Reem Al Hajeri explained the coronavirus to her autistic son with a story she wrote starring his favourite video game character from Minecraft.
Then she gave Abdullah, 11, a tight hug and explained if they went outside, the virus could cling to him like a hug.
With his understanding of the importance of working from home, Abdullah leads his siblings and cousins in a new routine of homeschooling, crafts, cooking and evening rounds of traditional dancing with toy rifles.
Abdullah dressed in blue on Thursday to mark World Autism Awareness Day but otherwise, he stuck to his new routine of home schooling.
This year, parents and children are coping with a whole new set of challenges as families self-isolate to contain the spread of the coronavirus.
A number of adjustments can ease the transition, said Dr Pam Olsen, acting executive director of Mohammed bin Rashid Centre for Special Education Operated by the New England Centre for Children.
A regular bedtime, a dedicated schoolwork area and a consistent schedule for the day will help to establish a routine, which is perhaps the most important thing at this time of uncertainty and change.
“Establishing a routine for home schooling is important for all children, just as establishing a routine for adults working from home is important,” said Dr Olsen. “For many children with autism, routine is even more important.”
A visual representation of the daily schedule can help.
Ms Al Hajeri involved Abdullah in setting his routine and he works at the same time that's his siblings and cousins study online. His workspace is a table beside his father’s desk, who is working from home during the pandemic.
“We have timetables that are the routine for everybody in the home,” said Ms Al Hajeri. “We cannot separate him because he is autistic. [But] autistic or not, he is a child, and he should have a schedule and a home routine like his siblings.”
Parents should use visual aids to explain to children why it is important to wash hands and study at home instead of school during the pandemic.
Autistic or not, he is a child, and he should have a schedule
To do this, there are a number of online resources, like autism.org.uk/coronavirus, which has social stories to show children what is happening. The World Health Organisation also has cartoon explanations about the virus for children.
A quiet corner in the house, with fluffy toys and soft fabrics, can be a welcomed space to avoid sensory overload.
Every family will find a different rhythm.
Michele Ziolkowski and Abdulla Al Sharqi teach their son Suhail, 13, by turning everyday situations into learning opportunities.
“I think one of the most difficult aspects was the abrupt shift from Suhail being in school, where he receives a very high level of education, to being at home in an environment with a lot less structure,” said Mr Al Sharqi.
Ms Ziolkowski, an archaeologist, is creating an archaeological excavation site in their sandpit and plans to help Suhail create a video about his DVD collection.
“One thing our home learning programme doesn’t look like is school,” she said. “I have to be realistic and know that I won’t be able to recreate the same atmosphere, nor can I sustain the energy levels necessary to keep Suhail engaged in his school work for prolonged periods.”
Fun activities benefit children and parents alike.
“Parents should not worry about being perfect teachers,” said Dr Olsen. “This is a learning experience for everyone.”
Every moment is an opportunity for children to learn.
“All children, including those with autism, can learn incidentally, whether it be through playing a game, making a pizza or sandwich, hearing new words spoken by parents or others, or just by observing the world around them,” said Dr Olsen.
Parents can take advantage of support offered by local schools and communities. For example, the Mohammed bin Rashid Centre organises Instagram Live sessions, parents virtual coffee meetups on Zoom and remote coaching. Some of its programmes are available even to families not enrolled in the centre.
Most importantly, parents take breaks and share duties with other family members, said Dr Vedrana Mladina, the Counselling Team Leader at New York University Abu Dhabi.
“I know it’s like Mission Impossible but we do have to make that effort, to have that extra patience not only with children but also with ourselves,” said Dr Mladina. “Family members can feel a bit isolated and alone in their struggle. Just be compassionate with each other.”
The Cairo Statement
1: Commit to countering all types of terrorism and extremism in all their manifestations
2: Denounce violence and the rhetoric of hatred
3: Adhere to the full compliance with the Riyadh accord of 2014 and the subsequent meeting and executive procedures approved in 2014 by the GCC
4: Comply with all recommendations of the Summit between the US and Muslim countries held in May 2017 in Saudi Arabia.
5: Refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of countries and of supporting rogue entities.
6: Carry out the responsibility of all the countries with the international community to counter all manifestations of extremism and terrorism that threaten international peace and security
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 201hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 320Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 8.7L/100km
Price: Dh133,900
On sale: now
The smuggler
Eldarir had arrived at JFK in January 2020 with three suitcases, containing goods he valued at $300, when he was directed to a search area.
Officers found 41 gold artefacts among the bags, including amulets from a funerary set which prepared the deceased for the afterlife.
Also found was a cartouche of a Ptolemaic king on a relief that was originally part of a royal building or temple.
The largest single group of items found in Eldarir’s cases were 400 shabtis, or figurines.
Khouli conviction
Khouli smuggled items into the US by making false declarations to customs about the country of origin and value of the items.
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he provided “false provenances which stated that [two] Egyptian antiquities were part of a collection assembled by Khouli's father in Israel in the 1960s” when in fact “Khouli acquired the Egyptian antiquities from other dealers”.
He was sentenced to one year of probation, six months of home confinement and 200 hours of community service in 2012 after admitting buying and smuggling Egyptian antiquities, including coffins, funerary boats and limestone figures.
For sale
A number of other items said to come from the collection of Ezeldeen Taha Eldarir are currently or recently for sale.
Their provenance is described in near identical terms as the British Museum shabti: bought from Salahaddin Sirmali, "authenticated and appraised" by Hossen Rashed, then imported to the US in 1948.
- An Egyptian Mummy mask dating from 700BC-30BC, is on offer for £11,807 ($15,275) online by a seller in Mexico
- A coffin lid dating back to 664BC-332BC was offered for sale by a Colorado-based art dealer, with a starting price of $65,000
- A shabti that was on sale through a Chicago-based coin dealer, dating from 1567BC-1085BC, is up for $1,950
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Analysis
Members of Syria's Alawite minority community face threat in their heartland after one of the deadliest days in country’s recent history. Read more
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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more from Janine di Giovanni
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
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FA Cup quarter-final draw
The matches will be played across the weekend of 21 and 22 March
Sheffield United v Arsenal
Newcastle v Manchester City
Norwich v Derby/Manchester United
Leicester City v Chelsea
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The stats: 2017 Jaguar XJ
Price, base / as tested Dh326,700 / Dh342,700
Engine 3.0L V6
Transmission Eight-speed automatic
Power 340hp @ 6,000pm
Torque 450Nm @ 3,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined 9.1L / 100km
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
The advice provided in our columns does not constitute legal advice and is provided for information only. Readers are encouraged to seek independent legal advice.
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Result
Crystal Palace 0 Manchester City 2
Man City: Jesus (39), David Silva (41)
