Helicopter, hummingbird, drone, snowplough, attachment. Thanks to social media, the list of parenting styles that describe mums and dads who keep a careful watch over their children is a rather long one.
Online discourse in parenting groups over the perceived characteristics of various parenting tribes – tiger moms, free range dads, lighthouse parents – often appears divided along generational lines. Boomers and Gen-Xers view childhood freedom as time spent on their bikes all day, unparented until dinnertime in an age before mobile phones. Millennials and digital natives, who have grown up in a world in which they are constantly contactable, express horror at this, even perceiving it as parental neglect.
A report published earlier this year by the Canadian Paediatric Society noted how “opportunities for unstructured outdoor play have declined in recent years”, while highlighting the importance of “risky play” for children’s health and well-being.
“Based on the research, we know that risky play is very helpful for physical health – kids are more active and improve their motor skills,” said the report’s author, paediatrician Dr Emilie Beaulieu. “It is also beneficial for mental health, including better self-esteem and better friendships and positive interactions with their peers. There needs to be a more balanced approach when it comes to precaution.”
What is “risky” or “rough” play, and how can parents ascertain the difference between risk versus danger and boisterousness versus aggression?
Recognising the importance of rough play
“There are multiple types of play, all of which are valuable for a child’s development,” says Dubai resident and mother-of-three, Beth Satterly. “Rough-and-tumble play is a distinct type that is less to do with fighting and more to do with understanding things such as relative strength, risk-taking, boundaries and conflict resolution.”
For parents looking to increase their child’s exposure to boisterous play, examples can include pretend wrestling, playful pushing or shoving and mock battles such as pretending to be knights, cops and robbers or superheroes and villains. Tickling, piling on top of one another and rolling around together are also indicators of riskier play, the type that goes beyond sitting at the crafting table or partaking in board games.
“Rough play is about fun without the intent to harm,” says Zita Chriszto, clinical psychologist at Dubai Psychology. “For instance, using foam swords makes contact lighter and safer. Rough play is characterised by mutual enjoyment, laughter and often role-switching. Mock wrestling and battles with safe props aside, it can also include chasing games. These activities foster trust and understanding, and help children learn to read social cues and body language.”
What risky play teaches children about life
Risky or rough play is not about abandoning safety standards or side-stepping precautions, but rather giving children space to explore their environment and relationships with siblings and peers.
“There are several benefits of rough play in a child’s overall development and it can have plenty of impact,” says Dr Pavan Kumar Kandukoori, paediatrics and neonatology specialist at Aster Hospital, Mankhool. “Rough play helps improve children’s gross motor skills, balance and co-ordination. It allows them to engage their muscles, develop strength and refine their physical abilities. It also provides an opportunity for children to practise co-operation, taking turns and understanding social cues. They learn to negotiate and manage boundaries, which are essential for developing relationships.”
Additional benefits of allowing children to “rough house” on their own time and terms include the development of emotional regulation, particularly around feelings of frustration or excitement that may arise from more boisterous play. Problem-solving, during which children navigate physical and social boundaries and confront conflict and confidence-building through risk-taking helps them test and discover their abilities and limits while fostering critical thinking.
Kandukoori adds: “When children engage in physical play, they test their limits in a safe way, gaining confidence in their abilities and learning to handle risks.”
Why has risky play fallen out of favour?
Of the many tribes of parenting styles listed above, it appears that only free-range parenting embraces the risk-taking and kind of rough play we associate with previous generations of children.
“Messaging around aggression has made parents wary of allowing their children to play in this way,” says Satterly. “Being a parent is scary, but we need to remember that the end goal of raising children is to make them kind, resilient and happy adults.
“Playing is a crucial bedrock to successful development and providing children with the opportunity to play across a multitude of play types, including rough and tumble play, is central to holistic child development,” she adds.
Conflicting and overwhelming messaging concerning child-raising along with the watchful eye of ever-present camera phones have also made parents wary of allowing their children to engage in risky or rough behaviours, which could be posted online and judged without nuance or context.
“The messaging around parenting has likely contributed to parents discouraging rough play,” says Kandukoori. “Over the past few decades, a shift towards over-protection has been an increasing emphasis on child safety. Parents are much more involved in structuring and controlling their child’s activities. This has led to discouraging risky behaviour, including rough play.”
Kandukoori cites factors such as an increased focus on safety, the rise of anti-bullying movements, which may mistake rough play for aggression, and concerns around hyper-masculinity in which rough or risky play has been criticised for reinforcing gender stereotypes, particularly in boys.
Satterly adds: “We look at this play type from an adult perspective and assume physical interaction like this is negative. Aggression is a basic human instinct and learning to manage it is crucial to developing well-rounded adults. Allowing children to play in this way teaches them to regulate and understand and manage their emotions.”
How to tell if your child is being bullied at school
Sudden change in behaviour or displays higher levels of stress or anxiety
Shows signs of depression or isolation
Ability to sleep well diminishes
Academic performance begins to deteriorate
Changes in eating habits
Struggles to concentrate
Refuses to go to school
Behaviour changes and is aggressive towards siblings
Begins to use language they do not normally use
More coverage from the Future Forum
CHATGPT%20ENTERPRISE%20FEATURES
%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Enterprise-grade%20security%20and%20privacy%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Unlimited%20higher-speed%20GPT-4%20access%20with%20no%20caps%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Longer%20context%20windows%20for%20processing%20longer%20inputs%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Advanced%20data%20analysis%20capabilities%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Customisation%20options%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Shareable%20chat%20templates%20that%20companies%20can%20use%20to%20collaborate%20and%20build%20common%20workflows%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Analytics%20dashboard%20for%20usage%20insights%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Free%20credits%20to%20use%20OpenAI%20APIs%20to%20extend%20OpenAI%20into%20a%20fully-custom%20solution%20for%20enterprises%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Conflict, drought, famine
Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.
Band Aid
Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
The candidates
Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive
Ali Azeem, business leader
Tony Booth, professor of education
Lord Browne, former BP chief executive
Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist
Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist
Dr Mark Mann, scientist
Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner
Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister
Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster
The specs: 2018 Opel Mokka X
Price, as tested: Dh84,000
Engine: 1.4L, four-cylinder turbo
Transmission: Six-speed auto
Power: 142hp at 4,900rpm
Torque: 200Nm at 1,850rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L / 100km
Tips for job-seekers
- Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
- Make sure you are an exact fit for the job advertised. If you are an HR manager with five years’ experience in retail and the job requires a similar candidate with five years’ experience in consumer, you should apply. But if you have no experience in HR, do not apply for the job.
David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East
Company%20profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20WonderTree%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20April%202016%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECo-founders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Muhammad%20Waqas%20and%20Muhammad%20Usman%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Karachi%2C%20Pakistan%2C%20Abu%20Dhabi%2C%20UAE%2C%20and%20Delaware%2C%20US%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Special%20education%2C%20education%20technology%2C%20assistive%20technology%2C%20augmented%20reality%3Cbr%3EN%3Cstrong%3Eumber%20of%20staff%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E16%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EGrowth%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Grants%20from%20the%20Lego%20Foundation%2C%20UAE's%20Anjal%20Z%2C%20Unicef%2C%20Pakistan's%20Ignite%20National%20Technology%20Fund%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
THE CLOWN OF GAZA
Director: Abdulrahman Sabbah
Starring: Alaa Meqdad
Rating: 4/5
The%20specs%3A%202024%20Mercedes%20E200
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2.0-litre%20four-cyl%20turbo%20%2B%20mild%20hybrid%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E204hp%20at%205%2C800rpm%20%2B23hp%20hybrid%20boost%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E320Nm%20at%201%2C800rpm%20%2B205Nm%20hybrid%20boost%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E9-speed%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFuel%20consumption%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E7.3L%2F100km%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENovember%2FDecember%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh205%2C000%20(estimate)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Countries offering golden visas
UK
Innovator Founder Visa is aimed at those who can demonstrate relevant experience in business and sufficient investment funds to set up and scale up a new business in the UK. It offers permanent residence after three years.
Germany
Investing or establishing a business in Germany offers you a residence permit, which eventually leads to citizenship. The investment must meet an economic need and you have to have lived in Germany for five years to become a citizen.
Italy
The scheme is designed for foreign investors committed to making a significant contribution to the economy. Requires a minimum investment of €250,000 which can rise to €2 million.
Switzerland
Residence Programme offers residence to applicants and their families through economic contributions. The applicant must agree to pay an annual lump sum in tax.
Canada
Start-Up Visa Programme allows foreign entrepreneurs the opportunity to create a business in Canada and apply for permanent residence.
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
What can you do?
Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses
Seek professional advice from a legal expert
You can report an incident to HR or an immediate supervisor
You can use the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s dedicated hotline
In criminal cases, you can contact the police for additional support
The biog
Job: Fitness entrepreneur, body-builder and trainer
Favourite superhero: Batman
Favourite quote: We must become the change we want to see, by Mahatma Gandhi.
Favourite car: Lamborghini
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
