Unboxing the wild

The kits teach children about the unique features of animals

Stuck at home during the lockdown last year, Bandra resident Neha Gupta Kapoor started looking for fun, yet informative ways to teach her three-year-old daughter about animals and conservation. But all she could find were encyclopaedias, and fact-heavy videos that weren't able to engage Krisha. "They weren't really fun for her; she'd get bored after some time. As a former journalist, I've missed writing, so I decided to use my skills to create short stories about animals for her," shares Neha, whose storybooks became a hit with not just Krisha, but also her friends. Taking a cue from this personal project, she then decided to launch her own brand of educational kits, called Ilchi Pilchi - one of Krisha's nicknames - in December.

Neha Gupta Kapoor

The kits come in travel-friendly cloth pouches, bearing five story books that introduce kids between two and a half years and seven years of age to the world of animals, unique features, their relationship with nature and why they're important. Embedded in research, the illustrated stories make for fun reads with the animals introducing themselves in the pages. "When the child is reading the stories, or you're reading to them, they feel that the animal is talking to them. This helps establish a connection with the animal," Neha informs us. Also in the kit is a reusable scrapbook that's packed with 10 activities, a DIY task like making a photo frame, a puzzle, and a postcard from "their animal friend". The hands-on activities help young ones relate to the animals, learn about their lifestyle, improve their own vocabulary, and can be a much-needed way to tune out of screen time.

Currently, the brand offers a panda-themed kit, and on the cards are also boxes inspired by penguins, zebras and orcas, says Neha. There's also a mood chart for the animals that not only depicts the many emotions of the species, but also helps kids check in on their feelings. "For instance, the chart shows that a panda is upset when bamboo trees are cut down, and likes to talk about its feelings. So, when the child sees it, they learn to identify and articulate their own feelings, which is important as self-expression makes you resilient," Neha illustrates.

Log on to: @ilchipilchi on Instagram or www.ilchipilchi.com
Cost: Rs 599 (for panda kit)
Cost: Rs 1,652