Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Dr. Kanika Kadakia. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Dr. Kanika, appreciate you joining us today. Let’s start with a story that highlights an important way in which your brand diverges from the industry standard.

Teddy in Trouble is dedicated to supporting children’s literacy through engaging books and activity boxes. What sets Teddy’s activity boxes apart is their unique blend of phonics and play-based learning, designed to teach a variety of literacy skills in a fun and interactive way. Caregivers play an active role by guiding children through the easy-to-follow steps outlined in each box. Backed by the latest literacy research and proven successful in countless households, Teddy’s approach makes learning to read an enjoyable journey for both children and their families.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I’ve dedicated my life to education, and one of my most fulfilling roles has been that of a teacher. I’ve taught kindergarten, fourth, seventh, and eighth grade, but teaching kindergarten was truly unparalleled. Watching young children transform from learning their letters to confidently reading full paragraphs by the end of the year was an incredibly rewarding experience. After becoming a mother of two and earning my doctorate in educational psychology from the University of Southern California, I combined my love for teaching and research to create Teddy in Trouble.

Teddy in Trouble brings adults and children together on the journey to literacy using two powerful tools: dialogue and play. The books and discussion cards are designed to spark meaningful conversations that deepen comprehension. Research shows that asking children purposeful questions and encouraging them to connect with the text significantly enhances their understanding. That’s why every Teddy in Trouble book includes a reader’s guide to help adults foster thoughtful, engaging dialogue during storytime.

In addition, the activity boxes incorporate both phonics and play-based strategies to help adults teach children foundational literacy skills, such as reading sight words and CVC (short vowel) words. Studies consistently highlight the role of play in reinforcing key learning concepts, making it a fun and effective way for children to build their literacy skills.

I firmly believe that when adults are actively involved in their children’s education, it not only strengthens their bond but also empowers children to reach new heights in their learning—achievements that would be difficult to attain independently.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

Although I’ve been working on Teddy in Trouble for the past 4.5 years, I still consider myself in the startup stage. It’s been just over a year since I launched the products on the website, and I’m still learning how the business works and how to best market Teddy. That said, I’ve come a long way since 2020, when I left my teaching career to care for my two young children and pursue Teddy in Trouble full-time.

In that first year, I felt completely overwhelmed. Starting a business—something I had never done before—seemed daunting. I had a great idea, one I knew could fill a critical gap in how literacy is taught to young children, but I had no idea how to package it as a business. There were weeks when I’d sit in front of my computer for hours, unsure of what to do or how to move forward. I began to doubt whether I had made the right decision to pivot careers. It was disheartening, especially because I had confidence in my abilities. I had the content for the books and activity boxes ready to go, backed by my credentials, experience, and passion. But what I lacked was the knowledge to turn my vision into reality.

As cliché as it may sound, the key was simply taking the first step. That initial leap was both thrilling and terrifying. Once I made the decision to ask for help, things slowly started to change. I reached out to my incredible network of family and friends, including several successful entrepreneurs from diverse fields. I asked countless questions. These conversations helped me narrow my focus and identify the next steps. I started contacting vendors—manufacturers, copy editors, web developers, marketing teams—to begin executing my vision.

Of course, there were still moments when I felt stuck, unsure of what to do next. But over time, those moments became shorter and easier to overcome. Each challenge I faced taught me that I could move forward, even when the path wasn’t clear. And with every hurdle I overcame, I gained the confidence to tackle the next one.

Okay – so how did you figure out the manufacturing part? Did you have prior experience?

As I mentioned previously, I had no prior experience in manufacturing my products when I started. Fortunately, I had a friend who had printed a children’s book before, so I reached out to her for guidance. She was incredibly generous in walking me through the process and sharing her manufacturer’s contact information.

After a great phone call with the manufacturer, I felt confident moving forward, especially since they came highly recommended by someone I trusted. Their team had extensive experience and provided invaluable support, teaching me about the process along the way. For example, they advised me on how to avoid common printing mistakes and guided me through the steps to ensure all products adhered to safety protocols.

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned about manufacturing is the importance of clarity. It’s essential to provide detailed and precise instructions to vendors about what the product should look like and how it should function. Similarly, I’ve realized how important it is to maintain that same level of clarity for consumers, ensuring the product delivers exactly what they need and expect.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.teddyintrouble.com
• Instagram: @teddyintroubleofficial
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100090746576041 (Teddy in Trouble)

Image Credits

Luminous Studios & Andreea Togoe