time for family and rest, but for many parents, it also brings the fear of the &#8220;Winter Slide.&#8221; We know how hard you worked this term to build reading momentum, and it&#8217;s frustrating to watch that progress stall the moment school stops. The secret isn&#8217;t forcing dry educational texts during the holidays; it&#8217;s finding stories so warm and engaging that reading feels like a treat&#8212;just like a mug of hot cocoa.</p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.urmilabooks.in/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Thanks for reading! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><div><hr></div><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!w3XL!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7027fd72-7917-4760-aee3-24803797a79e_400x223.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!w3XL!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7027fd72-7917-4760-aee3-24803797a79e_400x223.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!w3XL!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7027fd72-7917-4760-aee3-24803797a79e_400x223.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!w3XL!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7027fd72-7917-4760-aee3-24803797a79e_400x223.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!w3XL!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7027fd72-7917-4760-aee3-24803797a79e_400x223.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!w3XL!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7027fd72-7917-4760-aee3-24803797a79e_400x223.png" width="400" height="223" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/7027fd72-7917-4760-aee3-24803797a79e_400x223.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:223,&quot;width&quot;:400,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:239647,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/png&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://www.urmilabooks.in/i/181501800?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7027fd72-7917-4760-aee3-24803797a79e_400x223.png&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!w3XL!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7027fd72-7917-4760-aee3-24803797a79e_400x223.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!w3XL!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7027fd72-7917-4760-aee3-24803797a79e_400x223.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!w3XL!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7027fd72-7917-4760-aee3-24803797a79e_400x223.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!w3XL!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7027fd72-7917-4760-aee3-24803797a79e_400x223.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div></div></div></a></figure></div><h3><strong>5 &#8216;Cozy&#8217; Chapter Books to Keep Them Reading</strong></h3><p><strong>1. <a href="https://www.amazon.in/Vanderbeekers-141st-Street-Karina-Glaser/dp/0544876393">The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street</a> by Karina Yan Glaser</strong></p><ul><li><p><strong>The &#8216;What&#8217;:</strong> This modern classic follows a biracial family of five siblings trying to save their beloved Harlem brownstone before their landlord kicks them out on New Year&#8217;s Day. It is filled with holiday baking, secret plans, and the warmth of a bustling city home.</p></li><li><p><strong>Why We Love It:</strong> It demonstrates excellent problem-solving skills and resilience, showing children how creativity and community can overcome seemingly impossible odds.</p></li></ul><p><strong>2. <a href="https://www.amazon.in/Very-Far-North/dp/1534433414">The Very, Very Far North</a> by Dan Bar-el</strong></p><ul><li><p><strong>The &#8216;What&#8217;:</strong> Duane the Polar Bear and his eclectic group of friends explore the Arctic in a series of gentle, philosophical adventures. Think &#8220;Winnie-the-Pooh,&#8221; but set in the snow.</p></li><li><p><strong>Why We Love It:</strong> The slower pace and sophisticated vocabulary make it perfect for developing reading comprehension without the stress of high-stakes conflict.</p></li></ul><p><strong>3. <a href="https://www.amazon.in/TRUE-HOME-Kallie-George/dp/1484746384">Heartwood Hotel: A True Home</a> by Kallie George</strong></p><ul><li><p><strong>The &#8216;What&#8217;:</strong> Mona the Mouse seeks sanctuary in a grand hotel inside a fern tree, where she helps care for woodland guests like badgers and squirrels while storms rage outside.</p></li><li><p><strong>Why We Love It:</strong> This is a fantastic introduction to descriptive writing, helping young readers visualize complex settings while reinforcing themes of hospitality and kindness.</p></li></ul><p><strong>4. <a href="https://www.amazon.in/Mercy-Watson-Rescue-Kate-DiCamillo/dp/0763645044">Mercy Watson to the Rescue</a> by Kate DiCamillo</strong></p><ul><li><p><strong>The &#8216;What&#8217;:</strong> Designed for those bridging the gap between picture books and novels, this series features a pig who loves hot buttered toast and frequently (and hilariously) gets her owners into trouble.</p></li><li><p><strong>Why We Love It:</strong> The visual cues and repetitive text structure build massive confidence for reluctant readers ages 5&#8211;7 who might be intimidated by denser books.</p></li></ul><p><strong>5. <a href="https://www.amazon.in/Fathers-Dragon-Ruth-Stiles-Gannett/dp/1494915049">My Father&#8217;s Dragon</a> by Ruth Stiles Gannett</strong></p><ul><li><p><strong>The &#8216;What&#8217;:</strong> A timeless adventure where young Elmer Elevator packs a knapsack with chewing gum and lollipops to rescue a baby dragon on a wild island.</p></li><li><p><strong>Why We Love It:</strong> It teaches critical thinking and non-violent conflict resolution, as the protagonist outsmarts &#8220;scary&#8221; animals using logic rather than force.</p></li></ul><div><hr></div><p><strong>Over to You</strong> Does your family have a go-to book that gets read every winter? Hit reply or leave a comment below&#8212;we are always looking to add more hidden gems to our library list!</p><p><strong>Happy Reading,</strong> <strong>The Editorial Team</strong></p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.urmilabooks.in/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Thanks for reading! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[7 Books That Teach Resilience and 'Failing Forward' for the New Year]]></title><description><![CDATA[Teach your child to "fail well" in 2026. We curated 7 essential books that turn mistakes into growth for ages 5-10.]]></description><link>https://www.urmilabooks.in/p/7-books-that-teach-resilience-and-failing-forward</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.urmilabooks.in/p/7-books-that-teach-resilience-and-failing-forward</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[UrmilaBooks]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 09 Dec 2025 09:30:44 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/ec013669-370a-4177-8e77-0e0e95cf0eb0_400x223.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>January is the season of big goals. We make resolutions, we plan for the year ahead, and inevitably, we stumble.</p><p>For children, the pressure to &#8220;get it right&#8221; can be paralyzing. Whether it is learning to tie their shoes, solving a math problem, or navigating a playground conflict, the fear of failure is often the biggest barrier to growth.</p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.urmilabooks.in/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Thanks for reading! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><p>At Urmila Books, we believe the most valuable skill we can teach our children in 2026 isn&#8217;t how to succeed instantly&#8212;it is how to &#8220;fail well.&#8221;</p><p>Resilience isn&#8217;t something you can simply explain to a child; they have to see it in action. We have curated a list of 7 outstanding books that reframe mistakes not as endpoints, but as necessary steps in the creative process.</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Gc9Z!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2e1e0ba2-62af-4e43-9245-559d36717583_400x223.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Gc9Z!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2e1e0ba2-62af-4e43-9245-559d36717583_400x223.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Gc9Z!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2e1e0ba2-62af-4e43-9245-559d36717583_400x223.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Gc9Z!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2e1e0ba2-62af-4e43-9245-559d36717583_400x223.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Gc9Z!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2e1e0ba2-62af-4e43-9245-559d36717583_400x223.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Gc9Z!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2e1e0ba2-62af-4e43-9245-559d36717583_400x223.png" width="400" height="223" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/2e1e0ba2-62af-4e43-9245-559d36717583_400x223.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:223,&quot;width&quot;:400,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:269656,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/png&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://www.urmilabooks.in/i/181125469?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2e1e0ba2-62af-4e43-9245-559d36717583_400x223.png&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Gc9Z!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2e1e0ba2-62af-4e43-9245-559d36717583_400x223.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Gc9Z!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2e1e0ba2-62af-4e43-9245-559d36717583_400x223.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Gc9Z!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2e1e0ba2-62af-4e43-9245-559d36717583_400x223.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Gc9Z!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2e1e0ba2-62af-4e43-9245-559d36717583_400x223.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div></div></div></a></figure></div><p></p><p>Here are our top picks to build a &#8220;growth mindset&#8221; library this year.</p><div><hr></div><p><strong><a href="https://www.amazon.in/After-Fall-Humpty-Dumpty-Again/dp/1626726825">After the Fall (How Humpty Dumpty Got Back Up Again)</a></strong> by <em>Dan Santat</em> </p><ul><li><p><strong>The Plot:</strong> Everyone knows Humpty Dumpty fell off the wall, but this story follows what happened next&#8212;how he developed a fear of heights and what it took to climb back up. </p></li><li><p><strong>The Lesson:</strong> This book creates a safe space to discuss the emotional side of failure (fear and trauma) and the courage required to face it again.</p></li></ul><p><strong><a href="https://www.amazon.in/Most-Magnificent-Thing-Ashley-Spires/dp/1554537045">The Most Magnificent Thing</a></strong> by <em>Ashley Spires</em> </p><ul><li><p><strong>The Plot:</strong> A young girl has a wonderful idea to build something magnificent, but when her prototype doesn&#8217;t work, she gets frustrated, angry, and wants to quit. </p></li><li><p><strong>The Lesson:</strong> It perfectly illustrates that frustration is a normal part of the process, teaching children to step away, take a break, and come back with fresh eyes.</p></li></ul><p><strong><a href="https://www.amazon.in/Girl-Who-Never-Made-Mistakes/dp/1402255446">The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes</a></strong> by <em>Mark Pett and Gary Rubinstein</em> </p><ul><li><p><strong>The Plot:</strong> Beatrice Bottomwell is famous in her town for being perfect, until she makes a very public mistake during a talent show. </p></li><li><p><strong>The Lesson:</strong> This is essential reading for little perfectionists, teaching them that making a mistake isn&#8217;t the end of the world&#8212;in fact, it can be liberating.</p></li></ul><p><strong><a href="https://www.amazon.in/Rosie-Revere-Engineer-Andrea-Beaty/dp/1419708457">Rosie Revere, Engineer</a></strong> by <em>Andrea Beaty</em> </p><ul><li><p><strong>The Plot:</strong> Rosie loves to invent, but she hides her creations because she fears they are silly&#8212;until her Great-Great-Aunt Rose helps her see that a flop is actually a success.</p></li><li><p><strong>The Lesson:</strong> It reframes the concept of failure entirely: &#8220;The only true failure can come if you quit.&#8221;</p></li></ul><p><strong><a href="https://www.amazon.in/Magical-Yet-Angela-DiTerlizzi/dp/1368025625">The Magical Yet</a></strong> by <em>Angela DiTerlizzi</em> </p><ul><li><p><strong>The Plot:</strong> Rather than a traditional story, this book personifies the concept of the &#8220;Yet&#8221;&#8212;a magical companion that helps us when we can&#8217;t do something... <em>yet</em>. </p></li><li><p><strong>The Lesson:</strong> It gives children a specific vocabulary to handle difficulty, shifting their mindset from &#8220;I can&#8217;t do this&#8221; to &#8220;I am still learning this.&#8221;</p></li></ul><p><strong><a href="https://www.amazon.in/Beautiful-Oops-Barney-Saltzberg/dp/076115728X">Beautiful Oops!</a></strong> by <em>Barney Saltzberg</em> </p><ul><li><p><strong>The Plot:</strong> A highly visual book where torn paper, ink spills, and bent pages are transformed into whimsical art. </p></li><li><p><strong>The Lesson:</strong> It teaches adaptability and flexibility, showing children that mistakes don&#8217;t always need to be erased&#8212;sometimes they can be transformed into something better.</p></li></ul><p><strong><a href="https://www.amazon.in/Book-Mistakes-Corinna-Luyken/dp/0735227926">The Book of Mistakes</a></strong> by <em>Corinna Luyken</em> </p><ul><li><p><strong>The Plot:</strong> The story begins with an artist making a &#8220;mistake&#8221; while drawing a character, and follows how that error dictates the direction of the entire story. </p></li><li><p><strong>The Lesson:</strong> It celebrates the &#8220;happy accident,&#8221; encouraging children to embrace the unexpected rather than demanding rigid control over their work.</p></li></ul><div><hr></div><p><strong>Which one will you read first?</strong></p><p>Building resilience is a journey. We recommend choosing one of these titles to read together this weekend. When the character faces a setback, pause and ask your child: <em>&#8220;What would you do if that happened to you?&#8221;</em></p><p>Here&#8217;s to a brave and resilient New Year.</p><p><strong>The Team at Urmila Books</strong></p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.urmilabooks.in/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Thanks for reading! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Becoming a "Feeling Detective"]]></title><description><![CDATA[How to build your child's emotional intelligence (EQ) without a lecture: A simple observation guide for parents.]]></description><link>https://www.urmilabooks.in/p/becoming-a-feeling-detective</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.urmilabooks.in/p/becoming-a-feeling-detective</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[UrmilaBooks]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 08 Dec 2025 16:32:02 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/bffd55f6-4585-4a21-9556-eeaf7d341d95_400x218.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Ever feel like your child is walking around in their own little bubble when you&#8217;re out in public?</p><p>It&#8217;s easy for kids (and adults!) to tune out the world around them. But understanding people&#8212;figuring out how they feel without using words&#8212;is a real-life superpower called empathy.</p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.urmilabooks.in/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Thanks for reading! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><p>Instead of lecturing them on &#8220;paying attention,&#8221; let&#8217;s turn your next trip to the park or coffee shop into a top-secret training mission. Today, your child is going to be an anthropologist&#8212;a scientist who studies humans.</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!oaJ-!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fec19398c-a6dd-4dd6-b5f4-f3deed0901df_400x218.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!oaJ-!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fec19398c-a6dd-4dd6-b5f4-f3deed0901df_400x218.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!oaJ-!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fec19398c-a6dd-4dd6-b5f4-f3deed0901df_400x218.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!oaJ-!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fec19398c-a6dd-4dd6-b5f4-f3deed0901df_400x218.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!oaJ-!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fec19398c-a6dd-4dd6-b5f4-f3deed0901df_400x218.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!oaJ-!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fec19398c-a6dd-4dd6-b5f4-f3deed0901df_400x218.png" width="400" height="218" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/ec19398c-a6dd-4dd6-b5f4-f3deed0901df_400x218.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:218,&quot;width&quot;:400,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:251391,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/png&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://www.urmilabooks.in/i/181055982?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fec19398c-a6dd-4dd6-b5f4-f3deed0901df_400x218.png&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!oaJ-!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fec19398c-a6dd-4dd6-b5f4-f3deed0901df_400x218.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!oaJ-!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fec19398c-a6dd-4dd6-b5f4-f3deed0901df_400x218.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!oaJ-!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fec19398c-a6dd-4dd6-b5f4-f3deed0901df_400x218.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!oaJ-!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fec19398c-a6dd-4dd6-b5f4-f3deed0901df_400x218.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div></div></div></a></figure></div><h3>The Silent Movie Game</h3><p>The goal of this game is to &#8220;read&#8221; a situation without hearing any words. It turns boring waiting time into a fun detective game.</p><p><strong>Step 1 - Establish Base Camp</strong> Find a comfortable spot to sit where you can see the world go by. A park bench near a playground or a window seat at a busy cafe is perfect.</p><p><strong>Step 2 - Identify Subjects</strong> Quietly pick out two people interacting far enough away that you cannot hear what they are saying. It is crucial that you can&#8217;t hear the words!</p><p><strong>Step 3 - Gather &#8220;Clues&#8221;</strong> Turn to your child and whisper, &#8220;Mission start. We need data.&#8221; Ask them specific questions about what they see:</p><ul><li><p><strong>The Arms:</strong> Are their arms waving around excitedly like spaghetti? Or are they crossed tightly across their chest?</p></li><li><p><strong>The Distance:</strong> Are they standing very close together like best friends, or far apart like strangers?</p></li><li><p><strong>The Face:</strong> Are they smiling with their eyes, or do their eyebrows look squished and grumpy?</p></li></ul><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!DWEo!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb54a8b50-7c49-49eb-b07c-fe2da7006dbd_400x218.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!DWEo!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb54a8b50-7c49-49eb-b07c-fe2da7006dbd_400x218.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!DWEo!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb54a8b50-7c49-49eb-b07c-fe2da7006dbd_400x218.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!DWEo!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb54a8b50-7c49-49eb-b07c-fe2da7006dbd_400x218.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!DWEo!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb54a8b50-7c49-49eb-b07c-fe2da7006dbd_400x218.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!DWEo!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb54a8b50-7c49-49eb-b07c-fe2da7006dbd_400x218.png" width="400" height="218" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/b54a8b50-7c49-49eb-b07c-fe2da7006dbd_400x218.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:218,&quot;width&quot;:400,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:232043,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/png&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://www.urmilabooks.in/i/181055982?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb54a8b50-7c49-49eb-b07c-fe2da7006dbd_400x218.png&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!DWEo!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb54a8b50-7c49-49eb-b07c-fe2da7006dbd_400x218.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!DWEo!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb54a8b50-7c49-49eb-b07c-fe2da7006dbd_400x218.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!DWEo!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb54a8b50-7c49-49eb-b07c-fe2da7006dbd_400x218.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!DWEo!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb54a8b50-7c49-49eb-b07c-fe2da7006dbd_400x218.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div></div></div></a></figure></div><p><strong>Step 4 - The Hypothesis (The Guess)</strong> Ask your child: &#8220;Based on the clues, what is happening in their silent movie?&#8221;</p><p>Maybe they are old friends sharing a funny secret. Maybe one person is explaining how they lost their keys. Maybe they are deciding where to eat for lunch.</p><p>Remember, there are no wrong answers here. The victory is simply noticing the clues. This fun little game builds massive empathy muscles and teaches kids that everyone around them has their own story going on.</p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.urmilabooks.in/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Thanks for reading! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Stop Entertaining Your Kids. Let Them Be Bored Instead]]></title><description><![CDATA[Why doing nothing is the secret to raising creative thinkers in a hyper-stimulated world.]]></description><link>https://www.urmilabooks.in/p/stop-entertaining-your-kids-let-them</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.urmilabooks.in/p/stop-entertaining-your-kids-let-them</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[UrmilaBooks]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 07 Dec 2025 13:24:30 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!IFax!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6d9803f0-c9e7-4cd9-a0f9-61a8a54d292a_2816x1536.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>It&#8217;s Saturday morning. You&#8217;ve just finished breakfast, and you hear it. The dreaded whine:</p><p><em>&#8220;Mooooom, Daaaaad, I&#8217;m booooored. There&#8217;s nothing to doooo.&#8221;</em></p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.urmilabooks.in/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Thanks for reading! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><p>Your parenting instinct kicks in immediately. You need to fix it. You offer a screen, suggest a craft project, or start listing expensive outings. We live in a culture that tells us good parents keep their kids constantly engaged and stimulated. We feel guilty when they have nothing to do.</p><p>But today, I want you to try something radical. Don&#8217;t fix it.</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!IFax!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6d9803f0-c9e7-4cd9-a0f9-61a8a54d292a_2816x1536.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!IFax!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6d9803f0-c9e7-4cd9-a0f9-61a8a54d292a_2816x1536.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!IFax!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6d9803f0-c9e7-4cd9-a0f9-61a8a54d292a_2816x1536.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!IFax!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6d9803f0-c9e7-4cd9-a0f9-61a8a54d292a_2816x1536.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!IFax!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6d9803f0-c9e7-4cd9-a0f9-61a8a54d292a_2816x1536.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!IFax!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6d9803f0-c9e7-4cd9-a0f9-61a8a54d292a_2816x1536.png" width="1456" height="794" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/6d9803f0-c9e7-4cd9-a0f9-61a8a54d292a_2816x1536.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:794,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:7380800,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/png&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://www.urmilabooks.in/i/180952743?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6d9803f0-c9e7-4cd9-a0f9-61a8a54d292a_2816x1536.png&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!IFax!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6d9803f0-c9e7-4cd9-a0f9-61a8a54d292a_2816x1536.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!IFax!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6d9803f0-c9e7-4cd9-a0f9-61a8a54d292a_2816x1536.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!IFax!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6d9803f0-c9e7-4cd9-a0f9-61a8a54d292a_2816x1536.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!IFax!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6d9803f0-c9e7-4cd9-a0f9-61a8a54d292a_2816x1536.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><h3>The Magic of &#8220;Doing Nothing&#8221;</h3><p>In our rush to keep our children busy, we&#8217;ve forgotten a crucial truth: <strong>Boredom is not a problem to be solved. It is a necessary ingredient for growth.</strong></p><p>When a child is constantly entertained by screens or structured activities, their brain is in &#8220;reactive&#8221; mode. They are just responding to noise and light.</p><p>When you take away the stimulation, their brain has to switch gears. It enters &#8220;daydream mode.&#8221; At first, this feels uncomfortable to them. But this empty space is where imagination, self-reliance, and problem-solving are born. You cannot teach creativity; you can only provide the space for it to happen.</p><h3>The Weekend Challenge: The &#8220;Boring Object&#8221; Test</h3><p>If your child (aged 5-10) is used to constant entertainment, they need practice being bored. Try this experiment this weekend:</p><ol><li><p><strong>Wait for the whine.</strong> When they say they are bored, cheerfully reply: &#8220;That&#8217;s great! That means your brain is getting ready to invent something fun.&#8221;</p></li><li><p><strong>Provide </strong><em><strong>one</strong></em><strong> dull object.</strong> Don&#8217;t give them a complex Lego set. Give them something open-ended. A large cardboard box is the gold standard. A stack of plastic cups or a pile of blankets also works wonders.</p></li><li><p><strong>The hardest part: Walk away.</strong> Do not offer suggestions. Do not help.</p></li></ol><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!xIS5!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F24f6b2ea-27fb-4ce8-a688-5c4e24d8e2ca_2816x1536.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!xIS5!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F24f6b2ea-27fb-4ce8-a688-5c4e24d8e2ca_2816x1536.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!xIS5!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F24f6b2ea-27fb-4ce8-a688-5c4e24d8e2ca_2816x1536.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!xIS5!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F24f6b2ea-27fb-4ce8-a688-5c4e24d8e2ca_2816x1536.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!xIS5!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F24f6b2ea-27fb-4ce8-a688-5c4e24d8e2ca_2816x1536.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!xIS5!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F24f6b2ea-27fb-4ce8-a688-5c4e24d8e2ca_2816x1536.png" width="1456" height="794" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/24f6b2ea-27fb-4ce8-a688-5c4e24d8e2ca_2816x1536.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:794,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:6251920,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/png&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://www.urmilabooks.in/i/180952743?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F24f6b2ea-27fb-4ce8-a688-5c4e24d8e2ca_2816x1536.png&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!xIS5!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F24f6b2ea-27fb-4ce8-a688-5c4e24d8e2ca_2816x1536.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!xIS5!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F24f6b2ea-27fb-4ce8-a688-5c4e24d8e2ca_2816x1536.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!xIS5!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F24f6b2ea-27fb-4ce8-a688-5c4e24d8e2ca_2816x1536.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!xIS5!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F24f6b2ea-27fb-4ce8-a688-5c4e24d8e2ca_2816x1536.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>They will be frustrated for ten minutes. They might lay on the floor and sigh loudly. Let them.</p><p>Eventually, the discomfort of boredom will outweigh the effort of playing. The brain will kick into gear. The box will become a cave, a submarine, or a robot suit.</p><p>Give your children the gift of empty space this weekend. You might be amazed at what they choose to fill it with.</p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.urmilabooks.in/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Thanks for reading! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Piggy Banks and Playtime]]></title><description><![CDATA[Easy activities to earn,save and spend for Little Kids!]]></description><link>https://www.urmilabooks.in/p/piggy-banks-and-playtime</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.urmilabooks.in/p/piggy-banks-and-playtime</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[UrmilaBooks]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 28 Apr 2025 13:24:50 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/75aeecdf-5c1d-4ae6-84c4-8c0e6e87009b_1024x1536.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Following our trail of financial literacy, here we are with <strong>fun and simple activities</strong> tailored for <strong>5-year-olds</strong> to help them understand the <strong>basics of financial literacy</strong>&#8212;through play, creativity, and real-life moments.</p><h4>1. Pretend Grocery Store</h4><p><em>  What you'll need:</em> Play money, toys or pantry items, price tags</p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.urmilabooks.in/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Thanks for reading! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><ul><li><p> Set up a mini store at home.</p></li><li><p>Give your child some play money and let them "shop" for items.</p></li><li><p>Talk about <strong>spending</strong>, <strong>choices</strong>, and <strong>budgeting</strong> ("You only have Rs.10&#8212;what can you buy?").</p></li></ul><p><em>    Teaches:</em> Money value, spending, making choices</p><h4>2. Make a Piggy Bank</h4><p><em>   What you'll need<strong>:</strong></em> Jar, box, or plastic bottle + stickers and markers</p><ul><li><p>Let your child decorate their own "bank."</p></li><li><p>Divide into sections if possible: <strong>Spend / Save / Share</strong>.</p></li><li><p>Help them put coins they earn or find into the right jar.</p></li><li><p>You can also buy piggy banks available in market as per your child&#8217;s preference.</p></li></ul><p><em>    Teaches:</em> Saving, organizing money, financial goals</p><h4>3. Earn &amp; Learn Chore Chart</h4><p><em>   What you'll need:</em> Sticker chart or checklist, small rewards (coins, stars, or stamps)</p><ul><li><p>Assign age-appropriate tasks (e.g. brushing teeth, cleaning toys).</p></li><li><p>After a week of completed tasks, they earn a reward or coin.</p></li></ul><p><em>   Teaches:</em> Earning, responsibility, delayed gratification</p><h4>4. Goal Tracker</h4><p><em>  What you'll need:</em> Chart or drawing of a desired toy/item, stickers or coins</p><ul><li><p>Help your child set a savings goal (e.g., a toy).</p></li><li><p>Every time they add to savings, color in a step on the path to the goal.</p></li></ul><p><em>   Teaches:</em> Goal-setting, saving over time</p><h4>5. &#8220;Would You Rather&#8221; Money Edition</h4><p><em>  What you'll need</em><strong>:</strong> Imagination!</p><ul><li><p>Ask fun questions like:<br>&#8220;Would you rather buy 3 candies now or save for a big toy later?&#8221;<br>&#8220;Would you share your coin to help a friend?&#8221;</p></li></ul><p><em>   Teaches:</em> Choices, empathy, financial thinking</p><h4>6. Money Coloring Sheets</h4><p><em>  What you'll need:</em> Printable sheets of coins, shopping scenes, or piggy banks</p><ul><li><p>Let them color while discussing what each item represents.</p></li><li><p> You can make a "Money Day" activity book!</p></li></ul><p><em>   Teaches:</em> Familiarity with money, early vocabulary</p><p>You can tweak these activities as per your child and family definitions of money. If you need a printable, drop us a comment. Also tell us about your favourite activities in comment box.</p><p>Join us on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/urmilabooks/">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/UrmilaBooks/">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://chat.whatsapp.com/Hc6uRc1gVvn4KsUO2qf9kW">WhatsApp</a> for more fun learning ideas!</p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.urmilabooks.in/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Thanks for reading! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[My 5-year-old knows how to save..here's why?]]></title><description><![CDATA[&#8220;Finance for kids&#8221; might sound like a big, serious topic&#8212;but it doesn&#8217;t have to be!]]></description><link>https://www.urmilabooks.in/p/my-5-year-old-knows-how-to-save</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.urmilabooks.in/p/my-5-year-old-knows-how-to-save</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[UrmilaBooks]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 23 Apr 2025 12:15:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/c97d0d2e-c2d6-4067-8aab-2b7790af33ed_1024x1536.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>&#8220;Finance for kids&#8221; might sound like a big, serious topic&#8212;but it doesn&#8217;t have to be! In fact, it&#8217;s one of the <strong>most important life skills</strong> we can begin teaching our children, starting as early as preschool.</p><p>Of course, a 5-year-old doesn&#8217;t need to know about bank accounts or budgets just yet. At this age, it&#8217;s all about <strong>introducing the basics</strong>:<br><strong>What is money? Why do we need it? And how can we make smart choices with it?</strong></p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.urmilabooks.in/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Thanks for reading! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><p>Let&#8217;s explore the foundational financial concepts, explained in ways that make sense to little minds.</p><h4>1. Money</h4><p>Children l explaining that <strong>money is what we use to buy the things we want or need</strong>.<br>Use real or play money to show how it works. Turn shopping trips into fun, teachable moments.</p><h4>2. Bank</h4><p>A bank can be described simply as a <strong>safe place to keep money</strong>&#8212;just like a toy chest or hidden treasure box.<br>Let your child make their own &#8220;bank&#8221; at home using a jar, envelope, or piggy bank.</p><h4>3. Earn</h4><p>Teach them that people <strong>earn</strong> money by doing jobs. Give them small, age-appropriate tasks&#8212;like setting the table or puttif they complete these consistently, reward them with a coin, sticker, or small prize based on your family&#8217;s approach to rewards.</p><h4>4. Save</h4><p>This is a great age to introduce the concept of <strong>saving</strong>.<br>Kids often want things <em>now</em>, but learning to wait and save up for something special helps them build <strong>patience and self-control</strong>.</p><h4>5. Spend (Expenses)</h4><p>Spending means using money to buy something.<br>Take your child grocery shopping and explain how we give money to get food and supplies. Let them &#8220;pay&#8221; for a small item and experience the exchange.</p><h4>6. Goal</h4><p>Set a simple saving goal with your child&#8212;maybe a new toy or game.<br>In my home, we use a piggy bank. Whenever my child earns money, it goes there. After a few weeks or months, he gets to use it to buy something he&#8217;s been saving for. It&#8217;s <strong>exciting, rewarding, and educational.</strong></p><h4>7. Choice</h4><p>Teaching kids that they <strong>can&#8217;t have everything at once</strong> is an essential life skill.<br>Explain that a <strong>choice</strong> means picking one thing and leaving something else behind&#8212;and that&#8217;s okay.</p><h3>Learning Through Play and Stories</h3><p>Children learn best through <strong>play</strong>.<br>We do pretend grocery shopping at home, role-play with toy money, and read books about spending and saving. Stories are especially powerful in helping kids understand abstract ideas. For example:</p><p>Penny the bunny got three shiny coins for helping Grandma sweep the porch.</p><p><em>&#8220;I want to buy a big lollipop!&#8221;</em> said Penny, hopping with excitement.</p><p>She bounced to the candy shop and saw the lollipop cost <strong>two coins</strong>.</p><p>Just as she reached for it, her friend Max said,<br><em>&#8220;Hey Penny, are you saving for that bunny doll you wanted?&#8221;</em></p><p>Penny paused.<br>She looked at her coins. She had <strong>three</strong>.</p><ul><li><p>If she bought the lollipop, she&#8217;d only have <strong>one coin left</strong>.</p></li><li><p>The bunny doll cost <strong>five coins</strong>. She was <strong>so close</strong>!</p></li></ul><p>Penny thought hard.</p><p>Then she smiled and said,<br><em>&#8220;I&#8217;m going to save my coins today! I&#8217;ll get the bunny doll soon!&#8221;</em></p><p>Max clapped his paws.<br><em>&#8220;Smart choice, Penny!&#8221;</em></p><p>Penny dropped her coins in her <strong>"Save Jar"</strong> and felt proud.</p><p>That night, she told her mom:<br><em>&#8220;Saving helps me get something really special later!&#8221;</em></p><div><hr></div><p>Financial literacy at age five is less about numbers and more about <strong>mindset</strong>.<br>It&#8217;s about teaching your child to understand the value of money, how to make choices, and how to <strong>wait for something truly worth it</strong>.</p><p>Start simple. Keep it fun.<br>And remember: the money habits they build now will grow with them for a lifetime.</p><p>Join us on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/urmilabooks/">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/UrmilaBooks/">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://chat.whatsapp.com/Hc6uRc1gVvn4KsUO2qf9kW">WhatsApp</a> for more fun learning ideas!</p><div data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;file:///C:/Users/surbh/Downloads/ChatGPT%20Image%20Apr%2023,%202025,%2003_48_18%20PM.png&quot;}" data-component-name="AssetErrorToDOM"><picture><img src="/img/missing-image.png" height="455" width="728"></picture></div><p></p><p></p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.urmilabooks.in/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Thanks for reading! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Explore India with your little one]]></title><description><![CDATA[Summer is a time when we want our kids to explore and learn different subjects.]]></description><link>https://www.urmilabooks.in/p/explore-india-with-your-little-one</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.urmilabooks.in/p/explore-india-with-your-little-one</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[UrmilaBooks]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 16 Apr 2025 13:22:15 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/babd1058-8eb7-4dc3-b052-6408383115cf_1024x1024.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Summer is a time when we want our kids to explore and learn different subjects. A perfect time to experiment with kids. But a child&#8217;s attention span is small so we need something quick and interesting to help them learn. This time we give AI a try to create some fun images that can be used as posters in your child&#8217;s room or just as flash cards. Here are fun &amp; colorful AI prompts and facts to help kids learn about Indian states. From elephants in Kerala to the deserts of Rajasthan &#8211; it's geography made joyful!<br></p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.urmilabooks.in/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Thanks for reading! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><p>1. Create a printable poster about fun facts on Indian states for 6 years. Here is what I get :</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!wCLg!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F1ce9426e-6ffd-4b08-8b42-ee5e2952e8e9_505x559.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!wCLg!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F1ce9426e-6ffd-4b08-8b42-ee5e2952e8e9_505x559.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!wCLg!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F1ce9426e-6ffd-4b08-8b42-ee5e2952e8e9_505x559.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!wCLg!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F1ce9426e-6ffd-4b08-8b42-ee5e2952e8e9_505x559.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!wCLg!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F1ce9426e-6ffd-4b08-8b42-ee5e2952e8e9_505x559.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!wCLg!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F1ce9426e-6ffd-4b08-8b42-ee5e2952e8e9_505x559.png" width="505" height="559" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/1ce9426e-6ffd-4b08-8b42-ee5e2952e8e9_505x559.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:559,&quot;width&quot;:505,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:474735,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/png&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://www.urmilabooks.in/i/161457810?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F1ce9426e-6ffd-4b08-8b42-ee5e2952e8e9_505x559.png&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!wCLg!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F1ce9426e-6ffd-4b08-8b42-ee5e2952e8e9_505x559.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!wCLg!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F1ce9426e-6ffd-4b08-8b42-ee5e2952e8e9_505x559.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!wCLg!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F1ce9426e-6ffd-4b08-8b42-ee5e2952e8e9_505x559.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!wCLg!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F1ce9426e-6ffd-4b08-8b42-ee5e2952e8e9_505x559.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>2. Create a comic strip of facts about Indian states. Result is quite interesting.</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!xcar!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fea2a1402-8692-42a2-95bb-74793bf3b00e_468x434.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!xcar!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fea2a1402-8692-42a2-95bb-74793bf3b00e_468x434.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!xcar!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fea2a1402-8692-42a2-95bb-74793bf3b00e_468x434.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!xcar!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fea2a1402-8692-42a2-95bb-74793bf3b00e_468x434.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!xcar!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fea2a1402-8692-42a2-95bb-74793bf3b00e_468x434.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!xcar!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fea2a1402-8692-42a2-95bb-74793bf3b00e_468x434.png" width="468" height="434" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/ea2a1402-8692-42a2-95bb-74793bf3b00e_468x434.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:434,&quot;width&quot;:468,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:413660,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/png&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://www.urmilabooks.in/i/161457810?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fea2a1402-8692-42a2-95bb-74793bf3b00e_468x434.png&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!xcar!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fea2a1402-8692-42a2-95bb-74793bf3b00e_468x434.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!xcar!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fea2a1402-8692-42a2-95bb-74793bf3b00e_468x434.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!xcar!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fea2a1402-8692-42a2-95bb-74793bf3b00e_468x434.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!xcar!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fea2a1402-8692-42a2-95bb-74793bf3b00e_468x434.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><ol start="3"><li><p>Printable worksheet or poster with focus on all states. You can even make it interactive like matching activities for kids.</p></li></ol><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!SoAo!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F52246be1-0dfd-4b57-b810-f9ccfe57817e_414x481.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!SoAo!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F52246be1-0dfd-4b57-b810-f9ccfe57817e_414x481.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!SoAo!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F52246be1-0dfd-4b57-b810-f9ccfe57817e_414x481.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!SoAo!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F52246be1-0dfd-4b57-b810-f9ccfe57817e_414x481.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!SoAo!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F52246be1-0dfd-4b57-b810-f9ccfe57817e_414x481.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!SoAo!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F52246be1-0dfd-4b57-b810-f9ccfe57817e_414x481.png" width="414" height="481" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/52246be1-0dfd-4b57-b810-f9ccfe57817e_414x481.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:481,&quot;width&quot;:414,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:372956,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/png&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://www.urmilabooks.in/i/161457810?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F52246be1-0dfd-4b57-b810-f9ccfe57817e_414x481.png&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!SoAo!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F52246be1-0dfd-4b57-b810-f9ccfe57817e_414x481.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!SoAo!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F52246be1-0dfd-4b57-b810-f9ccfe57817e_414x481.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!SoAo!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F52246be1-0dfd-4b57-b810-f9ccfe57817e_414x481.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!SoAo!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F52246be1-0dfd-4b57-b810-f9ccfe57817e_414x481.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><ol start="4"><li><p>First I asked ChatGPT &#8220;fun facts about Indian states for kids age 6 years&#8221;, I got a big article. So I asked ChatGPT to &#8220;make it little colorful and made famous images&#8221;, result is an image which suddenly caught hold of my child eyes:</p></li></ol><p> </p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!yBKD!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F70200f72-7a26-42b7-a4d0-c082a458856b_493x507.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!yBKD!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F70200f72-7a26-42b7-a4d0-c082a458856b_493x507.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!yBKD!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F70200f72-7a26-42b7-a4d0-c082a458856b_493x507.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!yBKD!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F70200f72-7a26-42b7-a4d0-c082a458856b_493x507.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!yBKD!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F70200f72-7a26-42b7-a4d0-c082a458856b_493x507.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!yBKD!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F70200f72-7a26-42b7-a4d0-c082a458856b_493x507.png" width="493" height="507" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/70200f72-7a26-42b7-a4d0-c082a458856b_493x507.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:507,&quot;width&quot;:493,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:471263,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/png&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://www.urmilabooks.in/i/161457810?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F70200f72-7a26-42b7-a4d0-c082a458856b_493x507.png&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!yBKD!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F70200f72-7a26-42b7-a4d0-c082a458856b_493x507.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!yBKD!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F70200f72-7a26-42b7-a4d0-c082a458856b_493x507.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!yBKD!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F70200f72-7a26-42b7-a4d0-c082a458856b_493x507.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!yBKD!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F70200f72-7a26-42b7-a4d0-c082a458856b_493x507.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p> &#128172; Tell us your favorite state in the comments! Do give it a try and share it with your friends and family.</p><p><strong>&#10024; </strong>Join us on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/urmilabooks/">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/UrmilaBooks/">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://chat.whatsapp.com/Hc6uRc1gVvn4KsUO2qf9kW">WhatsApp</a> for more fun learning ideas!</p><p></p><p></p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.urmilabooks.in/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Thanks for reading! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[A simple way to get kids into reading]]></title><description><![CDATA[Read this if you&#8217;re looking for screen time for kids that actually feels useful and engaging.]]></description><link>https://www.urmilabooks.in/p/a-simple-way-to-get-kids-into-reading</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.urmilabooks.in/p/a-simple-way-to-get-kids-into-reading</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[UrmilaBooks]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 14 Apr 2025 10:22:13 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/56b60e89-93c9-4640-b4d0-9e1a80d6af39_600x600.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I recently came across something called BookSmart by WorldReader and thought it was worth sharing. It&#8217;s a free reading platform for kids 0&#8211;12, works on any device (no app needed), and has a bunch of stories in different languages. If you&#8217;re looking for screen time that feels more meaningful, it might be worth checking out.</p><p><strong>What makes BookSmart worth checking out?</strong></p><p>I&#8217;ve been exploring BookSmart a bit more, and I&#8217;m honestly impressed with how thoughtful it is. It&#8217;s not just about reading&#8212;it&#8217;s set up to help kids actually enjoy books and build a real habit.</p><p>A few things that stood out to me:</p><ul><li><p>It&#8217;s totally free and has a big variety of books</p></li><li><p>Available in several languages (like English, Hindi, Swahili, Arabic)</p></li><li><p>Has little goals, badges, and points to keep kids motivated</p></li><li><p>Includes fun extras like quizzes and activities</p></li><li><p>Even has prompts to help start good conversations with your kid&#8212;about things like emotions, nature, and different cultures</p></li></ul><p>It works whether you're reading together or they&#8217;re reading on their own. Just feels like a nice way to make screen time more meaningful.</p><p>I have been going through BookSmart with my kid since last couple of days and here are three books that we absolutely loved</p><p><strong>1. Why Is Nita Upside Down?</strong></p><p>Nita feels different and struggles to connect with others&#8212;until a friend helps her see that <strong>diversity is beautiful</strong>. This gentle book is a perfect conversation starter about self-love, inclusivity, and understanding others.</p><p>&#128161; <strong>Talk about it:</strong> Ask your child how they feel when they see someone who looks or acts differently. Celebrate what makes them unique.</p><p><strong>2. The Lion and the Mouse</strong></p><p>A timeless fable with vibrant visuals, this story reminds us that <strong>kindness matters</strong>, no matter how small we are. A great pick to introduce empathy and mutual respect.</p><p>&#129409; <strong>Try this activity:</strong> Role-play the story with stuffed animals or puppets&#8212;it&#8217;s a fun way to build comprehension and emotional awareness!</p><p><strong>3. Into the Wild</strong></p><p>Joe can&#8217;t find wildness in the city&#8212;until nature shows up where he least expects it. This story is perfect for helping kids discover that <strong>nature is all around us</strong>.</p><p>&#127807; <strong>Activity idea:</strong> Go on a nature walk or create &#8220;wild-inspired&#8221; art like we did. It made the story come alive!</p><p>If you want to explore these books, here&#8217;s a quick guide to get you started:</p><ol><li><p>Just head to <a href="https://booksmart.worldreader.org">booksmart.worldreader.org</a> on any device. No app or download needed.</p></li><li><p>You can choose from a few, including English, Hindi, Swahili, and Arabic.</p></li><li><p>Choose a reader profile. They&#8217;ve got options based on age:</p></li></ol><ul><li><p>0&#8211;5 years (Early Readers)</p></li><li><p>6&#8211;8 years (Young Readers)</p></li><li><p>9&#8211;12 years (Independent Readers)<br>It helps the platform recommend the right kind of books.</p></li></ul><ol start="4"><li><p>Browse the library. You can search by topic or level, which is handy. You can also navigate through various categories, such as:</p></li></ol><ul><li><p>Read Alouds</p></li><li><p>Animals &amp; Nature</p></li><li><p>Culture &amp; Community</p></li><li><p>Friendship &amp; Feelings</p></li><li><p>Learning new stuff</p></li></ul><ol start="5"><li><p>Just tap a book to open it. You can flip through pages, zoom in, or go full-screen. Some books even have little questions or prompts.</p></li><li><p>If you make an account (can be a free one), your kid can track their reading, earn badges, mark books as &#8220;read,&#8221; and do extra activities and quizzes.</p></li></ol><div><hr></div><p>Hope it&#8217;s helpful for you too&#8212;would love to hear what you and your kids think of it, and if you come across any books you really enjoyed!</p><p>Join us on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/urmilabooks/">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/UrmilaBooks/">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://chat.whatsapp.com/Hc6uRc1gVvn4KsUO2qf9kW">WhatsApp</a> for more fun learning ideas!</p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Colorful pages for curious minds]]></title><description><![CDATA[5 colorful books that your kid will love to read.]]></description><link>https://www.urmilabooks.in/p/colorful-pages-for-curious-minds</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.urmilabooks.in/p/colorful-pages-for-curious-minds</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[UrmilaBooks]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 13 Apr 2025 09:11:48 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/a32ff2f7-0533-4eab-91dd-3a866e0afaee_1024x1536.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Today, I bring to you five books that are not only my child&#8217;s favorite but are vibrant, inclusive, and multilingual&#8212;perfect for young readers. Whether you&#8217;re looking for captivating characters, engaging picture books, or funny stories that introduce different traditions, they have something for every age group. Here I am listing books that I read aloud and laugh out loud with my child.</p><p>1. <strong><a href="https://www.tulikabooks.com/general-picture-books/gajapati-kulapati-english.html?search_query=gajapati+&amp;results=7">Gajapati Kulapati</a></strong> by Ashok Rajagopalan<br>A delightful story about a lovable elephant whose sneezes cause hilarious chaos. Perfect for toddlers, this book is a favorite among young readers. Other book from these series are equally hilarious.</p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.urmilabooks.in/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Thanks for reading! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><p><strong>&#10024; </strong>Join us on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/urmilabooks/">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/UrmilaBooks/">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://chat.whatsapp.com/Hc6uRc1gVvn4KsUO2qf9kW">WhatsApp</a> for more fun learning ideas!</p><p>2. <strong><a href="https://www.tulikabooks.com/picture-books/mallipoo-where-are-you-english.html">Mallipoo, Where Are You?</a></strong> by Radhika Chadha<br>A charming story about a cow named Maharani who causes traffic jams, teaching children about patience and community.</p><p>3. <strong><a href="https://www.tulikabooks.com/wordless-picture-books/ammachi-s-glasses-wordless.html">Ammachi&#8217;s Glasses</a></strong> by Priya Kuriyan<br>A wordless picture book that humorously depicts the adventures of a grandmother who misplaces her glasses. The expressive illustrations engage children in storytelling.</p><p>4. <strong><a href="https://www.tulikabooks.com/all-picture-books/where-is-amma-english.html">Where is Amma?</a> </strong>by Nandini Nayar<br>A playful hide-and-seek tale that takes readers through various parts of a house in search of Amma. This book innocently depicts the child thinking of all places his mother could hide.</p><p>5. <strong><a href="https://www.tulikabooks.com/picture-books/what-shall-i-make-english.html">What Shall I Make?</a> </strong>By Nandini Nayar<br>A charming story that encourages creativity as a child explores the possibilities of what to make with a lump of chapati dough. This book take us adults down a memory lane as we all have played with chapati dough in our childhood.</p><p>These are just few recommendations that we love and read from time to time. You can buy these books from Amazon or any other kids library. You will find them everywhere.</p><p><strong>&#10024; </strong>Join us on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/urmilabooks/">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/UrmilaBooks/">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://chat.whatsapp.com/Hc6uRc1gVvn4KsUO2qf9kW">WhatsApp</a> for more fun learning ideas!</p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.urmilabooks.in/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Thanks for reading! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Little Hearts, Big Feelings - Emotional health activities for kids]]></title><description><![CDATA[Today, kids don&#8217;t just need a high IQ, they need a strong Emotional Quotient (or emotional intelligence) too.]]></description><link>https://www.urmilabooks.in/p/little-hearts-big-feelings-emotional</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.urmilabooks.in/p/little-hearts-big-feelings-emotional</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[UrmilaBooks]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 10 Apr 2025 12:47:34 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/940d27bc-5717-4279-a420-277c23cd0822_561x841.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Today, kids don&#8217;t just need a high IQ, they need a strong Emotional Quotient (or emotional intelligence) too. With Gen Alpha and Gen Beta growing up, surrounded by screens and smart tech, it&#8217;s unrealistic to keep them completely away from devices. But what we <em>can</em> do is equip them with the right tools to understand, express, and manage their emotions.</p><p>And guess what? Kids are natural learners &#8212; their emotions are raw, honest, and beautifully unfiltered. If we help them understand how to interpret their emotions now, we&#8217;re giving them a gift that will last a lifetime.</p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.urmilabooks.in/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Thanks for reading! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><p><strong>&#127969; Summer = A perfect time to build emotional skills</strong></p><p>Summer means more time at home, slower routines, and extra cuddles. Why not use this time to gently introduce emotional awareness activities into your child&#8217;s day?</p><p>Here&#8217;s how we do it in my home - My son and I usually wind down together at night &#8212; that&#8217;s our &#8220;chitchat time.&#8221; We laugh, ask each other silly questions, talk about our day, and even play little games focused on increasing emotional awareness. These quiet, connected moments are the best opportunities to build trust and emotional vocabulary.</p><p><strong>&#127912;&#129496;&#8205;&#9792;&#65039; My favorite emotional wellness activities for kids</strong></p><p>Here are some fun, gentle ways to explore feelings &#8212; try them out and pick what fits your child&#8217;s vibe:</p><p><strong>1. &#127912; Draw your feelings - </strong>Encourage kids to express their emotions through drawing. You can use simple color codes to represent feelings &#8212; red for anger, blue for sadness, yellow for joy, and green for calm. Let them paint, doodle, or scribble in any way that feels good to them. It&#8217;s a fun and creative way to help them show how they feel inside.</p><p><strong>2. &#127939;&#8205;&#9794;&#65039; Physical play - </strong>Movement helps kids feel better. Activities like yoga, playing sports, or even a little safe roughhousing can help them release stress, calm their nervous system, and connect with their bodies. Let them run, stretch, or dance &#8212; it&#8217;s not just fun, it&#8217;s healing too.</p><p><strong>3. &#10024; Gratitude jars or journals </strong>- Helping kids notice the good things in their lives can be powerful. Create a gratitude jar or journal that&#8217;s fun and age-appropriate. Let them add stickers, drawings, or even record voice notes. They can write or say simple things like, &#8220;I&#8217;m happy I played with my friend today.&#8221; You can buy special journals or make your own with daily prompts to guide them.</p><p><strong>4. &#128218; Read about emotions together </strong>-<strong> </strong>Books and visuals make it easier for kids to understand feelings. Try using picture books, flashcards, or comics that show characters experiencing emotions. One great option is <a href="https://www.amazon.in/Am-Affirmations-Resilience-Bela-Barbosa-ebook/dp/B084M5RPTY/ref=sr_1_1?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.hgAnLEYoT2xBtcFPNVRXSEcmfR_W8tq754Y_TQNPLd5k2vNLBvgfwVy7QR5xig6vlFifQaD33QV17nsd8Hjg47vjnHbwckMZ01A-wuxmMIrbTUG78La0xx1EDZwqRPPfHQIQ7uDYONkNy7hEafXUOyVwtrhisJslx21kyLUMOZJFJeGb1Z44b-XD-hQ6lWFMeZWC2D2F7gF9jLgBP41vwW371PNg53HOp6wmtjtq1Us.NnMLFsAoIFh-a_tQtL7DwXfWZMu8i-UoSk42uI-B7EY&amp;dib_tag=se&amp;keywords=I+am+affirmations&amp;qid=1744280285&amp;s=digital-text&amp;sr=1-1">I AM!! Affirmations for Resilience</a> &#8212; it&#8217;s full of positive, empowering messages that help kids feel understood and strong.</p><p><strong>5. &#129496;&#8205;&#9794;&#65039; Practice mindful moments together - </strong>Mindfulness doesn&#8217;t have to be long or complicated. You can take deep breaths together, like pretending to blow bubbles or candles. Try short meditations, even just for a minute. You can also say positive affirmations out loud, like &#8220;I am strong. I am kind.&#8221; These little moments can help kids feel calm and confident.</p><p>Emotional health isn&#8217;t about being &#8220;happy all the time.&#8221; It&#8217;s about helping kids feel safe, seen, and supported &#8212; even on the hard days.</p><p>So, whether you're coloring with them, doing silly breathing, or just lying on the bed chatting about their day... you're doing an amazing job. &#128155;</p><p>And if you ever need visual tools or printable cards to guide your child&#8217;s emotional journey, I&#8217;ve got your back! Just reach out. &#128140;</p><p>Keep the love flowing. Hug often. Listen more. And celebrate every little step.</p><p><strong>&#10024; </strong>Join us on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/urmilabooks/">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/UrmilaBooks/">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://chat.whatsapp.com/Hc6uRc1gVvn4KsUO2qf9kW">WhatsApp</a> for more fun learning ideas!</p><p></p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.urmilabooks.in/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Thanks for reading! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[🌟 Ignite Their Imagination]]></title><description><![CDATA[10 Fun Writing Tips & Free Resources for Kids Ages 6&#8211;8]]></description><link>https://www.urmilabooks.in/p/ignite-their-imagination</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.urmilabooks.in/p/ignite-their-imagination</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[UrmilaBooks]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 09 Apr 2025 09:31:58 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!MwNF!,w_256,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe8dc4ea6-3ec0-4dfb-b2d8-c97e9b0139d9_500x500.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Let&#8217;s be honest&#8212;kids have the most <em>amazing</em> imaginations. &#129412; One minute they&#8217;re space explorers riding dinosaurs, and the next, they&#8217;re solving mysteries with a magical pet cat. So why not help them turn those wild ideas into wonderful stories?</p><p>Creative writing is more than just a fun activity&#8212;it builds confidence, improves vocabulary, and helps kids express themselves in meaningful ways. And the best part? It doesn&#8217;t need to feel like &#8220;schoolwork.&#8221;</p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.urmilabooks.in/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Thanks for reading! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><p>Whether you&#8217;re a parent, teacher, or a creative grown-up who loves storytelling, here are 10 playful writing tips (plus some awesome <strong>free resources</strong>) to help young writers aged 6&#8211;8 get their ideas flowing like a chocolate fountain at a birthday party. &#127851;&#127881;</p><ul><li><p><strong>Start with a Silly Prompt</strong><br>&#8220;Your dog becomes your teacher&#8212;what happens?&#8221; Kids love the weird. Weird works!</p></li><li><p><strong>Draw It First</strong><br>Let them sketch before writing. It&#8217;s a fun, low-pressure way to brainstorm.</p></li><li><p><strong>Create Cool Characters</strong><br>Like &#8220;Captain Banana&#8221; or &#8220;Rosie the Rainbow Cat.&#8221; Add a goal + a problem = instant story.</p></li><li><p><strong>Use the 5 Senses</strong><br>Ask: What do they see, smell, hear, feel, taste? This makes stories more vivid.</p></li><li><p><strong>Keep It Simple</strong><br>Short sentences are perfect. It&#8217;s about ideas, not perfect grammar.</p></li><li><p><strong>Teach Story Basics</strong><br>Beginning, middle, end. Who&#8217;s in the story, what goes wrong, how it ends.</p></li><li><p><strong>Say It Out Loud</strong><br>Let kids <em>tell</em> their story while you write it down. Great for reluctant writers!</p></li><li><p><strong>Add a Little Magic</strong><br>Secret portals, talking pets, flying backpacks&#8212;yes please!</p></li><li><p><strong>Make It a Game</strong><br>Try story dice, &#8220;finish the sentence,&#8221; or a jar of silly word combos.</p></li><li><p><strong>Celebrate Every Story</strong><br>Display it, read it aloud, or turn it into a little book. Applaud their imagination!</p></li></ul><div><hr></div><h2>&#127760; Free Creative Writing Resources</h2><ul><li><p>&#128218; <strong><a href="https://www.education.com/resources/english-language-arts/writing/">Education.com</a></strong> &#8211; Free story starters and worksheets</p></li><li><p>&#9999;&#65039; <strong><a href="https://www.twinkl.co.in/search?q=writing&amp;c=99&amp;ca=411&amp;ct=parent&amp;r=parent">Twinkl</a></strong> &#8211; Printable writing journals and prompts</p></li><li><p>&#127905; <strong><a href="https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/story-starters/index">Scholastic Story Starters</a></strong> &#8211; Interactive, silly prompt spinner</p></li></ul><p>Helping your child fall in love with writing doesn&#8217;t require fancy tools or perfect spelling&#8212;just encouragement, creativity, and a bit of silliness. Whether they&#8217;re crafting tales of space cats or pirate cupcakes, your support will help their stories shine.</p><p>So grab a notebook, pull up a comfy chair, and let the storytelling adventure begin!</p><p><strong>&#10024; </strong>Join us on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/urmilabooks/">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/UrmilaBooks/">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://chat.whatsapp.com/Hc6uRc1gVvn4KsUO2qf9kW">WhatsApp</a> for more fun learning ideas!</p><p></p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.urmilabooks.in/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Thanks for reading! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Tiny Tales, Big Adventures! ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Hello everyone!]]></description><link>https://www.urmilabooks.in/p/tiny-tales-big-adventures</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.urmilabooks.in/p/tiny-tales-big-adventures</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[UrmilaBooks]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 08 Apr 2025 20:57:57 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!MwNF!,w_256,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe8dc4ea6-3ec0-4dfb-b2d8-c97e9b0139d9_500x500.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Hello everyone! &#128075;</p><p>Welcome back to <strong>Day 2</strong> of our <em>Summer Read Recommendations</em>! Today, we&#8217;re thrilled to introduce a wonderful online resource that&#8217;s a hidden gem for parents and teachers alike &#8212; <strong>Oxford Owl</strong>.</p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.urmilabooks.in/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Thanks for reading! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><p>While many of us are familiar with the beloved books from <strong>Oxford University Press</strong>, not everyone knows that they also offer a <strong>free</strong>, interactive website full of <strong>eBooks</strong>, <strong>phonics-based readers</strong>, and <strong>learning tools</strong> designed especially for young readers.</p><p>As parents, we stumbled upon this goldmine while searching for engaging material for our toddlers &#8212; and trust us, it's too good not to share! Whether your child is just beginning their phonics journey or already a confident little reader, <strong>Oxford Owl</strong> has something for everyone. Getting started is easy &#8212; and completely <strong>free</strong>!</p><ol><li><p>Visit the <a href="https://www.oxfordowl.co.uk">Oxford Owl Free eBook Library</a>.</p></li><li><p>Register for a <strong>free account</strong> (or log in if you already have one).</p></li><li><p>Choose your child&#8217;s <strong>age group</strong> and filter for <strong>phonics books</strong>.</p></li><li><p>Start reading instantly from any device!</p></li></ol><p> Here are some delightful books we explored this week &#8212; perfect for toddlers beginning their reading adventure:</p><ul><li><p><strong><a href="https://www.oxfordowl.co.uk/home/reading-site/find-a-book/library-page?view=image&amp;query=&amp;type=book&amp;age_group=&amp;level=&amp;level_select=&amp;book_type=&amp;series=#">Noah's Seal</a></strong><br><em>Author: Layn Marlow</em><br>Noah eagerly awaits his Nana's boat to be ready for seal spotting. To pass the time, he crafts a seal from sand. When a storm washes it away, Noah loses hope&#8212;until a real seal appears, making his wait worthwhile.</p></li><li><p><strong><a href="https://www.oxfordowl.co.uk/home/reading-site/find-a-book/library-page?view=image&amp;query=&amp;type=book&amp;age_group=&amp;level=&amp;level_select=&amp;book_type=&amp;series=#">Friendship</a></strong><br><em>Series: Big Words for Little People</em><br>This book introduces young children to the concept of friendship, providing them with the vocabulary to express their feelings confidently. Through engaging illustrations and relatable scenarios, it helps children understand and navigate the dynamics of making and maintaining friends.</p></li><li><p><strong><a href="https://www.oxfordowl.co.uk/home/reading-site/find-a-book/library-page?view=image&amp;query=&amp;type=book&amp;age_group=&amp;level=&amp;level_select=&amp;book_type=&amp;series=#">Goodnight, Sleep Tight</a></strong><br><em>Author: Amber Stewart</em><br><em>Illustrator: Layn Marlow</em><br>Button, a little bear, sometimes worries about having bad dreams at bedtime. In this heartwarming story, Daddy Bear knows just how to soothe Button's fears, guiding him to a peaceful sleep. The book also offers practical tips for parents to address common bedtime anxieties.</p></li><li><p><strong><a href="https://www.oxfordowl.co.uk/home/reading-site/find-a-book/library-page?view=image&amp;query=&amp;type=book&amp;age_group=&amp;level=&amp;level_select=&amp;book_type=&amp;series=#">The Frog Prince</a></strong><br><em>Series: Read with Oxford: Stage 4: Phonics</em><br>This retelling of the classic tale is designed to support children's developing reading skills. With clear phonics progression and engaging illustrations, it's ideal for readers gaining confidence. The story follows the traditional narrative of a prince transformed into a frog and the journey to break the spell.</p></li></ul><p>We&#8217;ll be back tomorrow with another fun and educational pick! Until then &#8212; <em>happy reading</em>! &#128214;&#128171;</p><p>Got a favorite book or a recommendation? We&#8217;d love to hear from you in the comments!</p><p>&#128242; Join us on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/urmilabooks/">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/UrmilaBooks/">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://chat.whatsapp.com/Hc6uRc1gVvn4KsUO2qf9kW">WhatsApp</a> for more learning inspiration and daily updates!</p><p> </p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.urmilabooks.in/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Thanks for reading! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Keep kids learning all summer long]]></title><description><![CDATA[Discover fun, budget-friendly summer ideas to keep kids aged 5&#8211;12 engaged.]]></description><link>https://www.urmilabooks.in/p/keep-kids-learning-all-summer-long</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.urmilabooks.in/p/keep-kids-learning-all-summer-long</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[UrmilaBooks]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 07 Apr 2025 14:22:53 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!MwNF!,w_256,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe8dc4ea6-3ec0-4dfb-b2d8-c97e9b0139d9_500x500.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Summer vacations are the most exciting time of the year for children&#8212;especially those between the ages of 5 and 12. Kids wait all year long for these 50 days of fun and freedom!</p><p>But what about the parents? While kids count down the days, parents start planning weeks in advance&#8212;searching for summer camps, extra activities, or classes to keep their little ones busy and happy.</p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.urmilabooks.in/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Thanks for reading! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><p><strong>&#10024; </strong>Join us on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/urmilabooks/">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/UrmilaBooks/">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://chat.whatsapp.com/Hc6uRc1gVvn4KsUO2qf9kW">WhatsApp</a> for more fun learning ideas!</p><p>Well, we are here to make your life a little easier with some fun, budget-friendly ideas that don&#8217;t require much time or effort. What if there's a healthier (and just as fun) alternative to shows like Coco-melon? E-books!</p><p>Now, you might be thinking, &#8220;Do I need to buy an e-reader or pay for a bunch of books?&#8221; Don&#8217;t worry&#8212;we&#8217;ve got you covered.</p><p>Project Gutenberg is a fantastic resource for <strong>free</strong> eBooks. These can be read online or downloaded for offline reading. They offer timeless stories and illustrations that continue to captivate toddlers and young children. Most books are available in HTML (view in browser), EPUB (great for tablets/e-Readers) or plain text. You can go straight to the children's literature section: <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/bookshelf/20">Project Gutenberg - Children's Books</a></p><p>This shelf includes fairy tales, classic literature or Aesop fables. Here are our top 5 picks which toddlers will love to read:</p><p><strong><a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/14304">The Tale of Peter Rabbit</a></strong><br>Beatrix Potter's beloved story follows the mischievous adventures of Peter Rabbit as he explores Mr. McGregor's garden.</p><p><strong><a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/15809">A Apple Pie</a></strong><br>Kate Greenaway&#8217;s charming alphabet book takes children through the letters with delightful illustrations and rhymes centered around an apple pie.</p><p><strong><a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/25877">The Little Gingerbread Man</a></strong><br>The lively tale of gingerbread man on the run and what happened to it at the end.</p><p><strong><a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/21150">Mother Goose in Prose</a></strong><br>L. Frank Baum presents prose versions of classic Mother Goose rhymes, making them accessible and engaging for young readers.</p><p><strong><a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/14848">The Story of Miss Moppet</a></strong><br>This Beatrix Potter story features Miss Moppet, a kitten who attempts to catch a mouse, leading to playful antics that delight young readers.</p><blockquote></blockquote><p>Would you like a printable list of early reader books from Gutenberg or a reading guide with links by age level or topic? Do let us know in comments.</p><p><strong>&#10024; </strong>Join us on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/urmilabooks/">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/UrmilaBooks/">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://chat.whatsapp.com/Hc6uRc1gVvn4KsUO2qf9kW">WhatsApp</a> for more fun learning ideas!</p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.urmilabooks.in/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Thanks for reading! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div>]]></content:encoded></item></channel></rss>