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.
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Dark Souls: Remastered
Developer: From Software (remaster by QLOC)
Publisher: Namco Bandai
Price: Dh199
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
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Where to donate in the UAE
The Emirates Charity Portal
You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.
The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments
The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.
Al Noor Special Needs Centre
You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.
Beit Al Khair Society
Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.
Dar Al Ber Society
Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.
Dubai Cares
Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.
Emirates Airline Foundation
Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.
Emirates Red Crescent
On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.
Gulf for Good
Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.
Noor Dubai Foundation
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
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KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
