I tiptoed through a bootcamp session and slid out of the gym door. As I sat in my car preparing to leave, two energetic girls tapped on the driver side window. Startled, I quickly pushed the gear shift back into park and rolled down the window. They greeted me with nervous giggles then one bravely asked, “Ummm…we wanted to know where’d you get your braids done?” I relaxed and explained that while my hair is...
Third Culture Kids are those who have spent a portion of their formative years in a different culture — both from their friends back home, but from their parents, as well. In the UAE, where expats represent 88 per cent of the population, TCKs abound. While studies show that expat children are more flexible and better able to cope with change, living in transient communities can also have adverse effects. TCKs have more experience grappling...
Every year on October 5, teachers are showered with affection on World Teachers’ Day. But did you know that this day is officially tied to the actual rights and responsibilities of teachers? It was enshrined in 1966 by the passing of the International Labor Organization and Unesco’s recommendation concerning the status of teachers. The Covid-19 pandemic has hit the profession hard, which is why the focus of World Teachers’ Day 2021 is on “teachers at...
Keeping children healthy requires a great deal of coordination. From choosing the right doctors to keeping up with vaccination schedules, the list of things needing attention can be overwhelming. But keeping to a schedule of regular check-ups can put you ahead of the game. “Children often can’t express the changes happening in their bodies, so there’s a greater chance of issues being ignored until the situation is critical,” said Dr Siddarth Arora, a pediatrician at...
Extra-curricular sports activities are back on in Abu Dhabi after authorities cancelled them in the wake of the pandemic 18 months ago. And that includes all sports in and out of schools, meaning the capital’s children can get back to two of the pursuits that make humans healthiest: moving and playing. A slam dunk “Very often, people forget how important physical activity is, but during this pandemic the importance of PE was felt around the...
Covid-19 vaccination is a hot topic, and while some may be apprehensive, the UAE ministry of education has made its stance very clear. In a bid to make schools as safe as possible, the authorities have announced that students aged 16 and over must be vaccinated if they wish to attend school physically. The vaccination status must be verified on the Al Hosn app. If your child turns 16 during the academic year, they are...
Going back to school is more than a little different this year and that means supply lists have changed, too. While the mainstays, including backpacks, pencils and crayons, are still very much in demand, students will need personal safety products as well. These essentials will set students up for a successful academic year and give you peace of mind at the same time. Stylish masks Unlike last year, when many activities were restricted, this school...
I opened the box and there it was – a thin, sleek aluminum device about double the length of a flash drive. It was cool to the touch and fitted comfortably in my hand. I could slide it into my back pocket, a small compartment inside my handbag or even tuck it up my sleeve inconspicuously. I pierced the foil packaging to open the mouthpiece and the sweetest aroma filled the room. The heavily scented...
I’ll never forget that sinking feeling in my gut as I read this message from my husband, “I’m positive. They tested me at the hospital last night. I’m sorry.” I didn’t panic when I got that information, but I knew we needed to act quickly. I sent an email requesting early dismissal for my kids and whisked them off for Covid tests. My six-year-old was apprehensive about doing the nasal swab so I went to...
As the pandemic took hold and couples were able to spend more time together at home, the assumption was that one thing would lead to another and the result would be a baby boom around now. But the statistics don’t really bear that out. Birth rates have actually fallen for the past year since Covid-19 changed our lives. According to microtrends.net, the birth rate for the UAE in 2020 actually dropped by 0.88 percent from...
The civil rights movement is one of the most significant periods in American History. The end of this extremely long battle by Black Americans to gain equal rights under the law began with the Civil War, which officially abolished slavery a century earlier. However, some rebel states with a low presence of Union troops, continued practicing slavery. Texas was one of them. But on June 19, 1865, General Gordon Granger issued General Order No 3...