Amar Chitra Katha launches "Tinkle Buddy Box" - Product Review

Summer Vacations! The most awaited time of the year for kids and parents too,  just that you have to have it planned the right way!

Kids are full of energy and it doubles up when it's vacation time... It's really important to keep them engaged the right way else it can transform into a total twitchy, cranky mess.

I got lucky this summer with an arrival of this newly launched "Tinkle Buddy Box" that came right in time for holidays. While I was dreading the onset of summer break, trying to figure out the best possible way to keep my little one busy... this amazing new product from Tinkle saved my day.

Amar Chitra Katha needs no introduction. It's been there for generations and is one of the leading children's brands today.

From the house of Amar Chitra Katha and Tinkle comes this amazing Tinkle buddy box that brings back some of my fondest childhood memories, when all we had were these Tinkle comics to our rescue.

I am so glad they have come up with such an amazing kit for kids to give them a hands on experience of learning and play. I was more than excited to introduce my child to Tinkle that we have grown up reading for all those years. It's a great feeling to share the books of your times with children and relive your childhood memories through them.

Perfectly named "The Tinkle buddy box" is a unique blend of fun activities, learning and play. Aimed at giving children ages six and above an exciting experience through a gamut of activities all through the summer.

One of its kind, Tinkle Buddy box contains a combination of games, puzzles, do-it-yourself arts and crafts, exclusive merchandise, DIY art projects and two mega Tinkle books.

That's not all, The Tinkle board game in the Buddy box features all-time favorite Tinkle characters where one can take a trip across the Tinkle-verse.

The box also features a 108-piece jigsaw puzzle, starring the legendary Shambu, and a Tinkle card game, featuring Tinkle's most popular characters, Suppandi, Shambu and Tantri, which is all about quick reflexes

Exclusive Tinkle merchandise includes four Tinkle button badges, featuring old stalwarts like Suppandi and Shambu and newer Tinkle players like Wingstar and the Defective Detectives

There is also an easy-to-assemble Suppandi Auto rickshaw that kids have to color in, and a foldable Tinkle paper plane that should be a lot of fun to fly.

If that isn't enough D-I-Y, the box comes with a 16-page booklet, packed with the covers with another 12 DIY projects.

Of course, no Tinkle box would be complete without iconic Tinkle stories, and to this end, the Buddy Box comes with two mega Tinkle books; the annual Tinkle Holiday Special, and a brand new Tinkle Super Special, which is a Buddy Box exclusive.

With so much to do, I am completely relieved of any tension of keeping my child engaged during the school holidays.

The activity box is very well designed keeping in mind the age factor and the learning capabilities of the child.The box is a great blend of fun, learning, art and craft, reading, colouring, diy projects, puzzles and much more. The entire amalgamation of games and activities focus on different types of skills required to be used by the child. Learning and enhancing skill sets is definitely one of the major focuses behind this activity box along with fun and play.

Not to forget the tales of Suppandi will leave your child amused with some healthy humour keeping their interest in reading books too!

My son is already thrilled with the contents of the box and look forward to doing so much more everyday. With a never ending games and activities in The Tinkle buddy box the holidays won't seem longer any more.


Benefits

A great way to keep the child constructively engaged during summer holidays.

A perfect way to enhance child's knowledge, develop various skill sets and creativity.

An interesting way to keep the child's attention away from gadgets and television that does no good.

A fun filled opportunity to get together with friends while exploring the activity box, enhances team learning.

Most importantly, Parents get their 'Me time' too while the child's time is utilised efficiently.

I find this newly launched "Tinkle Buddy Box" worth having this summers for loads of fun, learning and excitement. It's definitely a great way for engaging and thrilling experience during vacation time.

Priced at INR 1500, It is also available at a special discounted introductory price of INR 1199 on Amarchitrakatha website. I feel it's pretty reasonable looking at the contents and the usage. It is also available on major e-commerce websites and leading stores across the country.

About Amar Chitra Katha and Tinkle

Amar Chitra Katha is India's largest selling comic book series that retell stories from the great Indian epics, mythology, history, folklore and fables in a comic book format. Founded in 1967 by "Anant Pai" in an attempt to keep Indian children aware of our cultural heritage is one of the leading children's brand today.

Tinkle is an Indian fortnightly magazine published in English and syndicated in many Indian languages. Tinkle enjoys great popularity among children and adults. Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Bajpayee has been a huge fan of Tinkle and its iconic characters Suppandi and Shikari Shambhu.

Little hearts & curious Minds

It's not surprising to see kids speak their mind, ask questions until convinced and have a say in everything that's happening around. We all agree technology rules the world today and kids being so smartly adapting to it is no wonder a boon in a true sense.

If I go back in time when technology had not taken over every household the way it has today... Life was different, however it has certainly brought a revolution in the current generation in terms of everything .. Be it their way of thinking, adapting, learning or performing.

Years back, we as kids had no role to play when it came to decision making of any sorts... We blindly followed what we were told to and never questioned any decision... thinking that's how it's supposed to be. Whereas kids today have an opinion and their say in every matter they hear parents talking. They have intelligent and relevant questions about any particular situation that's being discussed in their presence. Which of course is a revolution of some kind for me whose seen both the generations.

Today I feel so proud when I see a younger generation being able to talk about most of the things we discuss... My five year old was well aware of the Cricket World Cup series that was held this year... And that's not all...he had all the relevant questions to ask that one could expect..Where was it held?, the time difference of day and night, the countries playing? and understood the game pretty well too. It felt great to see a five year old enjoy the game as much as any elder would do.

The other day I saw a bunch of kids discussing about US Presidents visit to India during Independence Day. Kids basic nature of wanting to learn something new every day and share along is nothing less than a genius.When it comes to sports and choosing their favourite players.. They know it all.. speaks of the clarity of their thoughts and minds.

In our times I still remember we were asked to read books to improve our general awareness and current affairs... Well that's passé. Today awareness of happenings around is a part of learning each day.

When it comes to the most common question of..What do they want to become when they grow up

They have the answers ready at the tip of their tongues ... Of course the credit goes to the exposure they get at such an early age of all kinds through media, televisions, newspapers and so on.

Children ask dozens of questions whole day long, while at play, while travelling, while watching tv, even when told a story... Anything that catches their attention.. They don't wanna just let it go ... Their ability to not give up until answered is like a hungry mind wanting to learn so much more.

This is the generation which has the potential plus the preferences so as to speak what interests them and what not. They can clearly differentiate their likes and dislikes. I still remember whenever we had a choice to pick from ... I always got confused and went by what parents decided for me.. and it always felt right and convenient.

Starting from what clothes to wear, what to eat, what toys and presents to buy plus birthday themes and who to invite ... The list is endless but their choices are firm and they are well aware of their wants.

The most amazing was the Swacchata Abhiyan run by PM Mr. Modi ... The celebrities did it for the cameras but our kids followed it with the true spirit and spoke of it openly and questioned fearlessly when saw someone not abiding by it.

A child's viewpoint should never be disheartened or suppressed.. Let their ideas flow.. as restricting them would give birth to fear and failure, which are the biggest obstacles on the road to success.
Give them a chance to do it their way, freedom brings in peace and ability to perform the best...

Questioning is the best form of learning... To be able to question correctly .. one must be able to comprehend and think beyond whats been told... It's a clear indication that a child's mind is curious and is eager to learn ... Never set a limit to a learning.. It's always hungry for more.

They have the courage, they have the brains, they have the voice... All we as parents and teachers need to do is ...instill the values that can bring the real revolution in our society in the times to come. We play the most vital role in exposing them to as much knowledge as we could and answer their queries appropriately for them to reason out and think differently.

They have the mind we need to feed them with knowledge, they have the ability to learn and grasp ... We need to ensure we set the right examples, they have the dreams to make big... We need to let a helping hand for them to reach it.

Is the word International a marketing gimmick for schools?

Selection of school for a child's education is another challenge that every parent has to go through.. starting from play group to a higher level, Finding a school of your choice is an ordeal.

If we look at last ten yrs.. There is no doubt about the fact that number of schools have increased in the city and more so there are separate schools for toddlers to initiate the pre primary education, but it still doesn't fulfil the need of education for all the kids out there..

The times have come when you have to register for admissions as soon as the kid turns 2 or three yrs else you are late for admissions.. And you are refused a seat. That's the kind of competition we parents are dealing with today.

Forget getting admissions in colleges and schools for higher studies... I am talking of the kids who are yet to enter the world of education... The toddlers and above..

Competition has become a part of everyday life, not that we aren't accustomed to it ... But it get on to our nerves when something as basic and important as education sounds like a burden because of the monopoly of schools and its privatisation.

My concern is why getting an admission in most of the city schools is like fighting a loosing battle? Education being the prime right of every child.

More so, after every schools coming up with the International tag has made it worst for the parents to
take a call and decide the child's education.

Is the International tag all about paying big bucks and sending your kid to an ultra model building with all the luxuries available? 

Are we talking of education here or sending our kids to enjoy the luxuries of life which he might not experience at home?

Apart from the international tag, the new introduced boards have added to the confusion.... Be it IGCSE or IB

Didn't we already have enough boards to decide from? 

if people feel existing boards are not superior enough then why not scrap and introduce one board
that's best for all.

Well there is another angel I have heard and read about international schools. School authorities justify by saying those kids who study from international schools adapt to the western culture well
and get admissions in universities abroad.

My counter question is .. Were Indian students not going abroad in past or were they not getting
admissions in their universities before. I have always heard Indian education system is so well
designed that Indian kids are always demanded by companies abroad... If I may truly admit ...all my school friend today are settled abroad in various countries and doing great. They studied Indian boards CBSE/ ICSE  that's always been there.

For a moment if I give up on my argument and agree that international boards are the best, why such 
high fee? Are you charging parents for the education and knowledge you are imparting or is it the 
for the interior designing and the amenities at school?

Who needs a lounge in school for kids to sit and read? Are we not creating differences in kids mind by providing them a five star treatment? Are we teaching them the value for money or is it all about show world?

Are we parents not doing good enough to live a decent life, with our Indian education system?

Schools and education has become a business and a money making racket. Today schools define its value by counting on the facilities they are providing... Like swimming pools, zymnazium, horse riding and what not.

Studies have taken a backstage and the focus is merely on how much can they sell the other stuff to charge more. 

All schools have toppers and mediocres, it can never be guaranteed by the school and its authorities to produce all top grades.

One must not forget the child blossoms even in the most ordinary schools ... What matters is the right guidance and support of a great teacher, who inspires you to think.

Another question is the schools who are boosting of their international curriculum.. Are their teachers trained abroad in their respective boards?

No, these are the same teachers who have studied CBSEand ICSE .. Who are being trained and are
asked to adapt and stick to their new curriculum.

Some argue saying that international board is easy for kids who aren't able to cope with the above
two boards.. i.e, CBSE/ICSE

So are you paying that hefty amount for a kid whose supposedly weaker than the rest... Or is it the new International curriculum that's weaker? 

I would like to ask everyone, are these kids from different schools and board going to face different
set of questions according to their respective boards, when it comes to competitions after 12th std?

If the answer is no... Then why do we have all this confusion, when eventually we are all preparing 

our kids for the same platform. 

Indian education authorities have not even accepted the international curriculum as a part of their Education system and has no subsequent plans ahead for these kids in our country. It's recognition is only acknowledged in universities abroad, which can lead in hampering the child's dreams if for some reason he/she fails to get admissions abroad and will b compelled to study in an institution with others from Indian boards.

Many schools are not even recognised by the  respective boards and lack the credentials and norms to

call it an international school, however adding international tag is paying them immensely. The schools are same, Teachers are same but just one word international is heavy enough to pull in the money from people's pockets.

I am a parent, I have dreams for my child too... I want best education for him to do well in life ... But I refuse to be a victim of this marketing strategy or a gimmick many schools have started.


I strongly believe in a conducive learning environment any child can excel, all we need are basic
requisites for learning and a guiding force for them to show the right path, luxuries at this stage will

not only block their vision but also divert their attention towards comfort and a relaxed attitude.

Don't promise our kids a foreign trip and lure them to unnecessary adventures.. Let the parent decide for a family holiday rather. 

Focus on making the education system better and and the way of imparting knowledge a superior, rather then selling education in the name of international and other luxuries.

Standardise education in all schools, focus on improvising easy and creative ways of teaching to ensure Indian kids shine bright nationally as well as internationally.

Introduce yoga and instill our value system in our future generations to enrich our culture. Enforce
positive attitude  and focus on  personality development while they are young. The soft skills are a complete miss from our Eductaion system... That can be worked on to ensure we produce the best of students all around the world. 

We don't need international to sell education, we need a complete package that works on all the attributes of child's education and grow into an independent, knowledgeable and confident individual.

That should be the motive of education and since its every child's right to seek education ... It should have a well planned and calculated fee structure, which is economical for the parents to bear  instead of  burdening them. No one should be allowed to go overboard in  order to sell his institute and create disparity in the name of education among kids as well as parents.

Reviving the art of appreciation

Kids become not what we want them to but what we are to them. It won't be wrong to say that kids in most cases are just the mirror image of their parents. From the time they are born till the age of six, they have a great sense of observation and their ability to imitate helps them learn and adapt to the world.

Kids are best at learning new things because of their curious nature and ability to get accustomed. Inspite of being blessed with such miraculous inner strength and will..

Why do some kids lag behind when it comes to their confidence and self esteem ??

One thing that can cause hinderance in their learning can be a fear of failure and Parents lack of
patience and support.

We all need a boost irrespective of our age or task we are trying to achieve. To get the best in a child or an adult is to show confidence in whatever milestones they are trying to reach..and that needs lots
of boost of morale through the words of appreciation and encouraging behaviour.


                                         



Many a times we as parents fail to understand their way of doing things differently  ...we end up forgetting they are at this tender age that's far from perfection... Infact the beauty of this age is they never give up...and their curious minds help them learn from mistakes over and over again...

Appreciation is the key word in parenting. We must not forget to appreciate the efforts put by our
little ones....whatsoever may be the end result. The kids who are appreciated time and again and see a
positive response from their parents inspite of failures... end up becoming the most confident children
and keep the courage to try different challenges in life.

Few words of appreciation can do wonders not only for your kids but also helps build a bond  between a child and the parent.


After years of togetherness ... We even forget to appreciate our partners and their achievements or
may be little things about them ...which once brought them closer... Infact those little things that go unnoticed now are the biggest reasons of  distance and monotony between the partners.

I simply feel we all yearn for appreciation in any form ...be it work, looks, personality or just a thought... a word of appreciation or a simple complement can make you feel so much worth it. It makes you feel that your efforts have been noticed and the thought gives a boost to ones mood and

brings joy and pride.

We want to be appreciated in all spheres of life in different roles we play ....Be it at work, at home, as a mother, father or more....

What restricts us from appreciating not just others but ourselves too??

We become so consumed by our own fixed thoughts, ideas, reactions, behaviours that we stop bothering about others feelings, emotions and needs ...so does others. In order to like and appreciate others one must be sensitive to others needs n open-hearted...many people envy when it comes to seeing others in a better place than them..

Infact this unhealthy competitive spirit is neither going to be appreciated by others nor its gonna do any good to us.

We must learn and practice this art of appriciation in our daily lives ...be it with our kids, family
friends or even enemies...Hahahah (might turn them into friends)

I revived this long forgotten art when I became a mother..and felt the need of being appreciated for my own efforts... I gradually realised that appreciating my chid for the simplest of things he tried doing made a huge difference in his approach towards learning...and added to the fun.


Why is it so easy to appreciate a child but not an adult??

A child's innocence makes us spill our heart out and we can't keep ourselves from showing our love in abundance... as we get more in return, regardless of any ego and expectancy... However our expectations vary when it comes to an adult and we choose to ignore the fact that there is a room for appreciation.

Appreciation is an art that needs to be practiced with our friends, family and ourselves too as it doesn't come easy.. Our kids will pick this art by watching us do it everyday and will remain grateful life long for giving that extra sense of realisation and expression through gratitude.

The most beautiful thing about Appreciation is it works both ways ...We can.. not only bring a smile to others but to ourselves too ...as it feels equally gud to compliment others as it feels to be complimented.

So let's get addicted to this life changing tool and uplift someone's mood and make their day... People will treasure fond memories forever.Simple things like love,  kindness, grace and gratitude can go a long way in making this world a beautiful place to be ...

Spread positivity among young ones through praise and recognition.. It's the only way to bring out the best in kids. A positive enforcement of ideas along with little words of appreciation not only teaches them to value what they are today but also gives them an extra sense of confidence and trust that they can take over the world tommorow.

Are parents pushing their kids for good ???

Life is a series of challenges filled with surprises.. And that's what makes life interesting. One of the biggest challenges could also be bringing up our children who are closest to our hearts and means the world to us... It can be an out of the world experience for many whereas many would have their world upside down with lack of patience n perseverance ....

Parenting is not a piece of cake, it's definitely a challenge that one has to accept once you are blessed with a child. Once a baby is born we long for the days when the challenge gets little lesser... Maybe once the baby turns 2 or another year or once they start schooling and so on....

And then comes the time when just schooling is not enough and we start engaging them into different  hobby classes, sports, activities and so on ...

How many of you think its in the best interest of the child? 

Are we trying to brighten their future by indulging them in these classes or are we pushing them to make space for ourselves??

I agree, many a times even parents don't have a choice but to keep the kid engaged in order to keep them away from
the other threats they might have in their absence.

However the question is how much is too much .....??

The school holidays turn out to be the craziest days to deal with ...when parents run out of ideas to keep the kids busy.

Thanks to these workshops during holidays....though many find it a waste of money .. A large number would crave for it to start.. ..To be honest all it takes is money but at  least it can take away the stress of dealing with the kid whole day long....that's too much to handle for many parents.

Well I am not trying to make parents feel guilty of the fact above .....but the truth is whether you agree or you don't ....you are taking away the best days of your kids life and of course yours too.           

I sometimes wonder, as kids grow they will have no choice but to join the rat race of handling responsibilities, proving their grades, finding jobs and so on...

This is the time when we have a choice to give them the freedom of going with their own pace, encourage playful learning, allow them to make mistakes and discipline them by being a role model. The days sans worries, tensions, far from day today rush with just love and affection surrounding them.

Isn't that how childhood supposed to be ??

It's not surprising to see kids lacking bond with their parents and grandparents ....

Are we to blame them for this lack of attachment ?

I wouldn't ...I personally feel its us who are making them feel distant by not being emotionally available to them when they need us the most..

Two great things you can give your children: One is roots, the other is wings. 

Childhood needs to be nurtured with love, care and devotion. Parents it is a sacrifice worth making!

                                       *To a child love is spelled as T I M E*