Issue #38 Doha Family Magazine Autumn 2021

THE PREMIER MAGAZINE FOR FAMILIES IN QATAR

Neurodiversity and Mental Health in Lockdown

The Impact of Blended Learning 18 Months On Sleep Health for Families

WELLNESS FOR KIDS Health Conditions, Sleep, Learning Challenges, and More

AUTUMN 2021 Autumn 2021 | Issue 19

| ISSUE 19 | BROUGHT TO YOU BY DOHA FAMILY | DOHAFAMILY.COM

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Autumn 2021 | Issue 19

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Contents

Autumn 2021 • DohaFamily.com

HEALTH AND WELLNESS 24 Childhood Illnesses: A Rundown Get the lowdown on what to expect, what can be slept off, and what needs a doctor’s visit

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29 Sleep Health for Families Everything you need to know about dosing off for all ages 43 The Effects of Covid-19 on Qatar's Neurodiverse Families Three neurodiverse families share their pandemic experiences

FAMILY MATTERS 20 How to Support Your Reluctant Writer Tried and tested tips to get your little one putting pencil to paper 38 Teen Says: “Covid Was a Blessing in Disguise” A local teen’s experience with Covid and what it’s taught her 40 Doha Dad Talks: Covid Life Lessons for Kids and Families A dad’s reflects on lockdown, staying positive, and more

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35 50

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Autumn 2021 | Issue 19

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LIVING IN DOHA 50 Coastal and Marine Environment Series Qatar’s Natural Wonders: Coral Reefs

EDUCATION 16 The Impact of Blended Learning 18 Months On Local parents dish on the good, bad, and ugly 34 Let’s Change the Narrative on the So-called “Covid Generation” A school principal’s unique take on the pandemic’s effects on students

IN EVERY ISSUE

Main contributors KIM WYATT is the Doha Family Magazine Food Contributor.

A mum, photographer, writer, stylist, and cook, she is passionate about healthy and delicious food for the whole family. She also writes about and advocates for other causes, like mental health and the environment.

Follow her on Instagram at kimwyattofficial.

LAURA POWELL-CORBETT is a banker turned writer from England. Besides writing, she loves discovering Doha, meeting new friends, and travelling the world with her three young children in tow.

8 Quick Directory 9 Editor’s Letter 10 News Bites 12 What’s On 13 Ask the Expert 14 Things We Love 15 Book Bites 55 Marketplace

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EMMA MORRELL is a British mum who has lived outside of the UK for over a third of her life. She’s a family travel blogger and expat who is passionate about helping families to travel more adventurously and empowering expat women and families.

Quick Directory

Business Services Future Gate

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Trading & Comercial Alfardan Comercial Cashmere Trading

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Children’s Activities The Gymnastics Academy

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Catering & Party Services Najla Nabil Photography

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Medical, Wellbeing, Spa ActiPatch

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Nurseries & Kindergartens Carousel Nursery Food & Beverages Yasmine Palace

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Pets Paws Rescue Qatar

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Retail Virgin Megastore

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Schools ACS International School Doha Hamilton International School American School of Doha Swiss International School of Qatar Compass International School

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Sports & Active Lifestyle Evolution Sports Qatar

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Magazine Doha Family

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Products DDS Ahlan

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Editor’s Letter

L

ast Autumn's issue was all about mental health because it became clear that it was a pressing issue early into the pandemic. But as the year rolled on, something else crystallised: children have borne the brunt of this crisis in ways the rest of us didn't.

Besides the quick and drastic change in routine, children— particularly those under 12— had faced some of the strictest pandemic restrictions. And with no vaccine available yet for the under-12s, "back to normal" might just have to wait a while longer, especially for them.

So, this issue is dedicated to children and their wellbeing—mental, physical, and educational.

On page 16, you will gain unfiltered insight into the surprisingly varied ways blended learning has impacted families so far. And if your young child's writing skills took a hit as a result, then you won't want to miss out on the tips on page 20. Seeing as we're in the first school term, you might still be overwhelmed by all the bugs your kids are picking up again. So, check out our rundown (get it?) on childhood illnesses, from the ones you can typically expect to those that need urgent care (page 24).

Sleep is integral to our health,

Autumn 2021 | Issue 19

and many of us don't get enough, so on page 24, you will learn about the hows and whys of good sleep for all age groups. We also can’t meaningfully talk about children's well-being in the pandemic or otherwise without mentioning the neurodiverse community. So, please head over to page 43 for a longoverdue piece. Plus, the Coastal and Marine Environment Series is back (page 50), and this time, it's all about Qatar's coral reefs!

You can also read about a Doha Teen's Covid experience on page 38, and so much more!

I love hearing your comments and suggestions, so please keep them coming. We're also on the lookout for writers! Get in touch at editor@dohafamily.com.

Tesneem

Editor Doha Family Magazine

Issue 19 – Autumn 2021 DohaFamily.com Founder

Roxanne Davis

Publisher / Managing Director Anas Outa Bashi

Editor

Tesneem Ayoub

Sales & Marketing Nina Hall

Sales Representative Elena Khomenko

Graphic Design:

Naser Nashashibi ( Naserarts ) For advertising or distribution inquiries, please contact Nina Hall at ads@dohafamily.com.

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

Doha Family Magazine is a free magazine published four times a year by Doha Family. It is distributed to over 200 locations throughout Qatar with a circulation of over 20,000 copies. Visit https:// dohafamily.com/distributionlocation/ to find the nearest copy.

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 2021 by Doha Family. Doha Family Magazine is printed by Ali Bin Ali Printing Press.

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THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND HIGHER EDUCATION's (MOEHE) information technology department director, Tariq Al Emadi, announced that smart buses had been rolled out for school children this academic year. Parents with children on those buses can download a movement app to track journeys and receive alerts when the bus drops their child at school or back home. The buses are also equipped with side sensors and cameras for increased safety and security. edu.gov.qa

HAMAD MEDICAL CORPORATION (HMC) is set to launch three new mobile blood donation units. The units have been set up to increase the availability of donor blood in the country in preparation for international events like FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. To find out more about becoming a blood donor, visit the Qatar Blood Donor Center section of the HMC website. hamad.qa

OOKLA'S SPEEDTEST INTELLIGENCE REPORT on cities with the fastest 5G download speeds put Doha in fourth place for the first two quarters of 2021. The report listed Doha's median download speed over 5G as 413.40 Mbps. The city with the fastest speed was Oslo, Norway, which had NEWS BITES a median download speed of 526.74 Mbps over 5G. ookla.com/ speedtest-intelligence 10

DOHA FESTIVAL CITY has launched a rewards programme for customers called Festival Rewards Qatar. Customers can now download the Festival Rewards Qatar App from the Apple Store or Google Play for free and register to gain access to various deals from different types of retailers. These include up to 50% discounts on select products; buy one, get one free offers; and even deals for free services and items. dohafestivalcity.com

WHAT'S ON THIS AUTUMN

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SHOP

PLAN

LEARN

ESCAPE

The biggest shopping festival of the year, Shop Qatar 2021 will run between 10 September 2021 and 10 October 2021. With seven shopping malls taking part, you can look forward to an array of sales and promotions, family-friendly activities and entertainment, makeup and fashion events and workshops, prizes, and more. shopqatar.qa

RightTrack Consulting is running a free webinar called UNITRACK - 3 Steps to Planning Your Child’s Future for year eight to year 12 students and their parents. Topics discussed in the sessions include university courses, test preparation, and career guidance. The sessions run every Friday from 4 pm to 5 pm until 31 December 2021. For more information call 7775-2780. righttrackqatar.com

The Qatar National Library (QNL) is running an online exhibition on one of Islam’s most sacred sites, the Kaaba, titled The Holy Kaaba Exhibition. It features 50 carefully curated pieces, including books, manuscripts, and artworks that provide insight into the Kaaba’s history, religious significance, and architecture. You can access the exhibit on the QNL website until 8 pm, 31 December 2021. exhibits.qnl.qa/en/

If you’re looking to break away from the humdrum of your life for a couple of hours to be somewhere a bit more glamorous, then the Luxury Friends’ Getaway package offered by 365 Adventures might just be what you need. Grab a few of your favourite peeps and cruise through the Qatar coastline together, starting from the Lusail Marina, on a luxurious yacht. Enjoy spectacular views together in privacy with breakfast or snacks provided as add-ons. Call 3339-3323 or email info@ adventures365.me to learn more.

365adventures.me luxury-friends-getaway/

Can "tough love" be too tough for kids?

Not necessarily. Tough love is frequently mistaken for authoritarian parenting. Authoritarian parents take a "my way" attitude because they care more about getting their children to obey them than teaching them life lessons. Tough love parenting is distinct in that it may be both warm and compassionate.

Setting clear boundaries and restrictions is an important part of tough love parenting. Consequences are used to impart life lessons to teenagers.

Tough love may be used by parents to assist their children to become more accountable for their actions. Tough love is about making children feel the repercussions of their acts rather than rescuing them, giving them more opportunities, or shielding them from the consequences of their actions.

It might entail imposing restrictions and enforcing consequences that teach life lessons, or it could entail allowing children to experience the natural consequences of their actions.

When an adolescent breaches the rules, the tough love technique requires parents to love their child enough to constantly establish strong limits and follow through with appropriate punishments.

Another key component of tough love is that teenagers must take responsibility for their actions. This helps guarantee that a youngster is accountable for the decisions he or she makes. The following teen parenting techniques are considered to be tough love: • setting and enforcing realistic expectations, limitations, and boundaries on a regular basis • striking a balance between directing and allowing too much independence to your youngster • allowing yourself to let go of the need to overly control your child • allowing them to make their own decisions and live with the consequences • letting your teen see your love while also being firm when discipline is needed • respecting your kid as a unique person going through significant changes as he or she matures into an adult Best regards, Dr Mohamed Al Breiki, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellow Sidra Medicine

Have a question for the experts?

Send it to editor@dohafamily.com

Autumn 2021 | Issue 19

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Things

We Love

Snoonu

Snoonu has all the nuts and bolts of a standard delivery app with a wide selection of restaurants, supermarkets, pharmacies, electronic shops, and more. But unlike many of its competitors, you can reserve products for takeaway. It is also NAPS enabled, which means that you can choose to pay for your purchases with a locally-issued debit card. But above all, Snoonu has taken steps to protect its delivery drivers from the heat during the hottest weeks of the year by only sending them out in cars between 10 am and 5 pm, and that tops any in-app feature.

Available on Android and Apple

Twinkl

This education publisher hosts hundreds of thousands of teaching resources for parents and teachers on its website. Resources can be filtered by curriculum (which are tailored to your location) and level. Every week, account holders receive a newsletter with a round-up of the latest resources based on current events, one of which is free. You can also access more free resources for any topic by typing in the topic with the word “free”. At the time of writing, paid memberships start at QR 21.47/month and will give you access to a book club, apps, virtual and in-person events, special needs resources, and more.

Available at twinkl.com

LSW Mind Cards: Kids’ Edition These cards are a fun and creative way to help children understand how they feel and introduce them to concepts like positive affirmations, mindfulness, and gratitude. There are 30 cards per pack divided into five categories: Mindfulness, Today I Am, Gratitude, Kindness, Repeat After Me. The idea is for you or your child to randomly choose a different card every day and to follow the prompt written on it. At the time of writing, the cards cost USD 21.03 with delivery (around QAR 84). Available on Etsy 14

Book Bites

By William Powell-Corbett, Year 4, Doha English Speaking School Title: Code Name Bananas Genre: Fiction Author: David Walliams I really like David Walliams because his books are funny and adventurous.

Code Name Bananas is set in 1940, and it’s about a boy called Eric who is very poor and his favourite place to go after school is the zoo. His favourite animal is a gorilla called Gertrude. In this book, he and his great uncle Sid go on adventures as they try to save Sir Winston Churchill with Gertrude’s help. They need to stop an evil captain who wants to destroy the Prime Minister and the government.

This is my favourite book so far because I like books based on historical events.

Autumn 2021 | Issue 19

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EDUCATION

The Impact of Blended Learning 18 Months On

By Laura Powell-Corbett

T

he effects of the pandemic on education have been far-reaching for all ages.

With education being interrupted globally—affecting nearly 1.6 billion learners in more than 200 countries—it is still unknown what effect the last 18 months has had on children's learning.

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*Names have been changed to protect confidentiality.

In Qatar, schools shut their doors on 10 March 2020, reopening on a blended learning basis the following September for the 2020/2021 school year. What followed months later was another lockdown, quarantines, and another round of blended learning.

This uncertainty around whether children will or won't be in school and the lack of consistency has affected children to various degrees. Add to that the changing goalposts as the country battled to get the pandemic under control, and it's easy to see that the world they knew was snatched from underneath their feet.

EDUCATION On the one hand, younger children have had to adapt to ad-hoc school openings and limited time in the classroom to hone new skills that had to be left to home learning. And older children have had to deal with cancelled exams and delayed university admissions. On the other hand, these changes have meant more time together for some families and less stressful mornings. Evidently, blended learning has brought out a tapestry of experiences.

Take our teachers. They pulled out all the stops thinking up creative and innovative ways to motivate and inspire children online and at school. Their hard work and dedication have been a credit to them all. They faced each hurdle while thinking of the children despite teaching in new and not ideal ways. Sophie*, a local international school teacher, says that this has been the most difficult 18 months of her long-spanning teaching career. But despite that, she says that her students have seemed to be happy and thriving.

As the saying goes, "we are not all in the same boat, but we are all in the same storm". That has certainly been the case for the families in the thick of this. Laura, a mother to three children under nine, says that blended learning has been a negative experience for her family.

Compounded by the fact she had just moved to Qatar during this time, she has found that her children have struggled socially in ways she couldn't imagine. Strictly moderated break times had stunted spontaneous game playing.

And social distancing in class has made it harder for her children to interact with others.

Additionally, collaborative exercises and group work have had to stop so that children can maintain their distance. She says: "My children are stressed and anxious in a way they weren't before. They cannot see the end Autumn 2021 | Issue 19

of the restrictions because every time there appears to be a chink of light, it is taken away, and they are plunged back into restrictions.

They never know when their friends will be taken away, or when they will be locked back into the house for an indeterminate period of time."

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EDUCATION Mary*, a mother to two young boys, agrees. She also says that she found herself shouting more and feeling unnecessary stress, which impacted her relationship with her children. Those tough days took a lot out of them all as a family, and she believes that she is still recovering from them.

Pandemic online schooling cannot replicate traditional school nor homeschool—it is very much "crisis schooling". Add in working parents and, as Ann discovered, the guilt is magnified.

She could not take time off during the pandemic to help her children through their new schooling experience. This guilt, compounded by the pressure of trying to maintain and meet the demands of her full-time job, was troubling for her mental health.

Josie*, a mother to two schoolchildren and a toddler, found that trying to balance keeping her toddler entertained while attempting to help her young children with their online assignments had spread her thin. "I felt that no one was getting the best of me and the time with my

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children became stressful and unenjoyable—for all of us," she says. She wasn't alone in this as Emma, a mum with a school-aged child and a toddler, had a similar experience.

Emma also worked from home, so the stress levels in her household were at another level.

While many parents of young children struggled to navigate the new school system with their children, those with older children faced different challenges. Naaz*, a mum to two teenage daughters, said that her children were mostly motivated to do their school work.

Instead, her worries centred around their lack of social interaction with other teenagers. She felt that she saw them start to blatantly avoid connecting with friends through Zoom and other technological methods. This lack of social interaction and the inability to go out and grow independently when it came to older children was a concern echoed by many parents. But as restrictions started easing and the vaccine became available for over-12s, Naaz says her children are blossoming again.

EDUCATION Still, it was not all doom and gloom. Yasmeen, a mother to one, reflects positively on the experience. She found that it highlighted to her that traditional schooling wasn't working for her son. She found that her son was much more engaged with tasks that the school did not set. As a result, she now feels that the education system should take into account the changing digital world and spend less time on traditional subjects and more on cultivating children's talents and creativity. It has led to her considering taking her child out of formal education and embracing home education— something many other families are also now considering.

the pandemic. The varying responses to blended learning do not reflect the effort they have put in—teachers in Qatar have a lot to be proud of regardless.

As vaccination rates continue to climb, that glimmer of light indicating a return to a more vibrant, pandemic-free school life for children seems to shine brighter. But until then, all that parents, teachers, and educators can do is to continue with their best efforts to help children through this storm that everyone has been facing.DF

This is particularly true for Steph, a mother to three, who toyed with the idea of home education before this experience. Her children's response to being educated by her and the freedom she found in following their interests led her to finally take the leap to fulltime home education.

Sarah*, a mum whose daughter was in FS2, also found it to be a positive experience.

She enjoyed the fewer early starts and the less time spent preparing lunch and snacks and commuting to school. She says that she connected with her daughter more and enjoyed teaching her to the best of her ability.

Rebecca*, a parent to three, says that blended learning made her children more excited about their in-school days. They had a higher appreciation for being within the school environment and being with their friends.

Because of this, she feels that her children benefited more on in-school days and were more engaged with school than ever before.

It's safe to say that blended learning brought out a rollercoaster of experiences that were as diverse as the families involved.

But one constant thing has been the hard work and dedication of teachers throughout Autumn 2021 | Issue 19

MARYAM MALMSTROM Class Valedictorian, 2021

Book a tour and learn more about our truly international and multilingual learning community.

4036.3131

admissions@sisq.qa

www.sisq.qa

Al Luqta, Doha, Qatar

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FAMILY MATTERS

How to Support Your Reluctant Writer

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he pandemic has disrupted the last two academic years with on-and-off school closures and the transition to online learning.

Reports by educational organisations have also indicated that primary school children have been especially affected by these changes. Limited classroom times, coupled with the need for teachers to move on with the curriculum in other areas, have left many children struggling to meet learning milestones, including reading and writing skills.

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By Laura Powell-Corbett

In fact, the Juniper Education National Dataset Report, published in February 2021, reveals that children from all year groups struggled with meeting age-related goals and that the youngest children have been worst affected.

Frazer Westmorland, the headteacher of Mundella Primary School in Kent, the United Kingdom, agrees with the report's findings. He says: "Younger pupils have certainly been the most affected from their time away from the classroom. A lot of skills, such as 'how do I learn, listen, and collaborate', are developed at school. They provide the building blocks which allow for progress in learning."

Mr Westmorland adds that many of these children have likely not had enough opportunities to hone those skills at home. Because of this, he believes that schools will have to "go back to basics" and help them with those skills before they can progress with their learning.

FAMILY MATTERS But it's not all doom and gloom—there are ways to support your child in the areas where they struggle with fun games outside the classroom.

Sue Cowley, an experienced teacher, trainer, and best-selling author, shares on her website that children need to build a solid foundation to be able to write. More than simply tracing over letters repetitively, she says that children need to work on gross motor skills, fine motor skills, dexterity, bilateral integration, and posture. But what exactly are those skills, and how can you help your child develop them?

Gross Motor Skills and Posture Gross motor skills allow us to do tasks that involve large muscles in our torsos, legs, and arms. They involve whole-body movements and are often forgotten when working on handwriting skills, even though they are essential.

Before your child can even hold a pencil, they need to be able to sit up and move their arm independently of their body. They need to be able to isolate and move their fingers independently.

They also need good postural control of the neck, torso, and shoulders to allow for stability so that their fingers and hands can move to write.

How You Can Help!

The key, with most children, is to ensure that you make the activities fun! No one wants to do extra chores when they could be playing, so here are some great activities to engage your children, plus the reasons why they can help:

• Hanging and climbing activities that engage the shoulder muscles—such as crossing the monkey bars and climbing trees—can help increase shoulder strength.

• Activities where they need to push or pull— like pulling a wagon, tug o' war, or pushing someone on a swing—will strengthen your child's shoulder muscles and help them learn how to co-activate. Co-activating your muscles is important because it is the process where sets of muscles contract simultaneously.

Weight-bearing activities such as crawling or wheelbarrow walking are also great for this.

• Activities like yoga, pilates, and gymnastics can promote postural strength, core strength, and balance.

Gross motor activities don't always have to be physically rigorous or even involve the whole body. These are also good options:

• Large art projects with paper hanging from a wall or easel allow children to express themselves while also reaching up, across, left and right.

• Skywriting—where you use your whole arm to form letters and words in the air—helps children get used to the idea of writing and engaging vital muscles.

Autumn 2021 | Issue 19

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FAMILY MATTERS

Fine Motor Skills and Dexterity Fine motor skills refers to the group of skills involved in manipulating smaller objects with the hands and fingers, for example, grasping, holding, and pinching. Therefore, handwriting is mostly a skill that requires excellent fine motor responses. On the other hand, dexterity is the ability to use the hands skillfully in doing something, for example, writing.

In the formative school years, many of these skills are practised—cutting, sticking, building blocks, threading, and Play-Doh. Unfortunately, many children have missed out on months of developing these skills since the pandemic, which led them to fall behind or become reluctant writers.

How You Can Help!

Practising these skills at home doesn't have to feel school-like. There are many examples where you can keep your child engaged while helping to strengthen their fine motor skills without even picking up a pencil!

• LEGO: making intricate LEGO sets and clipping together the tiny pieces helps towards improving the dexterity of little fingers.

• Threading: whether you choose to thread Cheerios onto pipe cleaners to make your very own hungry caterpillar or to take a pipe cleaner and pretend it is a snake being pushed through holes in a colander, you are helping your child improve their hand-eye coordination and concentration skills.

• Dough Disco: with many tutorials and sessions on YouTube, having a dough disco is a great way to jump around and get those 22

fingers working together—rolling, squishing, flexing, and squashing the Play-Doh to music.

• Origami: this is a great way to practise intricate folding and manipulation of paper.

• Typing:

if your child dislikes the physical act of writing, you could introduce a keyboard and have their fingers flying over the keys.

• Painting:

using paintbrushes and paint (or even water painting to save the mess!) stimulates similar muscles to when they're writing.

• Colouring: of course, colouring allows children to hold colouring pencils in their hands. Sometimes, children will dislike the process of writing but will enjoy the art of colouring.

• Knitting and sewing.

• String games like Cat's Cradle.

FAMILY MATTERS

Bilateral Integration Bilateral integration is the ability to coordinate both sides of the body together in a controlled manner. An example of this is writing with one hand and supporting the paper with the other.

Integrated Learning Strategies, a USbased special needs school and learning centre, shared on its blog that academic skills rely on good bilateral integration.

According to that post, without bilateral integration, children will struggle with reading and writing. It also reads: "Any type of colouring, writing or drawing will be affected as well if bilateral integration is poorly developed. If the hand is not naturally able to cross the midline easily then the brain pauses to think out the movement instead of it being instinctual."

How You Can Help!

Again, practising these skills at home doesn't have to be countless pages of writing and tracing letters.

It can be a simple as the following activities:

• blowing bubbles and popping them with both hands

• playing catch and throw games, engaging both hands to work together

• tearing and crumpling paper/tissue paper for use in craft activities

• icing cookies and cupcakes—holding the cupcake steady with one hand and icing it with the other

• swimming Autumn 2021 | Issue 19

Going Forward The challenges of the last two or so academic years have made it harder for teachers to pinpoint where students could be struggling. Plus, the time during schooling hours to offer that extra support has been scarce, and many children have felt reluctant to do more school work during "home" hours to catch up. Although these exercises won't solve those problems, they can help ease your child's relationship with writing and make learning less challenging. And while they may not transform your child from a reluctant writer to a novelist, they could help them gain and improve some of the skills they will need to put pen to paper.

Of course, if you think your child needs more support than these tips can offer, please reach out to their teachers or other education professionals for more help. DF 23

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Childhood Illnesses: A Rundown

K

ids. They’re walking germ factories, or at least that’s how it can seem! But how do you know what’s normal and what’s serious? What do you hunker down with, and what do you go to the doctor for? When should you let things run their course, and when should you head straight to the hospital? After remote

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By Emma Morrell

learning for so long, our children’s bodies have missed being exposed to normal, everyday viruses.

With a return to in-person schooling, that has all changed.

So here’s the lowdown on what’s common and what’s not, what’s serious, and what’s just another day in the life of a parent.

Common Conditions It’s normal for children to become unwell from time to time. Developing their immune systems includes catching a variety of bugs and viruses as they become exposed to them. “It is common to have six to eight colds per year and coughs can unfortunately last a couple of weeks,” says Julie Oh, MD, a paediatrician at the International Medical Centre. “Part of the art of medicine is to determine if it is a bacterial or viral illness and the best type of medicine needed to help the body get better.”

Common illnesses include coughs, congestion, colds, sore throats, headaches, urinary tract infections, bronchiolitis, allergic rhinitis, eczema, conjunctivitis, constipation, and stomach bugs. Occasionally, they will turn out to be more serious illnesses such as ear infections, tonsillitis, croup, strep throat, influenza, pneumonia, and meningitis.

But most of the time, these are easily treated at home with lots of rest, fluids, and paracetamol or ibuprofen to bring down fevers and relieve discomfort. “During acute illnesses, it is very important to make sure the child is still acting like themselves, breathing easily, and staying hydrated,” says Dr Oh. Sometimes, they might require a trip to the doctor for further evaluation and medications.

Autumn 2021 | Issue 19

Some less common but contagious diseases to look out for include slapped cheek disease; impetigo; hand, foot, and mouth disease; whooping cough (pertussis); roseola; and glandular fever (also known as mononucleosis or mono). Children may also require treatment for hay fever (allergies), headlice, threadworms (pinworms), and heatstroke.

Illnesses Needing Medical Attention Just as kids are very likely to pick up all kinds of illnesses that they just need to rest and recover from, there will be several times in a child’s life when you will need to take them to the doctor.

In some circumstances, you may need to go to a hospital or an urgent care clinic.

Sometimes, this will be because the illness requires immediate and urgent attention with fast test results. Other times, it will be because children can become rapidly unwell at any time of the day or night and on any day of the week.

While not serious, treatment may not be able to wait for your doctor’s office to open on the next working day.

These sorts of illnesses can range from minor ones to those requiring urgent treatment or even surgery. They can include croup, febrile seizures, glue ear requiring grommets or ear tubes, tonsillitis, abscesses, appendicitis, hernias, gallstones, and kidney stones.

You may also find yourself going to the doctor for various physical problems such as objects stuck in ears or noses, cuts, sprains, broken bones, and burns.

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HEALTH & WELLNESS

Vaccine-preventable Illnesses There are a variety of diseases for which modern medicine has developed vaccines (or immunisations). Indeed, some of these illnesses once injured or killed thousands of children.

Now, many have been completely wiped out, while others are getting closer to that point.

Not only do immunisations protect our children (and us) from these serious diseases, they also help to prevent their spread to other people through herd immunity. This is important, especially for people who, for some reason, are unable to get vaccinated. Sometimes governments or schools may require children to have had these vaccinations. Other times they will be optional, and you can choose to vaccinate against them (perhaps at your own cost).

Illnesses that can be vaccinated against include chickenpox (also known as varicella); whooping cough; measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR); rotavirus; tetanus; influenza; hepatitis A and B; polio; diphtheria; and meningitis (meningitis B, meningococcal ACWY).

“Immunisations and well child checks are a great way for the family and the doctor to get to know each other so when there is an emergency or an acute illness, the doctor will already know most of the medical history,” says Dr Oh.

Chronic Illnesses As hard as it is to think about, there are times when there are problems with children that require serious intervention from medical specialists.

While acute illnesses tend to come on quickly, chronic conditions last for much longer—usually more than a year. They include conditions like asthma, diabetes, congenital heart disease, arthritis, cystic fibrosis, spina bifida, hearing or visual impairments, cerebral palsy, autism, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and depression. Childhood cancers, while rare, are also something to look out for.

When to See the Doctor Dr Ghada Nasrat, a former paediatric endocrinologist at Feto Maternal Medical Centre says you should take your child to a doctor whenever you are worried.

“Reassurance, at many times, is all we do, and as a parent, I understand how valuable that is,” she says.

While it’s difficult provide an exhaustive list of symptoms to cover all situations, some warning signs include: For Acute Conditions (Symptoms May Develop Quickly) • stopping breathing or having serious difficulties breathing such as rapid breathing or panting, a throaty noise while breathing, struggling to catch a breath, and/or sucking in the stomach under the ribs • floppy and unresponsive/won’t wake up/ disoriented or confused/quiet and listless, even with only a low-grade fever • a fit (convulsion) that isn’t stopping, such as a febrile seizure • a spotty, purple-red rash that doesn’t

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fade when a glass is rolled over it • severe bleeding that won’t stop • a very low or high temperature—particularly if it does not come down with paracetamol or ibuprofen—or any temperature in a baby younger than 12 weeks old • blue, pale, blotchy, or ashen (grey) skin • crying constantly, and you cannot console or distract them, or the cry does not sound like their normal cry • green vomit • bloody stools • signs of dehydration (like dry nappies)

For Chronic Conditions (Symptoms May Occur Over a Longer Time) • unusual lump or swelling • unexplained paleness and loss of energy • easy bruising or bleeding • ongoing pain in one area of the body • limping • unexplained fever or illness that doesn’t go away • frequent headaches, often with vomiting • sudden eye or vision changes • sudden unexplained weight loss • any ongoing symptom that doesn’t go away with time

• a severe allergic reaction • becoming unwell after swallowing something harmful—like medicine or a button battery (take the packet with you to show the doctor) • possible serious injury by another person Maybe you are the fortunate parent whose children never get sick. Or maybe you’re the one feeling like you’re constantly keeping your kids off school for one thing or another.

You might find yourself not wanting to bother the doctor for “nothing” or worried about being that neurotic parent. Or you might have felt that awful guilt of letting your child go to bed with a broken bone thinking it was just a sprain, only to find yourself with them at the hospital the next day getting a cast. So, how can you really tell when something is wrong?

For Injuries

“My best advice is to remember that you are the parent. You know this child best, and you are the ones who know what is normal for them and what is not,” advises Sara, an Australian GP and mum of four who lived in Doha. She says that if you think something is wrong, you should take your child to the doctor and get the answers you need.

• severe scalds or burns • any injury to the head • injuries following a fall from a height • injuries that appear to be causing more distress and pain than normal

Remember, any doctor will tell you they would rather talk to a time-waster than not talk to someone who didn’t want to make a fuss and ended up wishing they did. So, trust your instincts, and if you’re ever in doubt, go to the doctor. They’re here to help.

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HEALTH & WELLNESS

Sleep Health for Families

by Emma Morrell

A

ll new parents know the crushing exhaustion that comes with having a baby.

Finding a good rhythm for this tiny person in their lives becomes an all-encompassing task, yet many parents underestimate the importance of sleep on their own short and long-term health. “Ensuring you get sufficient, restorative sleep is one of the most important things you can do for yourself and your family,” says Mary Foster, a certified sleep consultant and founder of Sleepy Lambs Sleep Consulting.

Autumn 2021 | Issue 19

As the child grows, the obsession with sleep can fade, but that doesn’t mean that it is any less important.

“Forming healthy sleep habits as a child will have a positive lifelong impact,” states Anneka Muir, a certified paediatric sleep consultant and creator of The Sleep Société. She and Mary both agree that sleep deserves the same attention given to eating a balanced diet, frequent exercise, and leading a healthy lifestyle.

Not getting enough sleep is linked with many chronic diseases and conditions. These include type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, impaired immune function, and mental health issues. Not only that, but it is critical to how children grow, develop, and even learn. Furthermore, the impact that a bad night’s sleep can have on overall mood is clear—you only have to watch a toddler melting down after they have missed a nap to prove that! Yet many sources claim that children are not getting enough sleep and that the Covid-19 pandemic has disrupted daily routines and further altered sleep habits. This is despite the need for healthy sleep being more important now than ever.

So, how much sleep do children really need, and how can parents make sure they get it?

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HEALTH & WELLNESS

Newborns and Babies The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) suggests that newborns need 14–17 hours of sleep in any 24hour period and that babies up to 12 months need 12–16 hours. For newborns, this is split almost equally between naps (eight or nine) and night-time sleep.

In fact, they are rarely able to stay awake for more than two hours at a time. This ratio will change as they grow until they are getting around 11 hours of sleep at night, plus two naps totalling around three hours.

“Often, parents wait for their baby or older child to exhibit sleepy cues before offering a nap or initiating bedtime,” says Anneka. “It is better to follow a set daily schedule and to keep track of a baby’s wake windows.”

Toddlers Toddlers continue to need around 11 hours of sleep overnight, according to the CDC. You can expect them to transition to one 1.5 to two-hour nap per day.

“Sleep challenges in toddlers and young children are often behavioural, as they naturally test limits,” says Mary. She believes there are many fun and easy methods to help improve sleep with this age group, and (surprisingly to many) a lot of that work is done in the daytime.

preschoolers Children usually drop their naps by the age of four or five. Their days become busier and more stimulating as they start school, and their learning environment becomes more challenging. Hence, it is important to help them get enough sleep. They also need to make up for the sleep lost from the nap. Therefore, the CDC recommends that preschoolers still get 11–12 hours of sleep.

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Primary Schoolers & Preteens Kids aged six to 12 years old need between 10–13 hours of sleep per night.

Parents may find it increasingly difficult to balance sleep with everything else that is going on, like the introduction of homework, extra-curricular activities, greater independence, a more active social life, and later bedtimes.

Some school-aged children develop issues such as sleepwalking, sleep terrors, teeth grinding, snoring, and noisy breathing. If such problems persist, consider talking to a professional.

Teenagers Most teenagers need nine to 12 hours of sleep. The tricky thing for teens is that their circadian rhythms naturally push them to fall asleep and wake up later when school start times in most places force them to wake up earlier.

Add to this their many obligations, including schoolwork, part-time jobs, hobbies, social lives, and family commitments, and it is easy to see how they end up allocating insufficient time for sleep. They may also suffer from excess stress and anxiety because of too much pressure from school, parents, and peers, leading to sleep problems.

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Parents Most have heard of the phrase “you can’t pour from an empty cup”, yet parents often neglect themselves and their need for sleep. This is despite adults needing seven or more hours of sleep per night, according to the CDC. Following good sleep habits is as important for parents as it is for kids. It is what is necessary to show up as good, spouses, friends, employees, and…parents.

Tips and Tricks for a Good Night’s Sleep “Remember that sleep is never linear,” advises Anneka. “I always remind my clients that they have never truly ‘arrived’ when it comes to their child’s sleep!” To her, sleep is much like health and fitness— you must stay focused and committed in order to stay on track.

What you do during the day and before bedtime can have a big impact on your sleep. This includes daytime activities, nightly routines, external stressors, what you eat and drink, and medications. But the good news is that you can see big changes by making slight adjustments.

affect later naps and night sleep. It can even result in early wake-ups.

Stay rested It may seem counter-intuitive, but more sleep can lead to more sleep! Anneka and Mary agree that keeping your child up later at night—hoping they will wake later the next morning—can actually have the opposite effect as it promotes a cycle of overtiredness.

“Signs of overtiredness include resisting bedtime, having trouble settling down and falling asleep, and waking up during the night,” advises Anneka. When a child is overtired, their body produces cortisol (a mild form of adrenaline) which makes it harder for them to fall and stay asleep.

Consistency Most doctors and sleep consultants recommend creating a consistent schedule. They suggest going to bed at the same time each night and getting up at the same time each morning.

It is important to remember to do this even on the weekends to avoid what the Mayo Clinic calls a “social jetlag”. This describes the difficulty people face when trying to get up on Monday mornings after the late nights and mornings of the weekend.

Priorities "My best advice to parents is to make sleep a priority, as much as possible,” says Mary. She says when parents start understanding age-appropriate sleep needs and actively honour them, it can make a big difference.

“It's not uncommon to see babies scheduled with many activities and classes that fall when they should be napping,” she observes.

Both she and Anneka say that this can cause them to become overtired, and that can

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HEALTH & WELLNESS

Routine SleepFoundation.org says that children who follow bedtime routines are more likely to go to sleep earlier, take less time falling asleep, sleep longer, and wake up less during the night.

“Implement consistent routines for naps, bedtime, and morning wake ups,” suggests Anneka. “Do the same steps in the same order every single day.” She and Mary believe that following a repetitive set of activities every night will help your child wind down and remind their body that it is almost time to sleep.

Adding things like a bath or shower, teeth brushing, a story, and dim lighting to the bedtime routine can also help. Although this looks different as they get older, the principles stay the same—even for adults!

Bedroom Conditions A quiet, dark, and relaxing bedroom without too many distractions can help your child get a good night’s sleep. With smaller children, spend time during the day in their room playing and having fun, so they associate positive feelings with the area at bedtime.

One of Mary’s favourite tips to help is cot, bed, and room play. “You want your little one to love where they sleep,” she says. “Laughter is key as it releases endorphins, and kids will associate their environment as a happy place to be.”

Other things that can help include using white or pink noise and keeping the bedroom at a comfortable temperature. Sleep Foundation says 65°F (18.3°C) is ideal, although this can vary from person to person.

Blue Light and Daylight Blue light comes from the screens in our lives, and it reduces the amount of melatonin our bodies make.

Melatonin is known as the sleep hormone because it is produced by the brain in response to darkness and helps with inducing sleep and staying asleep. Several reports highlight the negative effects of blue light, yet many people still use electronic devices before bed.

Experts suggest restricting screen time at least two hours before bedtime. For children and adults alike, they recommend removing all electronic devices— including TVs, computers, and smartphones—from the bedroom.

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On the other hand, the opposite of melatonin is serotonin—a "happy" hormone that helps to keep us awake. So, sufficient exposure to daylight helps our bodies produce serotonin and regulate their production of melatonin. Not only is this is a common remedy for jetlag, but it is also an important factor in maintaining a good sleep cycle in general.

Exercise Most people know that daily exercise has far-reaching health benefits, but not everyone knows it can lead to better sleep. Being active during the day and getting physically tired can help kids as well as adults to fall asleep more easily at night.

Food and Drink “Nutrition and sleep go hand-in-hand,” says Mary.

She says that signs of reflux or consistent discomfort are possible evidence of intolerances and allergies.

Children can be intolerant to anything, but milk protein, soy, eggs, wheat, gluten, and citrus are some of the most common ones. What you don’t eat is just as important as what you do eat, and so is when you eat it. Avoid large meals and caffeine before bedtime to maximise your child’s sleep health. With that being said, a snack before bed can stop young children from waking up because they are hungry. It should combine protein and carbohydrates— protein takes longer to digest, and this combination keeps their blood sugar stable.

Get Help While implementing this advice will help most families, as Mary says, “there's no magic wand to improving sleep”! Persistence usually pays off, but if things aren’t improving, don’t suffer in silence.

“Despite what society wants us to believe, it doesn’t have to be this way!” Says Anneka. If you’ve tried everything and are really struggling, find a professional who can help.DF

EDUCATION

Let's Change the Narrative on the So-called

"Covid Generation"

By Sophie Mazaz

Sponsored by the ACS International School Doha

O

ver the past weeks and months, the headlines have been full of notions of the “Covid-19 learning gap”, scrutinising the current generation of school children who are now “behind” on their education due to the pandemic. But while the adults scramble and panic about the “Covid Generation” and the uncertainty of their ability to secure future careers, how is this making our young people feel?

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Now that some form of normality is resuming and schools are largely back in action, it’s time for us all to take a step back, take a deep breath, and try to gain a little perspective on the impact of the past year. While, yes, learning time has been reduced for many students and exams have been cancelled, we need to change the narrative and think less about what’s been lost and what catch up is needed, and more about what has been gained. As adults, we need to take the lead to think more positively about this crisis—for the benefit of our children and their confidence, their wellbeing, and their development going forward. If we only focus on the pain and the anxiety felt and the time spent unable to learn, this is what young people will remember and how they will frame themselves moving forward, which, firstly, is not conducive to good development, and secondly, is just plain untrue!

EDUCATION Over the past year, all children—regardless of social status, gender, ethnicity—have had the opportunity to gain a number of real-world, real-life skills that will be completely unique to them in their lives in the most positive way. The resilience shown by young people is phenomenal. Children have had to keep going with their learning and have coped tremendously well with these circumstances. They have had to deal with being isolated and without their peers. They have had to manage their own anxieties around the pandemic, while also seeing the anxiety of their parents or their family rising.

We need to see children and what they have achieved as remarkable. They have shown incredible flexibility and creativity with their learning—they have tried new things and have had to continuously think outside the box to keep themselves entertained and to continue learning.

As well as mastering the difficult art of learning online and independently, we’ve heard about students learning to cook, to juggle, and even helping their parents with the cleaning! Some students have taken on new skills like coding or spent time devouring countless books. Others have started DIY projects or even built sheds. But above all, they have learnt that when faced with a problem, there is always a way around it.

School campuses closing for most pupils was a huge shock for everyone, but as a result, young people have experienced problem-solving in real life, and these are skills they would not have developed if it were a normal year. When you’re a teenager, it often feels like every problem is the end of the world, but these students have learnt early on that everything is “figure-out-able” and that we can always find a solution. They now know that every gap—even a Covid gap—is bridgeable.

So when we talk about the lost curriculum, nothing is unretrievable and teachers will continue to work hard to make sure that students continue to have strong academic knowledge and skills for the future. We just need to trust that children will learn from the experience and that they will take what they have learnt forward.

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EDUCATION

When we think about the more applied practical skills students have developed over the past year, it is evident that so many of them have advanced years—even decades—with their communication skills. They have had to communicate differently and think a little more strategically about how they are going to express what they need to. If a child was (understandably) shy in front of a camera but needed to ask their teacher a question, they had to figure out alternative ways to reach out for help. For an 11 or 12-year-old, writing an email is potentially something they have never done before, but they had to do it to put that important question forward to an adult.

As we move forward, let’s not make our children think that they haven’t learnt and therefore they have failed. That is the thing with mindset, if children think that what they have done is not good enough, their actions will follow. Social and emotional development needs to very much be a priority for the coming months. Children have gone through something very difficult and have had to deal with very adult feelings and emotions. And while most are, indeed, very resilient, we need to ensure that all children can continue to develop emotionally and that they can talk about how they feel and not be ashamed of it.

According to the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL), there is plenty of 36

research to suggest that for a child to be ready to learn, they need to be in the right frame of mind. They need to have the right attitude and a positive mindset towards learning. Otherwise, it becomes a superficial experience or even a chore. We need to ensure that students have that balance and can think positively, because the more emotionally balanced they are, the greater the benefit will be in the long term, beyond this relatively short, disruptive period.

Sometimes we just need to remind our children— and ourselves—that there is always a positive side.

In a world filled with negativity, we all need to say goodbye to the “Covid gap” narrative and instead, start the conversation about the amazing things this generation has already achieved this year and what they will accomplish in the future.

Sophie Mazaz is the middle school principal of ACS Egham, one of the ACS International Schools, alongside ACS Doha, ACS Cobham, and ACS Hillingdon. To find out more about ACS International Schools, visit acs-schools .com.

FAMILY MATTERS

Doha Teen Says:

"Covid Was a Blessing in Disguise"

By Kiana Nicole S. Hubalde, age 17

L

et's cut to the chase. Covid-19

When my family and I first got the official reports of the virus and a potential lockdown, we were undoubtedly afraid. came as a surprise to everyone.

My dad bought face shields, face masks, I know for sure it surprised me rubbing alcohol, and hand sanitisers, and we even stocked up on groceries when I heard that school was to avoid going out. To be very honest, I had no idea what was going on anymore. Since the pandemic, I had cancelled, because we had our exams the no idea what day it was, and I felt so bored at home. next day. I mean, don't get me wrong, I was

Finally, after what felt like forever (it was actually about eight months), my family and I went out. The be taking our exams at that moment. But what thing is, my dad already felt sick at that time, but he tested I didn't expect was that I wouldn't be returning negative the week before, so we disregarded the fact that he wasn't feeling well and to school at all. I think I speak for everyone when I thought it was the common cold. A few days after we say that this pandemic has been both a pain in the went out, my dad said that he couldn't sleep

quite relieved when I heard that we wouldn't

neck and a blessing in disguise.

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FAMILY MATTERS well nor taste food properly. My mom also felt quite feverish, and my elder sister had on-and-off fevers that would skyrocket to 40°C and return to around 37°C. So, my dad got tested again, and this time, he was positive, so we all had to get tested.

After a few days, the results came out. My mom was Covid-positive, both of my sisters were negative, and I was reactive and asymptomatic. My parents and I were sent to a facility a day later, and my sisters were left at home. At the facility, my parents shared a room while I stayed in another room, but that wasn't even the climax of what happened.

My dad was later sent to the hospital because he had trouble breathing.

Meanwhile, my elder sister was tested again because of her fevers. It turned out that she did have Covid-19, and it was a more serious case as she was sent to a hospital right away. Our youngest had to stay at home, but thankfully, my dad was officially allowed to go home a day after my sister was admitted.

in another hospital. And, of course, there was my younger sister, who was at home on her own and probably scared of everything that was happening.

Thankfully, we all recovered, and our family was reunited. Life continued, and my parents enrolled me and my younger sister in Bridgeway, a homeschooling program. It was hard to adjust at first, but I got used to it along the way.

Just like attending homeschool for the first time, the pandemic was an undeniably difficult stage in my and my family's lives. We went through a rollercoaster of emotions and just felt tired most of the time. But if the pandemic taught us anything, it would be to appreciate the small things in life that were always taken for granted. I don't worry about my family leaving me because they are my core, and they are always the centre of my world. I never thought of what would happen if I didn't have my family, but Covid-19 really put my mind to work (sometimes at 3 am). So even if they know that I love them, I think I should express it more because no one knows what could happen in the future. Now, we also have a new member of the family, our dog Kimchi!

It felt real. I mean, yes, the pandemic was always real, and it is horrifying. Still, you never truly understand how something feels until it happens to you. I also felt sad for my mom during those times. She couldn't sleep at night because she would think about my dad, who couldn't breathe in one hospital. Her mind was also with my elder sister, who was all alone Autumn 2021 | Issue 19

Although Covid-19 brought all kinds of pain to my family, we were able to further connect and appreciate each other more. So yes, Covid-19 has been such a pain in the neck, but it was also a blessing in disguise. And to anyone reading this, I hope you don't get discouraged because your blessing is there, whether you know it or not.

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FAMILY MATTERS

Doha Dad Talks: Covid Life Lessons for Kids and Families

I

By Brett Roberts ’m not going to sugarcoat this at all—Covid and lockdowns have felt terrible. They have taken away so much from our

day to day lives for adults and children alike. But in the darkness, you can always find some light if you’re willing to look for it.

When restrictions were at their peak, I used that time to teach my children about perseverance, mindset, and gratitude. I saw so many people complaining about what they and their children were missing out on because of Covid that I did not want to fall into that negativity trap.

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I took time to talk to my children about perseverance and the need to keep going even when times are tough.

After all, you don’t usually have control over everything in your life, but you can control how you handle it. With Covid, we cannot control the spread or restrictions placed upon us, but we can make the best out of the time we have together. So, my children and I watched what I enjoyed as a child and talked about what life back then was like for me. We also spent a lot of time playing games and getting tighter as a family unit. I’m not saying every day was awesome and that we were always happy, but more often than not, we were. We will likely never get so much time together again in our lives, which definitely increased the bonds between us forever, I’m sure.

FAMILY MATTERS I also thought that it was important to speak to them about gratitude. No matter how bad you think you have it, others have it worse. Yes, we would complain sometimes, but we also had so much to be grateful for. We had a larger villa with a yard and rooms for each of us—this was not a luxury afforded to everyone.

from it. I have seen my children develop tools they can use personally and professionally for the rest of their lives to handle tough times that may lie ahead.

We also had jobs, food in the fridge, and all the necessities of life. There were also many extras to help pass the time like Netflix and video games, plus Zoom to stay in touch with friends and family locally and abroad. In past pandemics, many of these things were not even an option.

Lastly, our family here and abroad remained safe and healthy throughout. There was so much to be thankful for.

I even learnt that we could rely on one another.

So, in the end, there have been negatives, but I feel that the positives have greatly outnumbered anything else. But having this perspective has been a conscious choice.

I also feel that I have gained the confidence needed as a parent to keep our family sane through difficult times.

Though I’m hoping we are coming to the end of this historic event, I feel that we have gained so much

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HEALTH & WELLNESS

The Eff ects of Covid-19 on Qatar 's Neurodiverse Families

I

n March 2020, Qatar plunged into a series of Covid-19 restrictions and lockdowns. Authorities began closing schools, public spaces, hotels, and malls. Social distancing, isolation, and face masks were mandated as everyone stayed at home and tried their hardest to come to terms with and make sense of the world.

In June 2020, as Covid-19 cases decreased, restrictions gradually lifted, only to be reintroduced months later.

Autumn 2021 | Issue 19

By Kim Wyatt Who would have thought that since the first lockdown 18 months ago, the world would still be gripped by Covid-19? For many people across the globe, the pandemic continues to take a physical, emotional, and financial toll.

Children and adolescents—who have faced some of the tightest restrictions here in Qatar—have also been greatly affected. According to a report by the Royal College of Psychiatrists in the September 2021 issue of the BJPsych Open journal, there is emerging evidence from the United Kingdom that depression and anxiety levels have increased in children and adolescents due to lockdowns. And for those who are neurodivergent, these mental health effects might be even stronger, according to a systemic review published in the September issue of the journal Child and Adolescent Mental Health.

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HEALTH & WELLNESS

WHAT IS NEURODIVERSITY? Neurodiversity is an increasingly popular term used to describe the concept that some brains think and process differently to "typical" standards. Those brains are often described as "neurodivergent". On the other hand, "neurotypical" describes brains that function within those standards. Sociologist Judy Singer invented the term to encourage equality and respect for adults and children with neurological differences such as: • Autism • Asperger's Syndrome • Dyslexia • Dyspraxia • Tourette's Syndrome • ADHD Doha Family spoke to three families and Layal Aziz, a clinical psychologist, to gain insight into the mental health effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on neurodivergent children and their families.

NAUSHEEN Mother to Eesa, age six "The covid situation has deeply affected my family, especially during the lockdown period of 2020. The change in routine and homeschooling has been exceptionally hard on my son and myself. In the beginning, we had no idea of what to do or where to begin," says Nausheen. Eesa, Nausheen's son, found some aspects of virtual learning difficult, like staying seated in front of a laptop and completing certain tasks. Nausheen also struggled with teaching him things she felt were unfamiliar to her and keeping him focused. "As much as I tried to sustain a certain routine in the house, I initially failed to do so." With all these hurdles, Nausheen's biggest fear was that Eesa would fall behind on the progress his family helped him make so far. "Losing any of those hardwon skills was just unacceptable to me."

Nausheen describes Eesa as "very outdoorsy and physically active", and this, she says, made keeping him entertained while indoors a challenge. Water play, which is Eesa's favourite activity, was one of his reinforcement tools, and access to that became limited. Eesa's weekly swimming lessons were now cancelled, and the swimming pool in his compound also became off-limits. So, Nausheen and her family needed to get creative.

"We have focused a lot on keeping Eesa busy with an outdoor swimming pool in our front yard, cycling around the house, and different sensory activities that has involved lots of messy play. We have also allowed more screen time than usual," she says.

Yet, despite the family's best efforts, Nausheen shares that Eesa was still negatively impacted by the lockdowns. "The lack of social interaction affected Eesa the most and the ability to regulate his emotions and behaviour within a crowd."

But it wasn't all doom and gloom, as Eesa also made some impressive progress during those times.

"Whilst being at home 24/7 during the pandemic,

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HEALTH & WELLNESS yourself up and get going!" Nausheen also credits Zoom conversations with friends and family with getting her through the hard times. And above all, she realised this: "One of the most important points was, and still is, to keep my own mental health intact."

I've been able to successfully potty train Eesa, which has been a major achievement for me! Eesa has started using more words, speaking full sentences, and singing nursery rhymes. I am still trying to figure out how that happened!" She says.

All in all, giving up was never an option for Nausheen, who ended up learning that she was tougher than she ever thought. "I've been surprised by my determination to keep going, even on the most difficult of days. When faced with such difficult and uncertain times, I did not have any other option but to be strong and to keep moving ahead, which luckily worked out well for me and the family." Plus, Eesa's ability to pick up on her emotions made her even more determined to stay positive despite feeling more worried than ever before about his future.

So what's Nausheen's message to parents in her shoes? "It's okay to feel overwhelmed, scared, or worried and experience more emotions when it comes to caring and providing for your neurodivergent child. It's okay to feel low thinking about all of this but always remember to pick Autumn 2021 | Issue 19

SARA* Mother to six-year-old Omar*, three-year-old Ahmed*, and eight-month-old Adil* "Our son Ahmed has issues interacting with his peers, so he keeps to himself. He was making slow progress at school, and suddenly, his nursery closed due to the pandemic," says Sara.

According to her, keeping Ahmed stimulated has been necessary for his development, but this became difficult to maintain during the lockdowns.

Despite that, Sara notes that Ahmed seemed to be relatively unaffected by this change. "Luckily, there has not been any mental health impact on Ahmed, or so it seems. He is still very young and easily entertained. Although he has lacked stimulation, he has been quite happy, even at home."

But Sara's concerns about her children's well-being haven't entirely cooled as she continues to worry about the pandemic's effects on them. "I fear that 45

HEALTH & WELLNESS I could/should do more and that I'm not doing enough to make this period as easy as possible for them." Additionally, Sara struggled to prioritise self-care when the whole family stayed at home and says this worsened her mental health. Yet, she and her husband still made a tremendous effort to keep themselves and their children grounded. This included hiring a nursery teacher to help Ahmed stick to a daily routine, which lifted his spirits. "It was one of our coping strategies. We have also tried to keep Ahmed stimulated and take him out as much as possible, even for just a short trip to my husband's office.

Keeping malls closed for children was a massive issue for us!"

Sara and her husband also tried to get Ahmed therapeutic support. However, the obstacles they faced meant that they had to put those plans on hold. At first, they tried the Hamad route before discovering that the waiting lists were very long. "Parents told us that we would have to wait for around six months for our first appointment," she says.

Then, they booked a private assessment where it was recommended for Ahmed to start speech and occupational therapy. Unfortunately, Sara and her husband found that private sessions would be too expensive and ultimately force 46

them to pull Ahmed out of his nursery. For them, that wasn't an option.

After facing these hurdles, Sara believes that neurodiverse families are often left in the dark with few resources. She also wishes that Hamad services were more widely available. "I would love to see a proper unit of medical and non-medical specialists dedicated to helping neurodiverse children under the Hamad umbrella. I know there is one already, but I mean a facility big enough to meet society's neurodiverse needs."

She also thinks that if neurodivergent children are routinely offered support as soon as they are diagnosed, it will lighten the load parents carry. From her experience, parents often end up "running from one doctor to another" with little help or guidance during the process.

Overall, how does Sara feel about pandemic family life? "I look at the pandemic as an opportunity to spend more time with the children and interact with them. The only positive impact of the pandemic is my husband and I have spent more time at home and with our kids." Sara adds that time at home also allowed her and her husband to work on Ahmed's speech delay. Yet, parenting guilt

HEALTH & WELLNESS continues to loom. "My husband and I often feel guilty that we don't give enough attention to our two 'neurotypical' kids because Ahmed requires a lot of attention."

With everything said, Sara and her husband love being Ahmed's parents. "I must highlight that interacting with Ahmed is a pleasure for us, not a chore," she says. "He is a very happy and cute child, although he is often detached and in his own bubble." *Names have been changed to protect confidentiality.

AISHA Mother to eight-year-old Aljori, seven-year-old Aljazi, four-year-old Mohamed, and threeyear-old Aljohara "Our daughter Aljazi has high-functioning autism and struggles academically for her age, especially in reading and writing. However, Aljazi has amazing vocabulary and attends a school specifically for children with ASD," says Aisha.

a reading station, PlayStation, and Play-Doh. We made slime and stuck house rules onto the walls." But even with those perks, things still aren't "back to normal" in Aisha's household and keeping her kids at home has brought some challenges. "My kids share rooms, and sometimes there's too much fighting. My kids were seeing too much of each other, so my husband and I decided to give each child time," says Aisha. These new private child-parent sessions resulted in Aisha sometimes keeping Aljazi away from her siblings when it was their turn. She did this so they knew they could also get one-to-one "mummy time".

And it wasn't only her relationships with her children that changed. The pandemic pushed Aisha to prioritise her physical and mental health, and it has paid off. "I began to feel much better and more able to emotionally handle situations," she says. So, what does Aisha advise other parents of neurodivergent kids? "You need to listen to your heart. There's so much noise up there." She also recommends taking up writing as a therapeutic tool. But if that doesn't appeal to you, find something that does: "See what works for you—there's no right and wrong."

The start of the Covid-19 pandemic had plunged Aisha into a new, more isolated parenting experience. When school closures were announced, she had to explain to Aljazi that she could no longer go to school nor really leave the house. "She started closing the house doors.

I put her school uniform, backpack, and shoes away. It took me quite a long time to create coping strategies." By the time it was well into the pandemic, Aisha still found Aljazi pulling out her school uniform and getting sad when she explained that school was closed. "I would try to empathise with her, and I would say that I was sad too."

Like many other parents, Aisha tried to turn her home into a fun learning environment. "We have Autumn 2021 | Issue 19

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HEALTH & WELLNESS

EXPERT'S TAKE Layal Azizi, a clinical psychologist and school counsellor, says that one of the most significant ways Covid affected neurodivergent children's mental health was that it made them feel isolated. Although this has been a common pandemic experience, Azizi says neurodivergent children are often worse off because of their needs. "The amount of academic and emotional support needed is bigger than most neurotypical children. Despite all the work done to provide support through telehealth, it is not enough," she says. These shortcomings, she says, could increase neurodivergent children's risk of having emotional difficulties.

Azizi states that neurodivergent children tend to need "multidisciplinary" academic and emotional support. But what can that look like?

"On an academic level, most [neurodivergent]

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children need extra accommodations and inperson follow-up to attain their goal," she says.

Azizi adds that virtual learning lacks this necessary in-person element that helps neurodivergent children stay focused and finish their tasks. On an emotional level, she says that neurodivergent children may need help learning social and emotional cues and self-management techniques—all areas where in-person support is vital.

Another consequence of virtual learning has been that parents have been trying to fulfil those support roles, which, according to Azizi, is harmful. "Parents are not qualified specialists.

Asking them to act as one has resulted in putting parents into a failure position and becoming more

HEALTH & WELLNESS frustrated," she warns.

Nevertheless, Azizi understands that everyone— from parents to institutions—is trying their best in very unusual circumstances. "Surviving means doing your best to keep yourself sane through this global crisis."

Azizi advises parents and primary caregivers of neurodivergent children to navigate these tough times by doing "whatever it takes" to support themselves and their kids.

"Keep in touch with their specialists, notice their primary needs such as reassurance, emotional support, learning through play, and act upon it." She also reminds parents to not pressurise themselves. "School standards have changed.

What used to be the 'norm' pre-pandemic is no longer valid. Shift your expectations to what might be helpful to your child's state." And for families that still aren't getting the help they need: "Reach out to specialists. Please remember, you are not alone. Help is near even if it is online."

RESOURCES GOVERNMENT SERVICES Sidra Medicine Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) Outpatient Building Floor 1B and 2M Contact: 4003-3333 sidra.org

RETAILERS Sensory Souk Childhood development and learning products Royal Plaza Al Sadd Contact: 5512-3374 sensorysouk.com RECOMMENDED WEBSITES American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry aacap.org Young Minds youngminds.org.uk MindEd for Families mindedforfamilies.org.uk Mind mind.org.uk

DISCLAIMER: The information provided in this article should not be used to diagnose or assess neurodivergence.

Please see a medical professional for advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

The Child Development Center Rumailah Hospital Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) Contact: 4025-3456/4025-3457 hamad.qa Autumn 2021 | Issue 19

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LIVING IN DOHA

COASTAL AND MARINE ENVIRONMENT SERIES

QATAR'S NATURAL WONDERS: CORAL REEFS

O

ne of Qatar's most famous folktales tells the gruesome story of Bu Draeyah, better known as 'The Father of the Sea'. Half man and half sea creature, the evil water djinn terrorises unsuspecting seafarers, fishermen, and pearl divers who earn their living from the sea. In the night, the mythical monster rises from the depths to devour the sleeping occupants onboard their vessels.

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By Kim Wyatt

As chaos reigns, Bu Draeyah causes destruction and mayhem, often overturning boats and destroying the precious cargo collected by the occupants. Back in the day, it's no wonder the tale frightened sailors to stand guard at night for fear of an unsuspecting attack from the legendary sea monster.

Before the discovery of oil, Qatar was a busy maritime centre for the trading of fish and pearls.

Men would sail for months and dive into the warm waters for their prized catch. The Persian Gulf, home to several marine ecosystems, including coral reefs, supplied abundant aquatic life and livelihood for its citizens. Nowadays, national folktales such as Bu Draeyah reflect the important connection of the sea to sustenance and trade. No doubt, Qatar's coral reefs provided a sanctuary and breeding ground for a bountiful array of aquatic life.

LIVING IN DOHA

WHAT ARE CORAL REEFS? Despite popular belief, coral reefs are marine animals, not plants. In fact, coral reefs are colonies of tiny sea creatures called polyps. Each polyp has a stomach and mouth surrounded by tentacles to capture small aquatic life for food. Over the years, polyps excrete a substance, calcium carbonate, which creates the hard external skeletons which we know as coral. Coral reefs are located throughout the world. Most coral reefs need sunlight to grow and are mainly found in warm, shallow waters around coastal areas and islands. However, some coral reefs can be found in dark, cold waters as deep as six kilometres and grow slower than warm water coral.

UNESCO states that The Great Barrier Reef, located off the coast of Queensland, Australia, is the largest reef on earth. Named as one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, the reef stretches over 2000 kilometres and can be seen from outer space.

WHY ARE CORAL REEFS IMPORTANT? Often described as the "rainforests of the sea", coral reefs are one of the most important and biodiverse ecosystems on the planet. Their protective environments, filled with many hiding places, attract millions of marine species and Autumn 2021 | Issue 19

provide a haven for aquatic breeding and feeding.

According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), coral reefs cover one per cent of the planet's ocean surface. They supply an astounding 25% of the world's marine life and provide the foundation for other marine ecosystems. For humans, coral reefs provide invaluable natural resources. Income and employment generated from industries such as fishing, tourism, and marine sports help communities around the world to survive and thrive. But that's not all. These stunning underwater worlds create a natural barrier from storms, floods, and waves to protect coastal communities from soil erosion, property damage, and loss of life.

Some types of coral grow extremely slowly—approximately one centimetre per year.

WHY ARE QATAR'S CORAL REEFS UNIQUE? A 2021 study by Fanning et al., published in the international journal, Ocean and Coastal Management, states: "Qatar's coral reefs (and seagrass beds) are among the most biodiverse, productive, and economically important coastal ecosystems in the nation."

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LIVING IN DOHA Research conducted by New York University in Abu Dhabi has shown that coral reefs in The Persian Gulf, including Qatar, are the most temperature resistant on the planet.

The unusually shallow waters create high temperatures that cause extreme evaporation and salinity. Despite these harsh conditions, Qatar's marine ecosystems, including coral reefs, have adapted to survive. On the other hand, coral reefs found in other parts of the world would not be as fortunate.

According to a Reuters report, all coral reefs worldwide are vulnerable due to the devastating effects of climate change and subsequent rising water temperatures, coastal development, and overfishing. Local PADI Master instructor, underwater photographer, and marine activist Khaled Zaki dives daily in Qatar's waters and has become a passionate advocate for local environmental awareness.

Based in Qatar for over 15 years, Zaki regularly organises beach clean-ups to collect what he calls "one of the most harmful pollutants to our oceans—plastic". He regularly posts on social media to raise marine awareness. As one of Qatar's most prolific scuba diving masters, Zaki has seen an "increasing interest for water sports and scuba diving in Qatar" and aims to encourage the diving community to join his clean-up campaigns. The award-winning underwater photographer also hopes that his images capture the true beauty of oceans and will inspire others to protect them.

Qatar University marine scientists and researchers have been investigating innovative ways to restore and regenerate Qatar's coral reefs.

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LIVING IN DOHA

WHERE TO FIND CORAL REEFS IN QATAR Most of Qatar's coral reef sites are understudied, according to the previously mentioned Fanning et al. study. The northeastern coast of Qatar provides the best coral reefs. Halul Island, located approximately eight kilometres northeast of Doha, reportedly has the most prolific coral growth.

During Qatar's pearl diving era, fishermen and divers would seek refuge on the island from storms and high winds. Nowadays, the island is managed

by Qatar Petroleum and has become a crude oil export terminal for surrounding oilfields.

Closer to home, Qatar's Ministry of Municipality and Environment (MME) recently collaborated with other entities to research, design, and manufacture artificial reefs to protect Qatar's unique yet fragile coral ecosystem. But despite these efforts, there is still much to be done to save the world's coral reefs from increasing threats.

According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), half of the world's coral reefs have been lost over the last 40 years.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) estimates that more than 500 million people depend on coral reefs for their livelihood worldwide.

WHAT ARE THE ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES? The warning signals are alarming. In 2017, a UNESCO report revealed that coral reefs are in danger of dying out completely. As with all marine ecosystems, issues such as global warming, coastal development, pollution, and overfishing are killing coral reefs around the world.

The NOAA's Coral Reef Watch states that coral bleaching—a natural phenomenon that turns coral white due to stress from rising water temperatures—is on the increase. Fortunately, leading international authorities such as the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) are working to support the protection and restoration of coral reefs.

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HOW TO HELP SAVE QATAR'S CORAL REEFS • Practise responsible diving and snorkelling.

• Do not purchase souvenirs and jewellery made from coral.

• Support environmental action groups.

• Raise marine conservation awareness via social media.

• Buy sustainably sourced fish.

Doha Family would like to thank Khaled Zaki and Qatar e-Nature (via F. Krupp and QU) for supplying images to this article. You can follow both on Instagram @khaledzakidiving and @qatarenature. DF

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