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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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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Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
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SPECS
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How the bonus system works
The two riders are among several riders in the UAE to receive the top payment of £10,000 under the Thank You Fund of £16 million (Dh80m), which was announced in conjunction with Deliveroo's £8 billion (Dh40bn) stock market listing earlier this year.
The £10,000 (Dh50,000) payment is made to those riders who have completed the highest number of orders in each market.
There are also riders who will receive payments of £1,000 (Dh5,000) and £500 (Dh2,500).
All riders who have worked with Deliveroo for at least one year and completed 2,000 orders will receive £200 (Dh1,000), the company said when it announced the scheme.
Company%20Profile
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Why does a queen bee feast only on royal jelly?
Some facts about bees:
The queen bee eats only royal jelly, an extraordinary food created by worker bees so she lives much longer
The life cycle of a worker bee is from 40-60 days
A queen bee lives for 3-5 years
This allows her to lay millions of eggs and allows the continuity of the bee colony
About 20,000 honey bees and one queen populate each hive
Honey is packed with vital vitamins, minerals, enzymes, water and anti-oxidants.
Apart from honey, five other products are royal jelly, the special food bees feed their queen
Pollen is their protein source, a super food that is nutritious, rich in amino acids
Beewax is used to construct the combs. Due to its anti-fungal, anti-bacterial elements, it is used in skin treatments
Propolis, a resin-like material produced by bees is used to make hives. It has natural antibiotic qualities so works to sterilize hive, protects from disease, keeps their home free from germs. Also used to treat sores, infection, warts
Bee venom is used by bees to protect themselves. Has anti-inflammatory properties, sometimes used to relieve conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, nerve and muscle pain
Honey, royal jelly, pollen have health enhancing qualities
The other three products are used for therapeutic purposes
Is beekeeping dangerous?
As long as you deal with bees gently, you will be safe, says Mohammed Al Najeh, who has worked with bees since he was a boy.
“The biggest mistake people make is they panic when they see a bee. They are small but smart creatures. If you move your hand quickly to hit the bees, this is an aggressive action and bees will defend themselves. They can sense the adrenalin in our body. But if we are calm, they are move away.”
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Essentials
The flights
Emirates and Etihad fly direct from the UAE to Geneva from Dh2,845 return, including taxes. The flight takes 6 hours.
The package
Clinique La Prairie offers a variety of programmes. A six-night Master Detox costs from 14,900 Swiss francs (Dh57,655), including all food, accommodation and a set schedule of medical consultations and spa treatments.
Fight card
Preliminaries:
Nouredine Samir (UAE) v Sheroz Kholmirzav (UZB); Lucas Porst (SWE) v Ellis Barboza (GBR); Mouhmad Amine Alharar (MAR) v Mohammed Mardi (UAE); Ibrahim Bilal (UAE) v Spyro Besiri (GRE); Aslamjan Ortikov (UZB) v Joshua Ridgwell (GBR)
Main card:
Carlos Prates (BRA) v Dmitry Valent (BLR); Bobirjon Tagiev (UZB) v Valentin Thibaut (FRA); Arthur Meyer (FRA) v Hicham Moujtahid (BEL); Ines Es Salehy (BEL) v Myriame Djedidi (FRA); Craig Coakley (IRE) v Deniz Demirkapu (TUR); Artem Avanesov (ARM) v Badreddine Attif (MAR); Abdulvosid Buranov (RUS) v Akram Hamidi (FRA)
Title card:
Intercontinental Lightweight: Ilyass Habibali (UAE) v Angel Marquez (ESP)
Intercontinental Middleweight: Amine El Moatassime (UAE) v Francesco Iadanza (ITA)
Asian Featherweight: Zakaria El Jamari (UAE) v Phillip Delarmino (PHI)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
