Parents who are working full-time, home-schooling their children and taking care of them all at once have one thing in common.
They're all exhausted.
Add to that, a quarantine situation, where a break is simply sitting down on the couch after the children have finally fallen asleep, comforting yourself with the reality that in the morning you will get out of bed to do it all over again. As a full-time working mother of three, I know the struggle very well. On many days, my only time alone is when I jump in for a quick shower. As parents, we're all in the same boat.
But in these strange and difficult times, we need to be resourceful and use the tools we have at hand to keep little ones engaged. Here are some helpful resources I've found which you could try at home.
Twinkl
This educational website, which is primarily used by school teachers, includes wonderful activities for small children – from mindful colouring to arts and crafts activities. It is also available in different languages, including Arabic and French. Twinkl is also a great resource if you're homeschooling your children and need extra exercises for them to do in subjects such as maths, science and even Arabic. While full access to the site requires a paid subscription, many activities are available for free. Other platforms have made their resources available, such as Math Games and Khan Academy Kids.
Drawing via YouTube
One of the activities that my children enjoy doing the most is drawing. And while you can search "how to draw" practically anything on youTube, one channel that my children check out regularly is Art for Kids Hub. It is run by a family, who upload a new art lesson every week.
Family Games
Parents can be part of the fun, too. There are so many options the entire family can enjoy, such as Heads Up!, or quiz games such as those on Kahoot. However, if your child already has a PS4 and you're desperate to get them to play something other than Fortnite, then I highly recommend Knowledge is Power. It's a great game for families and friends to play together, and one that my kids enjoy immensely. It's fun and competitive at the same time, and it's become a nightly family routine in our household.
NatGeo at Home
If your children are animal and science lovers, then they will love NatGeo@Home. The website is offering a range of quizzes, videos, science experiments and even at-home classroom resources for children.
'The Lion King' at Home
Do your little ones enjoy watching films? If they do, the The Lion King experience might be a great resource for you to explore with them. The programme, which had been previously made available for schools to use in classrooms, is now available for parents to do theatre at home. The family's first production? Why not! It's a great way to make this time at home a memorable one.
Movement and yoga
One of the things that many parents are very worried about, myself included, is the fact that their children are not moving as much as they did before the pandemic. However, it doesn't have to be that way. You can get your little ones into a routine to do a 20-minute fun workout every day, or even a yoga class. We've all heard about Joe Wicks, who's been helping children around the world keep moving. However, my kids enjoy Cosmic Kids Yoga, where storytelling and yoga poses are merged together.
CBeebies Bedtime Stories
While parents try to read stories to their children before bedtime, many are unable to do it every night, but that doesn't mean there isn't a story that your little ones can listen to. The BBC's CBeebies Bedtime Stories is a great resource, where celebrities do the reading for us this time.
Juvenile arthritis
Along with doctors, families and teachers can help pick up cases of arthritis in children.
Most types of childhood arthritis are known as juvenile idiopathic arthritis. JIA causes pain and inflammation in one or more joints for at least six weeks.
Dr Betina Rogalski said "The younger the child the more difficult it into pick up the symptoms. If the child is small, it may just be a bit grumpy or pull its leg a way or not feel like walking,” she said.
According to The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases in US, the most common symptoms of juvenile arthritis are joint swelling, pain, and stiffness that doesn’t go away. Usually it affects the knees, hands, and feet, and it’s worse in the morning or after a nap.
Limping in the morning because of a stiff knee, excessive clumsiness, having a high fever and skin rash are other symptoms. Children may also have swelling in lymph nodes in the neck and other parts of the body.
Arthritis in children can cause eye inflammation and growth problems and can cause bones and joints to grow unevenly.
In the UK, about 15,000 children and young people are affected by arthritis.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Water waste
In the UAE’s arid climate, small shrubs, bushes and flower beds usually require about six litres of water per square metre, daily. That increases to 12 litres per square metre a day for small trees, and 300 litres for palm trees.
Horticulturists suggest the best time for watering is before 8am or after 6pm, when water won't be dried up by the sun.
A global report published by the Water Resources Institute in August, ranked the UAE 10th out of 164 nations where water supplies are most stretched.
The Emirates is the world’s third largest per capita water consumer after the US and Canada.
The alternatives
• Founded in 2014, Telr is a payment aggregator and gateway with an office in Silicon Oasis. It’s e-commerce entry plan costs Dh349 monthly (plus VAT). QR codes direct customers to an online payment page and merchants can generate payments through messaging apps.
• Business Bay’s Pallapay claims 40,000-plus active merchants who can invoice customers and receive payment by card. Fees range from 1.99 per cent plus Dh1 per transaction depending on payment method and location, such as online or via UAE mobile.
• Tap started in May 2013 in Kuwait, allowing Middle East businesses to bill, accept, receive and make payments online “easier, faster and smoother” via goSell and goCollect. It supports more than 10,000 merchants. Monthly fees range from US$65-100, plus card charges of 2.75-3.75 per cent and Dh1.2 per sale.
• 2checkout’s “all-in-one payment gateway and merchant account” accepts payments in 200-plus markets for 2.4-3.9 per cent, plus a Dh1.2-Dh1.8 currency conversion charge. The US provider processes online shop and mobile transactions and has 17,000-plus active digital commerce users.
• PayPal is probably the best-known online goods payment method - usually used for eBay purchases - but can be used to receive funds, providing everyone’s signed up. Costs from 2.9 per cent plus Dh1.2 per transaction.
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Company profile
Date started: 2015
Founder: John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki
Based: Dubai
Sector: Online grocery delivery
Staff: 200
Funding: Undisclosed, but investors include the Jabbar Internet Group and Venture Friends
IF YOU GO
The flights
FlyDubai flies direct from Dubai to Skopje in five hours from Dh1,314 return including taxes. Hourly buses from Skopje to Ohrid take three hours.
The tours
English-speaking guided tours of Ohrid town and the surrounding area are organised by Cultura 365; these cost €90 (Dh386) for a one-day trip including driver and guide and €100 a day (Dh429) for two people.
The hotels
Villa St Sofija in the old town of Ohrid, twin room from $54 (Dh198) a night.
St Naum Monastery, on the lake 30km south of Ohrid town, has updated its pilgrims' quarters into a modern 3-star hotel, with rooms overlooking the monastery courtyard and lake. Double room from $60 (Dh 220) a night.
Napoleon
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The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Lamsa
Founder: Badr Ward
Launched: 2014
Employees: 60
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: EdTech
Funding to date: $15 million
UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
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