Issue #12 Doha Family Guide Spring 2015

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EXTRACURR ICULAR EDU-TAINM ENT

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MUSIC ON THE BRAIN SPRING 2015 | ISSUE 12 | BROUGHT TO YOU BY DOHA MUMS | DOHAFAMILY.COM

“When you look at how much your stomach is going to grow in pregnancy, you’re convinced that all that stretching has to leave its mark! But pretty much everyone I spoke to used Bio-Oil, so I began using it from about my second month, twice a day. I liked the fact that it absorbed well and left my skin looking phenomenal. Now that I know that there’s a great product for stretch marks out there I can’t keep quiet about it – I would absolutely recommend it!”

The product most recommended by doctors for pregnancy stretch marks.

[IPSOS], [2014]

Nicolette with Amy

Bio-Oil® helps reduce the possibility of pregnancy stretch marks forming by increasing the skin’s elasticity. It should be applied twice daily from the start of the second trimester. For comprehensive product information, and details of clinical trials, please visit bio-oil.com. Bio-Oil is available at pharmacies and selected retailers at the recommended selling price of QR 45.00 (60ml). Individual results will vary.

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Doha Family Guide

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Contents

Spring 2015 DohaFamily.com

12 On the Cover Teddy (age 7) is from the U.S. He loves school, particularly maths.

Photo taken by Mariana Sivova.

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Editor’s Letter

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On the Web

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Things We Love Educational apps

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Marketplace

Features: 12

Things to Do: 9

Here is an overview of need-to-know information on Qatar's school system.

This lush green park and shaded play area in West Bay offers some of the most amazing views of Doha.

Navigating the Education System

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Rank and File

Understanding university rankings

25

Helping Kids with Homework

Tips on how to help your child with their homework without doing it for them

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Volunteering in Your Child’s Classroom: A Win-Win Situation

Sheraton Park

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Extracurricular Edu-tainment

Four fun and educational activities to introduce kids to science and engineering

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Music on the Brain: Lessons in Qatar

Five top-tier music schools in Doha to get your budding musician rolling

How participating in your child’s classroom benefits everyone

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Meet a Nursery Director

The owner of Little Academy Nursery talks about life in Doha, parenting and her passion for creating the perfect space for kids.

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THIS MONTH ON DOHAFAMILY.COM

HELP A CHILD REACH NEW HEIGHTS

MONTESSORI IN DOHA This hands-off approach to education is taking other countries by storm—but what about Doha?

MAKE A TEACHER'S WEEK: A FRESH WAY TO SAY “THANKS” Ways to show your child’s teacher how much they are appreciated

CURRICULUM CONFUSION Understanding the different types of school curricula available in Qatar

RECYCLING OPTIONS

Little Academy has a lot to offer…

• • • •

Programs led by certified teachers Extensive foreign language program Certified music instructors Large soft & outdoor play area with garden space for each class

Mamoura Branch 6:00 am - 5:00 pm • Tel 44 60 27 13 Madinat Khalifa Branch 6:00 am - 5:00 pm • Tel 44 11 00 27 Little.Academy.Nursery

How you can help tackle Qatar’s growing waste problem

KARAK IN QATAR This sweet and spicy tea drink is a national staple. Learn about this beverage and where to grab a cup.

JOTUN Inspiration Centres in Qatar

Doha Family Guide

Mirage

Lulu Regency

Mman Sulaity

Safwa Building, Barwa Commercial Avenue Industrial Road Tel : 40061531

Wholesale Market signal (behind Thursday/Friday Souq) Salwa Road Tel : 44934961

Wholesale Market signal Salwa Road Tel : 44694166

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Editor’s Note Education in Qatar: Making the Grade

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s parents, we all have similar questions about life in Doha. Our goal here at Doha Family is to seek out answers and share the knowledge whether it’s about afterschool activities, tips on settling in to Qatar or mum-reviewed parks around Doha.

This issue, we are focusing on education. We recognise that trying to navigate the education system here can be a bit daunting— especially if you’ve just arrived—so we’ve given a breakdown of the system and what to expect when looking at schools, no matter your child’s age. We hope that this article on page 12 helps you navigate through the basic questions.

Throughout this issue, you’ll see answers to many of the questions we’ve had, but we’d also like to know what questions you have. If you have any story ideas, comments or experiences you’d like to share about family life in Doha, please email me at editor@dohamums.com.

Finally, don’t forget to check out the new DohaFamily.com for these articles and more.

Roxanne Davis Publisher

Paulien Bay Christensen

Publishing and Sales Director

Rachel Henriquez Editor in Chief

Gemma Swan Art Director

Rachel Henriquez Editor in Chief Doha Family Guide

Ellora Coupe Staff Writer

Lucia Boll Fausto

Sales Representative

We all know that learning extends beyond the classroom and that extracurricular activities can have a great impact on our children’s education. If your child is interested in learning an instrument then check out our guide to music schools on page 29. If your child prefers mechanics to music, then perhaps they might be interested in one of the science and engineering “edu-tainment” opportunities on page 43.

For advertising or distribution inquiries, please contact Paulien Bay Christensen at ads@dohamums.com.

Editorial inquiries, suggestions and submissions may be addressed to editor@dohamums.com.

Rachel with her daughter Kai Mei enjoying the outdoors at Sheraton Park (see our review on page 9).

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Doha Family Guide Issue 12 – Spring 2015 DohaFamily.com

Doha Family Guide is a free guide published four times a year by Doha Mums. It is distributed to over 120 locations throughout Doha and Qatar with a circulation of over 20,000 copies. Doha Family does not endorse or assume responsibility for any information, products or services mentioned by advertisers or editorial contributors. Reproduction of any element of this publication without written permission from the publisher is prohibited. Copyright 2015 by Doha Mums.

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Inside This Guide

TA I N M E

Activities for Children Doha Mums Children's Library See ad 24 Enana Ballet Academy 4444-1399 14 Funk n’ Play See ad 57 International Centre for Music 44671354 32 It's Time to Play 5599-6296 58 Kids & Tween Yoga 6617-5802 27 Laura Knight Academy of Dance 3346-9121 57 Legacy Sports Academy 5582-1375 18 Monkeynastix 4486-6293 47 Playball Doha 7794-3009 57 Science Made Fun 3399-6665 46 SFQ Sports Academy 4486-6293 19/38/55 Smart it 4451-7134 48 Toddler Soccer 4486-6293 38 The Gymnastics Academy 5582-9428 17 Baby & Maternity Bean’s Barcelona 5547-6159 57 Bella Materna 4493-0914 26 Bio Oil 4450-6245 2 Mustela 5582-2136 10 Try Nice Things 5569-4136 58 Children's Keepsakes

Smallprint 6600-4306 57 Children’s Retail Angelo 7040-6070 57 Play & Learn 4005-2600 16 Ziddy 4486-2288 6 Events, Catering & Party Services

Balloon Décor & More 3319-8817 58 Children’s Way 6658-6398 57 Easy Party’s 5559-4228 57 L&M Cocos Cakes 5594-3576 58 Mama Bears Cakes 3386-6125 57 Food & Beverages Carluccio’s 6690-1777 56 Nando's 4444-2345 36

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Gifts, Cards & Books Artifacts of Arabia 55614573 33 Flip Flop Papers 3300-1866 58 Health & Medical

ActiPatch 4467-7801 28 Feto Maternal Centre 4475-6369 39 Tadawi Medical Center 4488-0887 45 Hotels

Marriott Doha 4429-8499 27 Home Jotun 4006-1531 5 Liwan Furniture 5581-1294 23 Nada’s Interiors 5532-1240 58 Leisure Classes Caramel 4442-6267 58 Sugar Flair 6694-7398 58 Nurseries

Bambino’s Nursery 4444-1020 15 Busy Bees Nursery 4447-2319 41 Creative Child Nursery School 4479-5916 44 Grandma Nursery 4488-4008 16 Kanga’s Pouch Nursery 7788-6171 23 Little Academy Nursery 4411-0027 5 Steady Steps Nursery 6616-3682 53 Tiny Town British Nursery 4483-4553 32 Online

Memloom See ad 50 Pets

Qatar Vet Center 4016-1366 17 The Veterinary Surgery 4436-7187 48 Photography Laura Utarbayeva Photography 5529-0340 58 Mariana Photography 6675-4219 11/57 Recruitment Global Women Qatar 3383-6906 38 Michael Page 4413-3500 22 Retail Purely Honey 7736-1282 41 Virgin Megastore 4495-9060 35 Volvo/Domasco 4424-6860 42 Schools

Al Nebras International Preschool 6622-6678 47 Doha British School Al Wakra 4019-8080 26 Doha College 4407-6777 52 GEMS American Academy Doha 4032-9000 59 The Gulf English School 44578704 60 International School of London 4433-8600 40 Michael E. Debakey High School 4499-9851 30 Pearling Season International School of Doha (PSISD) 4414-9838 3 Qatar Finland International School 4012-7888 8 Sherborne Qatar 4459-6400 35 Spa & Beauty Andrea Espinosa Make-up Artist 3392-2670 57 Tutorial Services Eton Learning Centre 4444-0144 33 Geometric Learning Centre 4427-9295 49 KipMcGrath 4417-7103 19 Oxford Learning Centre 4491-0777 31 Study Plus 4442-4294 24 Universities Northwestern University in Qatar 4454-5000 20 Wellbeing

Pilates with Maggie 5539-9158 58 Pilates with Theresa 5596-9124 58 Stars R Fit 3363-8586 57 Take Flight - Life Coach See ad 57 7

• • • • •

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Things to Do

Parks

Sheraton Park

BY Bethan Wyn Speakman

s ’ n e r ild h c d Shade y area pla

Dafna Park, better known as Sheraton Park, is a very pleasant green space located at the West Bay end of the Corniche.

Apart from the gorgeous location, the main attraction is the well-shaded and well-equipped playground. It is also a great spot to laze around in the sunshine or in the shade of a tree. As you sit and relax, munching your picnic with the hustle-bustle of West Bay behind you, you really get a sense of being in a city park.

Another important landmark only a stone’s throw away from the park is, of course, Doha’s much-loved and recently renovated Sheraton Hotel. It is one of Doha’s oldest hotels and by now has become a bit of an institution.

Doha Family Guide

A good day out and an excellent way to burn some calories would be to park halfway along the Corniche towards the Emiri Diwan and then take a stroll towards the Sheraton with a picnic and pit stop at the park.

If the breeze gets to be too much, you could always escape to the well-placed Costa coffee shop located just a quick walk from the playground.

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Things to Do

Basic information Nearby landmarks: Corniche, Sheraton Hotel, white teapot statue, West Bay towers (Tornado Tower and Burj Doha) Opening hours: Public space with no gates or walls, so no official opening hours Entrance fee: Free Size: Roughly 0.8 hectares Parking: Next to the Costa and the Msheireb Enrichment Centre Shade: Partly shaded playground and plenty of nearby trees Play area surface: Rubber Toilets: One

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Wheelchair and disability accessibility: The pathways around the playground and green spaces are accessible to wheelchairs.

The toilets are not very spacious and therefore not accessible to wheelchairs.

Food and beverages: Costa Nearby mosque: No Theatre: No Wi-Fi: Free Wi-Fi via iPark; iPark sign has instructions for Wi-Fi access Night lighting: Well-lit at night

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Parks

Doha Family tips Allowed: Roller skating, rollerblading, skateboarding, biking and scooting, jogging, running, walking Don’t forget!

There is a busy road next to the park so keep a close eye on your kids!

The toilets are not always well maintained and a bit of a walk from the playground.

There is a clothes and household equipment recycling bin in the park.

Top Tip: Enjoy a cappuccino with an amazing view of the Gulf at Costa.

Pop into the Msheireb Enrichment Centre to learn about Qatar’s past and what it will be like in the future.

Closed all day Friday and Saturday, open Sunday to Thursday 09:00-17:00

Doha Family Guide

Driving directions Driving from Doha Airport on C-Ring, head towards the Corniche and West Bay. Once on the Corniche, drive all the way down.

As you drive past Burj Doha (cylindrical-shaped tower) and Tornado Tower on your left, before you get to the Sheraton Hotel, you will see a hexagonal shaped Costa on your right facing the sea and the Msheireb Enrichment Centre jutting out into the sea.

Turn right off the Corniche by Costa into the car park. The playground is a short walk towards the direction of the Sheraton Hotel.

Check out DohaFamily.com for additional information and more park reviews.

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Family Matters

Navigating the Education System in Qatar

by Ellora Coupe

A

ccording to the Ministry of Development Planning and Statistics, Qatar’s population surged ahead at a rate of 7.48% between October 2013 and October 2014 and is predicted to grow even further. With the drive for an increase in intellectual capital in the region and the influx of foreign workers to Qatar’s shores, the pressure to provide high quality education options for families is increasing. However, navigating the options available for arriving expats can be difficult and steeped with barriers such as long waiting lists and some exceptionally high tuition fees. To allow you to make your own decisions on this very personal journey, here is a break down of the education options available to families in Qatar.

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Education The Supreme Education Council (SEC) and the Ministry of Education direct Qatar’s education policy across all curricula. They are responsible for decisions ranging from approving proposed schools to setting annual tuition fees. Both parents and schools can contact them for information or regarding any issues.

It is important to note they have a useful schools directory of all the educational facilities within Qatar on their website: sec.gov.qa.

Selecting a curriculum While the state schools in Qatar are free, most expats choose to send their children to private or international community schools if they can afford to do so. The choice of schools and variety of curricula reflect the diversity of Qatar’s multicultural society. There are Islamic, American, English, French, Finnish, Indian and Turkish, to name a few, and choosing one means considering one’s home country curriculum (should you return one day) as well as entry consideration to worldwide universities.

In 2011, the SEC created the Qatar National School Accreditation to drive the consistency and quality of education of schools in Qatar regardless of curriculum type. However, schools must still be accredited by the country whose curriculum they represent, so it’s essential for parents to check that a school is appropriately accredited before enrolling.

If you are considering a curriculum other than your home country’s, here is what you need to know:

International curricula In the British system, students take the IGCSE (or GCSE) exams at 16 years of age followed by the A-Level exams at 18 years of age. The A-Levels focus on three to four main subjects in further depth than the IGCSE and are equivalent to a U.S. High School Diploma. The International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB) presents wider breadth in a full range of

Doha Family Guide

subjects from 16 to 19 years of age as an alternative to the British and American school systems. The IB is gaining popularity globally and is independent of governments and national systems. It aims to encourage students to consider both their local and international environments through intercultural understanding and respect.

Check out DohaFamily.com for a summary of how each system relates to your child’s age.

All curricula are provided with additional Qatari context as required by the SEC, resulting in Arabic and cultural lessons provided for all children for all age groups.

Independent schools Whilst many families opt for a private school, Qatar does have independent government-funded schools.

However, recent government reforms have changed the medium of instruction from English to Arabic making it likely to deter non-Arabic speaking expats.

In addition, the Qatari curriculum that most of them offer may limit school entry abroad. If you are considering enrolling your student in an independent school, be sure to check your home country’s requirements to ensure that your child’s school record can be transferred back.

Pre-primary education Either called nursery, crèche or day care, this level of care isn’t actually legally allowed to educate but rather only to provide child care facility within Doha.

However, many pre-primary facilities offer some type of age-appropriate educational programming. Also, according to current SEC rules, nurseries are not allowed to enrol students past their fourth birthday.

For many parents, choosing a nursery depends on distance, price, hours and a personal preference towards programmes. Even though nursery is not compulsory, many parents find themselves considering it, as applicants to some pre-schools (e.g. Doha College

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Family Matters Primary School and Sherborne Qatar) are shortlisted on the basis of a nursery report.

Important factors to consider when choosing a nursery could be: quality of outside space, teacher-to-child ratio, primary languages spoken and number of days available (some have a mandatory minimum of three days). With the recent introduction of the SEC Nursery Law No.1 of 2014, regulatory requirements for nurseries have tightened. All nurseries must operate on the ground floor only and they are required to have CCTVs, female-only staff and a dedicated nurse on site.

Check out the Doha Mums Nursery Guide at dohamums.com for an extensive overview of the nurseries available in Qatar.

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Primary education Many parents choose to enter their children into primary education between three and five years old.

For many children who don’t gain entry at preschool (the year a child turns four years old), they continue to be on the waiting list for the school of their preferred choice whilst attending a second choice school.

Preschool admissions appear to be the most competitive entry level across all ages and grades in Doha with some schools, due to sibling priority, only able to offer as little as 10 places with more than 300 applicants. According to the GCC British Education Report 2014, the British Education system is one of the most sought after curricula within Qatar.

Some schools give priority to British passport holders depending on the number of spots available per year.

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Education Secondary schools such as American School of Doha, Doha College, Sherborne Qatar, Compass International School Doha, Doha British School and Park House English School provide a full education offering from four years old (preschool) right up to 18 years old (high school or sixth form). Students who attend primary school at one of these institutions are typically given preference to the same secondary school.

As with all schools, location factors heavily into people’s decision and many expats move to different areas of the city to reduce the commute time between work, home and school. Schools such as Doha College and Park House English School have opened or are due to open additional campuses across different ends of town to further meet demands.

Doha Family Guide

Secondary education The large secondary schools have a multicultural mix of children and provide a variety of curricula from A-Levels, IB to High School Diplomas, so it is important to consider which curriculum is going to be most valuable to your child.

Schools typically provide or recommend school bus services to alleviate the burden of school runs.

The length of school hours of secondary school students typically range from 7:30 to 13:30 but can be further extended depending on how many afterschool activities and clubs the student is enrolled in. Sometimes these events or activities happen at other schools or sites, which can make planning for transportation more complicated.

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Family Matters

Spl

ash

Build!

Climb!

!

Drive

!

T +974 4005 2600 • info@playandlearn.qa www.playandlearn.qa • Doha – Qatar

Currently the most popular secondary schools within Qatar for expats are Doha College, Sherborne Qatar, Compass International School Doha, Park House English School, American School of Doha, Lycee Bonaparte, International School of London and Doha British School with the recent introduction of GEMS American Academy and the Cambridge School Doha.

Higher education University education in Qatar is primarily intended to provide Qatari nationals with access to world-class degrees and research centres. However, admission is granted, subject to entry requirements, for all expats and foreign students. A recent regulatory change resulted in Qatar University, the country’s first and largest college, returning to Arabic as its main language of learning, which will likely discourage non-Arabic speaking students from applying.

The majority of universities in Qatar are located in Education City. There is Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar specialising in art and design undergraduate and post-graduate degrees. Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar focuses on pre-medical and medical degrees. Texas A&M University at Qatar specialises in chemical, petroleum, mechanical, and electrical and computer engineering undergraduate and post-graduate degrees. Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar offers undergraduate degrees in business and computer science programs.

Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in Qatar specialises in undergraduate degrees in foreign service. Northwestern University in Qatar offers undergraduate degrees in journalism and communication. HEC Paris offers graduate executive education programs for mid-career and senior executives. University College London Qatar offers post-graduate degree programs in archaeology and other cultural studies. Hamad bin Khalifa University focuses on post-graduate degrees in Islamic studies and local law and business policies degrees.

In addition to what is available in Education City, the College of the North Atlantic Qatar offers comprehensive technical programs across health and

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Education information technology and the University of Calgary in Qatar offers nursing and other healthfocused qualifications.

Homeschooling Some parents choose to avoid the admissions headache and opt for homeschooling. Doha Home Educators (dohahomeeducators.wordpress.com) has been key in establishing an organised network for homeschooling in Doha. They provide collaborative learning resources, a family network for both social and educational purposes and a members' only forum and events calendar. It is important to note that homeschooling is reliant on registration in your home country under the appropriate laws and not supported within Qatar itself. Also, should you be using homeschooling whilst waiting for a place at a preferred school it is important to note that some schools don’t advise it and suggest instead that you return home until a place becomes available.

Special needs education Special needs schooling is limited. Schools in Doha are not required to accept children with learning differences and often don't have the facilities or skilled professionals to accommodate children with special needs. However, there are some institutes offering support for children with learning difficulties including the Child Development Center, Sunbeam Centre of Excellence and Cedars Tutoring Centre. Depending on the learning difficulties, key struggles for parents in Qatar have been in gaining access to the multiple diagnostic professionals required to assess a child and in gaining entry to mainstream education with the appropriate additional learning support facilities.

With the speed at which the education system is constantly evolving, it is important, to stay up-todate with schools and the SEC rulings. The SEC is responsive to parents and their cases so don’t hesitate to contact them if you have questions about age requirements, school report attesting or any other concerns.

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Things We LOVE

Est. 1974 KM

Call today for an assessment

Educational apps Gus on the Go Using simple memory games and colourful illustrations, Gus on the Go teaches children foreign languages using numbers, colours, shapes and more.

The app is available in 26 languages including Arabic, Tagalog, Hindi, English, Spanish and Chinese. It’s a great tool for introducing language to preschoolers.

Cost: US 3.99 Works on: Apple iOS, Android Ages: 2+ Algebra Touch Using simple drag, swipe and touch commands, kids can practice algebraic concepts such as simplification, like terms, factorisation, prime numbers, variables and more. The simple interface is easy to follow, gives hints if you get stuck and is surprisingly addicting to play. Who knew maths could be so much fun?

Cost: US 2.99 Works on: Apple iOS Ages: 10+

Build a brighter future for your child Kip McGrath’s qualified teachers create individually tailored programmes for your child, using proven methods of tuition. Kip McGrath caters to all curricula including: the American, British & Qatari curricula.

Maths Reading English Little Learners Spelling Comprehension Writing

Children form the ages of 4.5 - 18 years old are welcome. +974 4417 7103

/ +974 5014 5347

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Kip McGrath Education Center Aamal Tower, 1st Floor Eduate Office, West Bay kipqatar KipMcGrathQatar

visit us on mena.kipmcgrath.com for more information

BrainPOP Featured Movie Brain food for the know-it-all, this app is great for kids who love to consume facts and information. It provides daily video cartoons and quizzes on all types of topics from science and history to maths and art.

Cost: Free Works on: Apple iOS, Android, Windows Ages: 8+

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A world-class university Graduate into top media jobs Best equipment and media facilities The same U.S. degree and education Exciting travel while studying Northwestern University

In Q Qatar

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Family Matters

Education

RANK&FILE ng i t a g i Nav ity s r e v i Un ings k n a R e a Bat

and

By Am

I’m convinced there’s a university-ranking list for just about everything at this point. There are the exhaustive Princeton Review rankings that include everything from the most politically aware students to the top party schools. According to NerdWallet, if you want to become a billionaire, you have a better chance if you attend one of the schools on their “Best Schools of Becoming a Billionaire” list. Forbes, being a business publication, decided to go a different route and focus on the rate of investment in choosing its top Doha Family Guide

100 colleges. For the first time ever, Money magazine jumped into the game and named their list of “Best Colleges for Your Money” with a surprising choice for the top school overall this year. If you’re trying to figure out the top-ranked universities in the world, you can visit shanghairanking.com, topuniversities.com or even timeshighereducation.co.uk. Even the stalwart U.S. News and World Report has recently added global rankings to their annual lists.

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Family Matters Like beauty, university rankings are in the eye of the beholder. Rankings are not inherently bad as they can help an overwhelmed student narrow down and explore their options. However, they shouldn’t be the sole factor in finalising the college application list.

Know who is behind the rankings and why. Chances are someone is trying to sell magazines or get traffic to their website. Trust me, you garner a lot of attention when you compile lists such as the "top party schools" or the "richest alums". The big and outrageous titles

sell magazines. In addition, rankings can stoke the proverbial arms race when it comes to applying— especially to highly selective colleges. This is especially important for international students. These rankings can get confusing and international students may mistakenly think the government is responsible for these lists. In most cases, they aren’t. It’s often a private entity that compiles the data.

ike beauty, university L rankings are in the eye of the beholder.

Understand the methodology. One of the main criticisms of the U.S. News rankings is that information relies heavily on school reputation. This gives older, well-established institutions higher points and advantage over newer (used loosely) universities.

Make sure you understand how the evaluator is comparing schools. Know who is giving responses and how the responses are being measured. This can give you important insight to the “quality” of the rankings at hand.

Keep in mind that rankings are based on someone else’s metrics. Rankings aren’t individualised so they say nothing about whether or not you will be happy

Flexible working opportunities.

If you have recently moved to Qatar on a family or spousal sponsorship visa and you are interested in taking up either full time or contract employment, we have a number of clients in Doha who are interested and ready to hire at short notice.

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Education at that campus. They just tell you about the general type of student that attends there. And while it might be fantastic that a school ranks number one when it comes to ultimate Frisbee, that is completely irrelevant if you have no intention of ever playing the game. Ultimately, it matters what you do once you get on campus. All the rankings in the world don’t matter if you do not have a particular plan for your education and career. Plenty of students are successful graduates from schools that don’t even crack the top 200 on plenty of lists. Not every student from the top 10 is impressively successful.

Every college has strengths and weaknesses. The important thing is to assess how they stack up against your personalised college criteria. As a smart consumer, it’s more important to evaluate a school against features that YOU find important. Not the U.S. News and World Report. Not the Princeton Review. Not anyone else.

Amanda Bate is founder & CEO of Bate Consulting, a consulting firm that provides university admissions and career counselling to third culture & international students who intend on pursuing studies in the United States. She also blogs about the American admissions process and everything university related on her blog, Prepped & Loaded.

Doha Family Guide

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6000+ books

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Doha Mums Children's Library

Titles for ages birth to teen in Arabic, French, English, Spanish, Dutch, Korean and more!

Special thanks to SFQ Sports Academy for their support! *Our private library is available to Doha Mums members only.

Find your favorite book at library.dohamums.com 24

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Family Matters

Homework

Helping Kids With Homework

BY GHENWA YEH IA-MALAEB

Being a kid isn't all fun and games. After long, eventful days at school, most children are required to do some extra work at home to reinforce the lessons they learned in class.

Doha Family Guide

While homework may seem daunting to some children, it is a key part of the learning process that teaches independent learning, responsibility and time management skills.

As a parent, there are a lot of things you can do to help your child with their homework without doing it for them.

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Family Matters

Make it work for you!

1

Set them up for success. Whether it’s helping them organise one large task into several smaller ones; helping them set up their preferred, distractionfree study environment; or preparing healthy snacks before, during and after a long study session; it all makes a difference. By making sure that your child has their basic needs met before they start their homework, you are giving them the tools they need to succeed.

2

Be prepared. Before your child even asks you for help, it would be useful for you to already have some sort of idea about what is being covered in class. Ask your child what they learned at school each day or week or flip through their assigned work each night to get a sense of what they are being taught. If you know your child is covering fractions, skim through the chapter in the textbook to refresh your memory.

If they are covering the First World War, try to recall as many events and facts as you can so when your child does ask you for help one night, you are not completely taken off guard.

3

Play to your strengths. Let’s be real: you don’t know everything (even if you often tell your kids that you do!). If your child asks you for help in a subject that you aren’t particularly good at, you may do them more harm than good by trying to help them out.

Instead, seek out the assistance of your partner who may know more about that subject than you. If neither of you can help, solicit the help of extended family members or neighbours that your child is comfortable and familiar with. There is nothing worse than trying to help out a frustrated child and then getting frustrated yourself.

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Dohamum Feb'15.pdf

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Homework 4

Play to their strengths. Sometimes, it’s not the information that children have difficulties understanding, but rather, the way that information is presented. There are so many different types of learning styles that it is important to know what works for your child. If they are a tactile learner, try turning a history lesson into a puzzle. Have them draw pictures of the events they need to know and then arrange them in chronological order. Cue cards work well in any subject for visual learners. Acronyms, mnemonics or facts sung to your child’s favourite song are perfect tricks to help auditory learners. Trying different ways of presenting information may just be the thing to help your child have an “ah-ha!” moment.

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Take a step back. By no means does helping your child with their homework mean doing it for them. It’s safe to say that you have already passed elementary/middle/high school, so there’s no need for you do the work over again. Firstly, only offer help when asked or when your child seems like they are struggling. Secondly, offer help by providing your child different ways to approach their problems. Let them communicate what they are having difficulties with, ask them questions like “How do you think you can come to the answer?” and simply point out possible alternate solutions to get them to rework the problem. Finally, only check a few answers and then let them continue without your help. We all know that learning means making mistakes, so let your child make theirs. It will help them see what they need to work on and it will communicate to their teacher what concepts they are not understanding.

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Communication is key. If all else fails, encourage your child to seek help from their teacher. You may need to talk to the teacher yourself if your child is younger, but generally, kids in the fourth grade or older should be encouraged to talk to the teacher themselves. Talking to their teacher will ensure that your child knows how to speak up for his/herself. And in both cases, your child will likely get the help he or she needs directly from the source.

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Things to Do

Music

Music on the Brain: Lessons in Qatar

BY MARISA MENDONZ

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ver watch a toddler with a rattle, toy drum or household utensil and spoon? As he or she joyfully produces his or her own “music” in this display of latent musical talent, important neural connections are being made in the brain. Decades of research show that these brain exercises provide numerous long-term educational, social and physical benefits including:

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• Improved memory • Increased ability to think and reason • Enhanced concentration • Better listening skills, which aid in speech and language learning • Improved coordination • Stress relief and coping abilities • Improved time management and organisational skills • A stronger ability to work well in groups • Enhanced social skills and responsibility • Tenacity and discipline • A sense of fulfilment and achievement 29

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Music

In Qatar, there are several options for learning music from enrolling in a music school to contracting a home tutor. The list below has been narrowed down to organisations that stand out either for the quality of musical education or the courses offered. For more music schools and tutors, check out the Children's Activity Directory on DohaFamily.com.

Qatar Music Academy Founded in 2011 and supported by Qatar Foundation, the Qatar Music Academy is unique in that it offers courses in Arabic and Western music. It runs two programs—Academic Music and Music for All. While Music for All is open to the musically inclined of any age, the Academic Music course is intended as a more serious study of music and has more stringent entrance criteria and certificate programme. Students of the western Academic Music course are required to take the Associated Board of the Royal schools of Music (ABRSM) exams from age eight. Students enrolled in the Arabic Academic Music course are awarded certificates and ultimately a diploma upon meeting the course criteria. Under both programmes, students can choose to learn from a huge range of musical instruments or opt for vocal lessons.

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Minimum age requirement: Academic Music - 5 years, Music for All - 2 years Academic Music fees: QR 360-8160 for Arabic music and QR 2160-5760 for Western music, depending on the instrument and course Music for All fees: QR 360-1440 per term Location: Katara Cultural Village, Doha Phone: +974 4454-8191 qatarmusicacademy.com.qa

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Things to Do International Centre for Music The International Centre for Music was one of the first music and art schools to be established in Qatar in 2000. It offers one-on-one weekly music lessons in vocal music, piano, guitar and violin. Classes last from 30 minutes to 1 hour, depending on the choice of the student. A music theory course is also offered and can be availed of as a group class or on an individual basis.

Students can opt to sit the ABRSM instrumental exams.

Minimum age requirement: 5 years Fees: QR 200-760 per month, payable on a two-monthly basis Location: Matar Qadeem (Old Airport), Doha Phone: +974 4467-1354 icmqatar.com

Learn, Develop and Achieve with our Exceptional Teaching Team Piano, Guitar, Violin, Vocal, Ballet, Art Family Friendly with a Focus on Fun since 2000 Professional tuition for all ages up to diploma level Tel + 974 4467 1354 - 50299151 P.O.Box 6226 info@icmqatar.com - www.icmqatar.com 32

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Music IAID IAID was established in 2001 with a vision of contributing to the Qatari cultural landscape. It offers classes in the piano, electronic keyboard, acoustic guitar and vocals with options also for introductory singing and toddler music classes.

Most of the IAID courses are certificate courses affiliated with the London College of Music (LCM).

Minimum age requirement: 7 years Fees: QR 500-700 depending on age group/course chosen Location: Al Hilal, Doha Phone: +974 4432-0974, +974 4441-1234, or +974 6671-0589 iaidonline.com/index.php

Doha Family Guide

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The Brain Quest Workbook makes school and being smart fun! It contains a whole year of curriculum–based exercises and activities in one fun book. Loved by kids, adored by parents and used by teachers! If you want your students to enjoy their time while actually learning then it’s a no brainer.

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Things to Do

Music

Yamaha Music School

Kalabhavan

Based on the philosophy that everyone is born with musical potential, the Yamaha Music School employs Yamaha teaching methods in its musical instruction.

It believes in imparting comprehensive musical education in a group setting using materials and teaching aids developed in-house. The emphasis is on making music fun for the learner.

A franchise of the reputed Kalabhavan school in Cochin, India, the organisation offers courses in drums (including the tabala), keyboard, violin, rhythm pad and vocal Carnatic music, a classical Indian music style. Instruction in the keyboard and violin is available in both, the traditional western music notation as well as classical Indian music.

The school offers three courses­—Junior Music, Yamaha Piano and Popular Music (guitar) with its own set of optional exams. Weekly classes range from a duration of 30 minutes to 1 hour, depending on the course. The Junior Music course recommends a commitment of two years and requires parent participation.

Students can choose their preferred time of class.

Classes are held bi-weekly, lasting one hour each. The school offers students the option of sitting the Trinity College of London exams for most instruments. At an additional fee, the school’s minivan conveys students between their home and the music lesson.

Minimum age requirement: 4 years Fees: QR 600 per month Location: Zig Zag Tower, West Bay Lagoon, Doha Phone: +974 4433-5598

Minimum age requirement: 4 years Fees: QR 200 per month Location: Abu Hamour, Doha.

Phone: +974 4466-2980 or +974 4465-7568 kalabhavanqatar.com

Education for life...

Tel +974 4459 6400 info@sherborneqatar.org www.sherborneqatar.org www.sherborneqatarprep.org

Accepting Applications for Immediate start for Years 3, 5 and 6 Doha Family Guide

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Family Matters

Parent Involvement

Volunteering in Your Child’s Classroom: A Win-Win Situation

by Myrna Beth Haskell

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as your child’s teacher asked for volunteers this year? If you have never offered your services, you may want to reconsider. You will find that volunteering in your child’s classroom will help your child as much as his teacher.

Many elementary school teachers are eager to accept help from parents. When classes have as many as twenty-five or thirty students, with children as young as five or six years old, it is truly a blessing to have an extra pair of hands. My consistent involvement in various classroom activities has helped both my son and daughter to understand that their school day is just as important to me as it is to them. I truly believe that this has been a catalyst to their success.

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Family Matters I have been a regular volunteer at my children’s schools for 12 years, which allows me to have a consistent dialogue with my children’s teachers about their progress. Each year I became familiar with the daily class schedule and was able to ask the right questions at the end of the day. For instance, instead of the generic “What-did-you-do-in-school-today?”

I would ask, “What was the topic for writer’s workshop this morning?” Subject-specific questions seem to generate an actual response instead of this typical response: “Ah...nothing.” I would also hear about changes that were being made at the school before they were published in the monthly newsletter. I got to know my children’s friends and was relieved to find out that they were making good choices.

Their school day is just as important to me as it is to them.

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Not everyone is fortunate enough to have a flexible work schedule or the time to participate in classroom activities on a regular basis. If you want to volunteer but your work schedule does not permit it, ask your child’s teacher if you can do something from home.

Sometimes creating colourful signs for the bulletin board or making book covers for students’ portfolios is just as helpful to a teacher as your physical presence in class. Your child’s teacher will still get to know you better. She will realize that you want to take an active role in your child’s studies and will appreciate any help you can give her. You can seize the opportunity during brief phone conversations to ask about your child’s progress or to convey any concerns you may have.

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Family Matters If creativity isn’t your thing, you may want to help out at special events.

If creativity isn’t your thing, you may want to help out at special events.

Take a personal day to volunteer at the Teacher’s Appreciation Luncheon or the annual book fair. How about volunteering to be a chaperone for one of the field trips? These occasions can offer a relaxed setting for discussing a recent development in your child’s behaviour. A casual comment from a teacher such as, “Sam hasn’t been concentrating on his writing lately...maybe there is something we can do to help him,” is usually less threatening than a formal note home. You can get to the bottom of your child’s problem and come up with solutions together.

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Parent Involvement If you decide to volunteer, here are some classroom etiquette dos and don’ts to consider: • DO tell your child’s teacher about any skills or hobbies you have.

• DO show up on time.

• DO refer to your child’s teacher as Mrs. Smith (not Mary) in the classroom.

• DO wait for an appropriate time to ask about your child’s progress (not in the middle of a messy art project).

• DO dress comfortably and appropriately.

• DON’T ask for special favours.

• DON’T overstay your welcome.

• DON’T make a pest of yourself (you are there to help out, not chat about a million other things).

• When in doubt...ASK! I decided to volunteer in my children’s classrooms to learn which subjects they needed the most help with at home and to get to know their teachers well so that I could feel comfortable asking questions about their progress. What I did not foresee was how much I would personally benefit from the experience.

I became friendly with other mothers who volunteered and made connections with many of them outside of the school setting. I got to know the office staff and the principal on a more personal basis. This makes

We provide children with a safe, secure, happy, healthy and stimulating environment.

Our Programme includes: Numeracy & Literacy Skills & Knowledge Values & Morals Music & Movement Kitchen Fun

the communication from home to school much easier.

By watching my children’s teachers, I also learned innovative ways to help them at home.

Remember that you can remain connected once your child enters middle school and high school as well.

You can volunteer for booster clubs in the specific activities your child is involved with. Continue to put your name in to help out at concerts, fundraising events, honour roll breakfasts and field trips. I have found that although I am no longer volunteering in the classroom, my presence at their schools has been a huge benefit.

The cooperative alliance of parents and teachers who work together as a team is a formula for success.

Find the time to get involved and show your child how much you care about his education. Any level of participation is important. Your child can only benefit from your genuine interest. You might find, as I have, that it is one of the most important things you can do for your child’s education.

Myrna Beth Haskell is a feature writer, columnist, and author of LIONS and TIGERS and TEENS: Expert advice and support for the conscientious parent just like you (Unlimited Publishing LLC, 2012): For details: myrnahaskell.com. Book also available at: Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk

Busy Bees provides a wide range of appropriate learning materials and stimulating, high quality toys and activities, both indoors and outdoors.

Busy Bees Nursery is open to children of all nationalities from 6 months to 4 years and follows the British “Stepping Stones” curriculum complemented by ‘Jolly Phonic‛ trained Educators.

Offering a child-centered approach where children are encouraged to develop their creativity, individuality and self-confidence in secure surroundings, led by our dedicated staff.

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Things to Do

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After-school Fun

Activities to introduce kids to the wonderful world of science and engineering There’s a new type of after-school activity in Doha, one that will entertain your kids, stimulate their curiosity and teach them about the way their world works. Over the past year, several educational companies have set up shop in Doha, each bringing a unique way of introducing kids to science.

Rhonda Normore-Howard, an educator with a specialty in creating science programmes for kids says, “With science, it’s important to grab kids’ interest while they are still young.”

“A lot of kids have no personal exposure to people working in science and engineering, and it can seem intimidating when they get to the higher grades. If they develop an interest when they’re younger, if they think science is interesting and fun, they have so many more options later on.”

I visited four of these companies to find out who they are, what they offer and how they can keep science and technology interesting, relevant and fun for Doha kids.

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Things to Do

SCIENCE MADE FUN Science Made Fun travels to the kids, whether they are at school, special events, shopping malls or the weekly brunch at the Ritz Carlton.

During my conversation with administrative manager Amina Khanum, I was struck by the sheer number of programmes that they provide. Though the Doha franchise has only been open since March 2014, Science Made Fun started 20 years ago in the United States and has built up an extensive list of programmes. In Doha, Science Made Fun teaches perennial favourites like the science behind bubbles, weather and dry ice, as well as subjects that are particularly relevant in the Middle East like geology, electricity and fossils.

“Qatar has so many natural resources, minerals and solar energy for instance, and we need people to develop the technologies that will make the most of these resources. This begins with children being active in science and developing their natural curiosity,” says Khanum.

While they have a solid foundation in serious scientific principles, Science Made Fun makes the concepts relevant and interesting to kids. Biology is taught

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as “Globs, Goo and Guts,” a hands-on look at the different parts that make up living things; and “Kitchen Science” allows children to experience the science that is in their everyday world.

The majority of the Science Made Fun programmes are conducted as once-a-week after-school activities; they are currently in over a dozen schools. Miniworkshops are held often at different locations around Doha and Science Made Fun also runs camps during school holidays.

What is it: Fun, age-appropriate, and hands-on science programmes

Ages: Science Made Fun has programmes for children ages 4 to 14.

Where are classes held: First check with Science Made Fun to see if they offer a programme in your child’s school. Mini-workshops and camps are held often around Doha and the latest information is available through their Facebook page. sciencemadefun-qatar.net +974 3399-6665

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Things to Do

MAD SCIENCE The Mad Science headquarters in Qatar is near Salwa Road at D-Ring. However, their location is not really relevant. Although they do hold some camps and events at their offices, Mad Science spends most of its time going to the children.

I met with mad scientists Annabelle Olivo and Arjay Daquiz, who spent eight years with Mad Science Dubai before coming to Doha. “ We started a year ago going into two schools, one of them in Al Khor. The reception was very good and by the end of the year we were running extracurricular programmes in about 15 schools,” says Olivo, who manages the Doha franchise in addition to her mad scientist responsibilities. “ There was really nothing like it when we started.

But Doha is a small community and word travels fast.

We’ve had a lot of support from the parents here.”

Mad Science offers once-a-week programmes at several Doha schools and they do in-class workshops for many others. During the holidays, they run theme camps in their offices and at other locations around Doha.

Doha Family Guide

After-school Fun Programmes cover age-appropriate concepts in chemistry, physical sciences, outer space, electronics and robotics. Each class has a hands-on experiment for the kids to try—for instance in the chemistry programme, kids make their own goo, put together molecule models with marshmallows and toothpicks and practice measuring liquids with their own graduated cylinder and pipette.

What is it: Age-appropriate science experiments in a variety of different topic areas

Ages: There is a specific programme for little ones aged 3 to 5. Children from 6 to 12 take part in ageappropriate versions of the main programmes.

Where are classes held: First, check with Mad Science to see if they hold an extracurricular programme in your child’s school.

If not, Mad Science workshops and events take place all over Doha, as well as camps during holiday breaks. qatar.madscience.org +974 4442-1212

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THE LITTLE ENGINEER The Little Engineer opened in December 2013 on Al Waab Street across from Villaggio Mall. The location is central and easy to find, which is important since the classes are primarily held there. The workshops are brightly decorated and meticulously organised and the children in each room were deeply focused on their models.

The founder of the Little Engineer is a mechanical engineer in Lebanon who noticed that parents have a negative view of technology. For a more positive technological experience, she created a programme that is part mechanics (building moveable models using Lego) and part robotics (programming the models to move).

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I met with manager Karen Slim who also worked for the Little Engineer in Lebanon. She noted that the programme works because of the instructors who guide the children. “We choose people who are funny and can connect with the child,” she says. “We want the kids to learn skills like critical thinking and perseverance, but we want them to learn while they are having fun.”

For younger children, the programmes focus on basic building principles like balance and symmetry.

As they become more advanced, the programming aspect of robotics becomes more important. Kids are given “missions” for their robots to complete on large tabletop maps. For older kids, the Little Engineer holds Sumobot competitions where kids make their own bots to battle it out.

What is it: Model building and robotics programme

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After-school Fun Ages: Children aged 6 to 9 begin with “Pay As You Go” basic kits to let them try out the programme.

They then move into Robotics 0A and 0B. Children aged 10 to 18 do Robotics 1 and 2, and levels 3 and 4 will be launched in Doha as kids progress through the programme.

Where are classes held: The Little Engineer is on the corner of Al Waab and Aspire Park Road, opposite Villaggio. The class schedule is very flexible: families choose their own times, which makes it easy to fit the Little Engineer into a busy schedule. thelittleengineer.qa+974 4481-3849

Doha Family Guide

SMARTit SmartIt has two locations in Doha, one in Gharafa and the other in West Bay. I visited the West Bay location and was ushered into a set of bright and spacious rooms by owner Assel Zhantassova and manager Ashley Reilly. Lego is on display everywhere: basic figures and elaborate models, big soft bricks and Duplo and boxes and boxes of educational kits. If you liked Lego as a kid, the impulse to start building is almost irrepressible.

SmartIt is a Doha company that began with Assel’s husband Max, who has always been a Lego enthusiast.

Their three children have inherited their father’s love of building, and Assel and Max thought other kids might also like to build while they learn. They opened their doors in February 2014 and were shocked by how fast the concept has caught on.

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Things to Do SmartIt uses the educational line of Lego that progresses from Duplo activities for ages three and four, all the way up to complex robotics for kids in their middle school years. The classes run after school and weekends at both locations with each class concentrating on a different concept of mechanics like balance and stability. At the end of every class, the children are given free time to build and explore.

For older children, the classes cover more complex building concepts and robotics. Once they have built their models, children learn basic programming.

Introductory robots are connected via USB to a laptop, but the more complicated robots have motors and chips that allow them to move freely.

After-school Fun What is it: Lego building and robotics Ages: SmartIt offers programmes for kids ages 3 to 12.

Where are classes held: Classes in West Bay are held in the Al Jazi Gardens compound on Al Istiqlal Street. Classes in Gharafa are held in the Al Jazi Village compound in association with SFQ Sports Academy. smartit.qa +974 6600-0756

Classes are offered once or twice a week at various times. Note that SmartIt strictly limits class sizes to ensure each child gets individual attention.

First Veterinary Clinic in Doha, The Veterinary Surgery is operating to standards of the British Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, with Experience by Professionals from Australia, Canada, South Africa ,UK and USA We offer the following services for Dogs, Cats, Birds and Exotic Pets • Medical and Surgical Services • Digital X-ray • Complete Lab Services • Emergency Service 24/7 • Grooming • Boarding • Rehoming service for a 2nd chance • House calls • Rabies Serology (RATT) • Microchip • Professional Pet Relocation • Royal Canin Pet Food Saturday – Thursday, 8 am – 8 pm Tel 44367187 • Emergency 55841224 www.dohavets.com • dohavets

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Family Matters

People

RO U LA H A D AD A N U R SERY DIRECTOR

by Rachel Henriquez and Nathalie Hodgson

In 1976, there was no Hamad or Doha International Airport. In fact, the iconic Sheraton hotel hadn’t even been built, the Corniche was still a fish and vegetable market, the tallest building in Doha was Jamco Tower and Roula Hadad was a young girl whose family had just moved to Doha after living in Dubai for four years.

“I remember very clearly when we first moved out here,” Roula said. “We had a brown Daihatsu that was very stylish for my mom to drive. It was in the 70s so it

Doha Family Guide

was really cool to have a brown car. Every Friday we would go to the Inland Sea. There were places where we could go and park right by the sea and there would be nobody there. Nobody. There was nothing. Not Sealine. Absolutely nothing. But they were great days.”

Throughout her 39 years in Qatar, Roula has seen a lot of change. When she first began as an architect in Doha, it was unusual to see women on a construction site.

Furthermore, families with two working parents had to contend with the fact that of the few nurseries available in Doha, all of them closed at 1 p.m. This left parents like Roula and her husband, who worked until 5 p.m., struggling to find qualified and trustworthy childcare for these after hours.

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Family Matters “ I thought, what better way to tackle the situation than to open a nursery that caters to mothers like myself and that remains open for longer hours,” she explained.

So in September 2006, she created Little Academy Nursery. At the time, there were a lot of female bank employees who finished work at 2:30 p.m., Roula explained. Little Academy’s day ended at 3:30 p.m., which left these mums enough time to finish work and make it to the nursery in time for pick up. These days Little Academy stays open until 5 p.m., making it one of the only nurseries in Doha that holds hours in conjunction with a standard 9-5 working day.

This family run business consists of three sisters-in-law who share a passion and drive to provide the most extensive and well-rounded childhood education

possible. “The children at our nurseries are treated like our own. We provide the best for them no matter what it takes; it is our philosophy,” Roula said.

She recalled the first day they opened, “We thought we were going to have 16 kids. The first day we opened, we had about 40 kids, 40 crying kids. It was really overwhelming.

My partners and I were carrying around two kids each because we were worried about them.

It was very interesting to say the least. That first week I had to take off work and just spend it at the nursery to make sure everything was running smoothly.”

The Madinat Khalifa branch, which was designed by Roula and built from the ground up, is flooded with soft natural

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People lighting. The bathrooms in the classrooms have child-sized, half doors so kids can practice their independence, but still have quick access to teachers and assistance if they need it. Each classroom has access to the outdoors, which creates a natural flow of energy from room to room to outside and even to the separate buildings in the back of the nursery that house the dance studio, the kitchen, the gym room and the pretend play area.

Just as all parents want the best for their kids, you can see that Roula, now a mother of three, a ten-year-old girl and six- and four-year-old boys, has this same passion towards the nursery and the children. She is adamant about safety and quality at Little Academy.

Doha Family Guide

Aside from the standard security guard, CCTVs and regular fire drills, all the nursery furniture and toys are handmade, shipped from the U.S. and meet international quality and environmental certifications.

Roula credits the government of Qatar with the country’s growth. “It’s lovely that the country is paying a lot of attention to the education sector. They’re investing a lot and it’s fabulous. They’re really developing the next generation of Qataris, non-Qataris and expats.

Now we have so many options.”

No doubt it is the government that is pushing the rapid growth and development of Qatar, but it doesn’t take an expert to see that women like Roula, who push their own boundaries to solve problems for themselves and other working families, are another reason this country is flourishing.

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Family Matters

People

Her parents had only intended to stay in Doha for two years but thirty-nine years later they are all still in Qatar. “I’ll be here forever. My husband is Qatari; my kids are Qatari. This is home. Even before I got married, it was always home.”



What is your favourite memory as a professional childcare provider?

Three years ago, the children got invited to Qatar TV to do their National Day dance. They had no problem being there in front of all of these strangers, in front of all the cameras and they were only three years old.

They were tiny. Seeing them in the TV station, among all of these adults; they were so confident and independent and they knew what they were doing. It made me very proud to see that we had helped these kids become confident individuals.

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What is the most important thing your kids have ever taught you?

Slow down, that’s what they taught me. Slow down, take it easy and chill. When you are a working mom, everything is so programmed and planned. We can’t waste five more minutes to eat or chew, but sometimes I just need to slow down and let go. As adults, we can programme ourselves to work based on the schedule but kids, sometimes they need time. Give them the exposure that you wish to give them but sometimes stop and just enjoy them and not be so eager.



What is the best parenting advice you’ve ever received?

Let them be happy. Let them choose. Don’t push them into anything but expose them to a lot, so they’re very cultured. Living in Qatar you get to meet a lot of

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Family Matters different people of different nationalities. When you look around, people are from all over the place—it’s just an international hub. We travel a lot and so our kids need to be very understanding and respectful of different cultures and religions.

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What’s your favourite children’s book?

How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight?

By Jane Yolen and Mark Teague This is a funny and interesting read, which became part of my children’s bedtime routine. Throughout the book, it demonstrates amusing ways children try to avoid going to bed. Each page shows a different struggle that mums and dads all over the world face every night. It became a personal favourite as it is a fascinating twist on teaching appropriate bedtime behaviours to children from a young age. My favourite part is when it’s time to turn off the light; the little dinosaur gives his mummy a kiss and whispers, “goodnight.”

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A Doha Mum asks: My three year old has difficulty sharing. What’s the best way to encourage him to share with his younger sibling?

Parents need to set a good example for their children, so patience and communication during any sort of issue (including sharing) is crucial. Always explain the situation to your child and teach him or her the value of open and verbal communication. Do not force habits upon your child as this will lead to increased stress and tension. Instead, try to explain or physically show the benefit of the habit you are trying to enforce.

For example, learning to play a simple game that involves two people communicating the positive benefits of sharing and learning. Another example is sharing a snack. It is important to start small..

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