Laughing with your best friends daily, hugging your extended family over the weekend, counting down the days until you could play and watch sport on a Friday.
These are things which we all took for granted until they were whisked away from us recently. Contemplate how long it has taken us to process these events and changes.
Now, imagine being six years old.
Normal life in the Covid-19 era is a lot for young minds to process. Children miss their friends and school – life. They are not used to spending all their time at home; nor are they used to learning in environments devoid of peer collaboration.
A change in routine like this can lead to anxiety and fear, which children may find hard to verbalise. Parents can also unknowingly pass their own fears and worries about coronavirus on to their children.
While children use smartphones, video games and movies to unwind, one of the most effective methods of reducing stress may have been sitting on our shelves the whole time: reading.
The World Health Organisation has acknowledged the effectiveness of reading as a strategy to aid children’s mental health amidst the coronavirus pandemic. Across the globe, almost 90 per cent of the world’s children are now studying from home.
Earlier this month, the WHO and Unicef launched #ReadTheWorld campaign, in association with the International Publishers Association, an initiative aimed at connecting young people who may be experiencing newfound feelings of anxiety, stress and isolation while they are away from their peers.
Popular children’s authors are reading extracts of their books to millions of children and young people living in the uncharted territory of isolation.
A study from Mindlab International at the University of Sussex in England shows reading to be an effective tool in reducing stress. Reading lowered stress levels by 68 per cent, which is more than all other activities tested including: talking a walk (42 per cent), listening to music (61 per cent), drinking tea (54 per cent) and playing video games (21 per cent.) Reading for as little as six minutes a day can reduce heart rate, muscle tension and stress levels by 60 per cent or more.
Life in the Covid-19 era is a lot for young minds to process. Children miss their friends and school – life
“Reading can be very beneficial for children dealing with adversity in many ways," says Dr Thoraiya Kanafani, a clinical psychologist at Dubai's Human Relations Institute and Clinics. "It allows a child to learn more words and by building vocabulary they are able to express how they feel and name their emotions. It helps reduce anxiety through engaging their imagination to engross themselves in positive narratives, as well as creating their own narratives where they are the heroes.”
Dr Kanafani adds: “By activating the imagination, reading allows a child to distract themselves from the world around them and enter a fantastical world where they can strengthen their resilience and emotional adjustment.
Reading allows children to understand complex events in simplistic ways so that they can feel less helpless and powerless when they have a better grip on the situation at hand.”
In addition to improving focus and concentration, reading develops children’s understanding of the world around them.
As young minds become familiar with fictional characters, they learn to process their feelings and develop empathy.
In turn, they begin to understand their emotions. When children read, they are distracted from their worries. There Is an array of benefits to reading aloud to young children.
Here is what parents can do to establish reading routines at home:
Be a role model
Show children that you value books. This will have a positive impact on their own beliefs about stories. Talk about the books you are reading and take an interest in theirs too.
Choose age-appropriate books
Encourage children to find their passion by helping them find books related to their interests. Football fans will love stories about their favourite game. It is important to let children choose what they read to promote reading for pleasure.
Read more than books
Comic books, short stories, poems and magazines are all forms of fiction which children enjoy. Wordless picture books can also stimulate the imagination and develop vocabulary and divergent thinking.
Create a special space
You can make a reading den or just a comfortable spot on the sofa where you can lose yourself in a good book.
Make reading a routine
Daily reading will ensure a child looks forward to calm time away from screens while they are studying online. Routine will help your children feel safe and secure in these unpredictable times.
As the WHO Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, “We understand the fear and anxieties many feel and know how the joy of reading can stimulate young minds, ease tensions and provide hope.”
The message is clear: now is a good time to pick up a book.
Claire Heylin is Primary English Lead at Deira International School in Dubai
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2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, (Leon banned).
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
Evacuations to France hit by controversy
- Over 500 Gazans have been evacuated to France since November 2023
- Evacuations were paused after a student already in France posted anti-Semitic content and was subsequently expelled to Qatar
- The Foreign Ministry launched a review to determine how authorities failed to detect the posts before her entry
- Artists and researchers fall under a programme called Pause that began in 2017
- It has benefited more than 700 people from 44 countries, including Syria, Turkey, Iran, and Sudan
- Since the start of the Gaza war, it has also included 45 Gazan beneficiaries
- Unlike students, they are allowed to bring their families to France
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
HIJRA
Starring: Lamar Faden, Khairiah Nathmy, Nawaf Al-Dhufairy
Director: Shahad Ameen
Rating: 3/5
Fighting with My Family
Director: Stephen Merchant
Stars: Dwayne Johnson, Nick Frost, Lena Headey, Florence Pugh, Thomas Whilley, Tori Ellen Ross, Jack Lowden, Olivia Bernstone, Elroy Powell
Four stars
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.
Specs
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The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
Hales' batting career
Tests 11; Runs 573; 100s 0; 50s 5; Avg 27.38; Best 94
ODIs 58; Runs 1,957; 100s 5; 50s 11; Avg 36.24; Best 171
T20s 52; Runs 1,456; 100s 1; 50s 7; Avg 31.65; Best 116 not out
The five pillars of Islam
THE BIO
Favourite car: Koenigsegg Agera RS or Renault Trezor concept car.
Favourite book: I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes or Red Notice by Bill Browder.
Biggest inspiration: My husband Nik. He really got me through a lot with his positivity.
Favourite holiday destination: Being at home in Australia, as I travel all over the world for work. It’s great to just hang out with my husband and family.
AI traffic lights to ease congestion at seven points to Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Street
The seven points are:
Shakhbout bin Sultan Street
Dhafeer Street
Hadbat Al Ghubainah Street (outbound)
Salama bint Butti Street
Al Dhafra Street
Rabdan Street
Umm Yifina Street exit (inbound)
How to help
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200
FIXTURES
Monday, January 28
Iran v Japan, Hazza bin Zayed Stadium (6pm)
Tuesday, January 29
UAEv Qatar, Mohamed Bin Zayed Stadium (6pm)
Friday, February 1
Final, Zayed Sports City Stadium (6pm)
Iran's dirty tricks to dodge sanctions
There’s increased scrutiny on the tricks being used to keep commodities flowing to and from blacklisted countries. Here’s a description of how some work.
1 Going Dark
A common method to transport Iranian oil with stealth is to turn off the Automatic Identification System, an electronic device that pinpoints a ship’s location. Known as going dark, a vessel flicks the switch before berthing and typically reappears days later, masking the location of its load or discharge port.
2. Ship-to-Ship Transfers
A first vessel will take its clandestine cargo away from the country in question before transferring it to a waiting ship, all of this happening out of sight. The vessels will then sail in different directions. For about a third of Iranian exports, more than one tanker typically handles a load before it’s delivered to its final destination, analysts say.
3. Fake Destinations
Signaling the wrong destination to load or unload is another technique. Ships that intend to take cargo from Iran may indicate their loading ports in sanction-free places like Iraq. Ships can keep changing their destinations and end up not berthing at any of them.
4. Rebranded Barrels
Iranian barrels can also be rebranded as oil from a nation free from sanctions such as Iraq. The countries share fields along their border and the crude has similar characteristics. Oil from these deposits can be trucked out to another port and documents forged to hide Iran as the origin.
* Bloomberg
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