ISSUE 89 | AUGUST 2018 | AED 15
ISSUE 82|january 2018| AED 15
«WIN« OVER AED 19,000 OF PRIZES
THINGS TO DO IN
AUGUST PROFESSIONAL TIPS FOR YOUR BEST FAMILY PHOTOSHOOT
GETTING THE MOST FROM YOUR DOCTOR
AM I A FUN
PARENT?
MEET CREATOR OF ‘THE KIBSONS EFFECT’
HALIMA JUMANI
ENTREPRENEURIAL KIDS
– HOW TO NURTURE AND DEVELOP THEM
CHECK OUT WHAT’S ‘ALL ABOUT YOU’
»
INSIDE
!
GET SET
FOR SCHOOL WITH OUR FABULOUS 8-PAGE GUIDE
Supported by: Supported by:
Give your baby a calming massage before Baby Massage Oil, it’s bedtime with proven to keep babies’ delicate skin hydrated overnight. Soothe you baby’s sensitive skin & prevent it Baby from drying out with
EDITORIAL
MANAGING EDITOR: Michael Jabri-Pickett mjp@cpimediagroup.com EDITOR: Kay Marham kay.marham@cpimediagroup.com ONLINE EDITOR: Glesni Holland glesni.holland@cpimediagroup.com FASHION CORRESPONDENT: Sarah Radwan sarah.radwan@cpimediagroup.com
ADVERTISING
SALES DIRECTOR: Michael Phillips SALES MANAGER: Mathew Tharakan mbc.sales@cpimediagroup.com
MARKETING
Isabelle Mills marketing@cpimediagroup.com
DISTRIBUTION & SUBSCRIPTIONS info@cpimediagroup.com
DESIGN
Sarah Radwan
FOR OTHER ENQUIRIES, PLEASE VISIT: motherbabychild.com FOUNDER
EDITOR’S LETTER H
ello Mum! This issue has a ‘Back to School’ emphasis simply because there is so much to do, purchase and organise at this time of year, that it’s a good idea to be prepared well in advance. Our eight-page guide looks at popular school shoe choices, uniforms, more casual clothes for active kids, as well as the stationery and accessories options you might need to kit out your children. (Remember being excited about stationery when you were a kid?!)
Elsewhere this month, we meet inspirational mother and daughter duo, Halima Jumani and 10-year old Soha and learn about the influence they have on each other. We call this ‘the Kibsons effect’ – where mothers make healthy food choices for their children and the effects come back tenfold. Going back to the beginning of a child’s journey in life, we highlight and celebrate the cognitive and developmental milestones that babies reach in their first year of life. Even if your kids are older, it is worth taking the time to read about just how far they came in their first 12 months! Jumping ahead in child development, if your child is showing an entrepreneurial streak in their character, I’ve included some tips on how to nurture and develop this to help them succeed later in life. As ever, I also want to remind you that just sometimes, it’s rightly all about YOU! Check out the fashion and beauty pages you’ll find inside that I hope inspire you to take great care of yourself too!
Dominic De Sousa (1959 - 2015) PRINTED BY
Al Ghurair Printing and Publishing LLC, Dubai
PUBLISHED BY
K EDITOR’S PICK Ted Baker back-to-school Collection at Bloomingdale’s
Head Office:
Media City, Building 4, Office G-08 Dubai, United Arab Emirates, PO Box 13700 Tel: +971 4 440 9100 Fax: +971 4 447 2409 Email: info@cpimediagroup.com A publication licensed by Dubai Production City, DCCA © Copyright 2018 CPI Media Group FZ LLC. All rights reserved. While the publishers have made every effort to ensure the accuracy of all information in this magazine, they will not be held responsible for any errors therein.
cpimediagroup.com
MOTHER, BABY & CHILD | AUGUST 2018 | 03
CONTENTS 64
LOVE IS IN THE BAG!
54
The Impact of Colour in Children’s Rooms
72
Competitions
49 GOOD LIVING
07 THINGS TO DO
08 THINGS TO DO We have given this section a total revamp! Instead of dividing the pages into Baby, Toddler, Tweens and Older child activities and events, we have now given you much more information on the ‘don’t miss’ things that all families will enjoy. For a more complete and varied set of listings, events, family brunches, shows, exhibitions, deals, launches, family and child activities each month, check in with the website every day! www.motherbabychild.com 14 PRODUCTS This page is especially for new mums and showcases intersting or handy products for your family. 18 ALL ABOUT YOU! As a mum, it’s really important you look after yourself too. The All About YOU section is the Editor’s monthly
recommendations of indulgent products to keep your body and mind, hair, skin and nails in great shape. Use these products to remind yourself you are a beautiful modern woman as well as a mum!
2 1 PA R E N T I N G 22 Am I a Fun Parent?
26 Encouraging Entrepreneurs! 30 Behind Inspirational Daughters Are Inspirational Mothers
31 BACK TO SCHOOL
40 Smart Casuals
42 Packing Cool Backpacks 44 Best Foot Forward 46 ‘‘Mum, Where’s My Stuff?!
04 | AUGUST 2018 | MOTHER, BABY & CHILD
50 Mum’s Diary of “The Best Staycation Ever!”
Parenting writer and mother, Hina Zohaib Khan, shares her charming staycation weekend diary and tells us how she kept her two toddlers busy, happy and ‘holidayed,’ while mum and dad also had “the best staycation ever!”
6 7 H E A LT H
68 Choosing a Nursery That Nurtures & Matches Your Child’s Needs As a working parent of a toddler, you might eventually have to work through the possibility of sending your child to a nursery. Here’s a guide to choosing and enrolling in a nursery, by Kids First Group (KFG), specialists in providing quality early years care and education for all children.
70 Getting The Most From Your Doctor’s Appointment
SHOW YOU ARE READY
A–Z OF BACK TO SCHOOL
Shop online at
BabyshopStores.com
FACT FILE
PACK AND TRAVEL LIKE A PRO THIS HOLIDAY SEASON While your intention may be to only pack the essentials and the ‘just in case’ items, the challenge is resisting the temptation to end up throwing everything into the suitcases for the family getaway. When it comes to travelling light, the key isn’t to necessarily pack less, but to pack smarter. Packing properly takes a little skill, but is worth the trouble. Once you force yourself to pack smarter and lighter, your life becomes so much easier when travelling. Here are some travel essentials and tips put together by Daiso Japan to streamline your packing for a stress-free vacation.
PLAN AHEAD
Lay out everything that you think you want to pack on your bed and take a good look. When you lay your entire ensemble in front of you, as well as all the kids’ clothes, shoes and toys, only then you will be able to make the appropriate cuts.
CONDENSE YOUR CLOTHES
Space-saving compression bags will let you pack up to double the amount of clothes, with no jumping, sitting or getting the kids to lie on the suitcase required! These oversize plastic bags are equipped with one-way pressure valves along one edge that release excess air while compressing your bulky clothes. Compression bags work best for bulky items, such as sweaters, coats, down jackets, pillows, beach towels and even wet garments. Daiso stocks a wide range of compressed bags, as well as the other essentials mentioned here.
BUY TRAVEL – SIZE PRODUCTS
Remember: liquids, aerosols and gels that you carry on the plane must be in containers of 3.4 ounces or less. It is therefore a good idea to put your regular toiletries in travelfriendly bottles and packaging. There are many different travelsize products that allow you to transfer your full-size beauty products, your favorite fragrance, your day-day essentials and more, into small reusable containers and reusable sprays. This also saves weight and space in your bag.
By Daiso Japan, Stockists of the holiday essentials listed in the article
06 | AUGUST 2018 | MOTHER, BABY & CHILD
PACK AN EYE MASK, EAR PLUGS & A COMFY NECK PILLOW
One of the biggest problems of a travel schedule is that long flights don’t provide comfortable conditions for a proper rest or sleep in standard class air cabins. An eye mask and earplugs will give you comfortable darkness and absolute silence so you can enjoy undisturbed sleep while travelling. These eye masks come with an elastic band which adapts perfectly to your head shape, providing a comfortable fit. It is advisable for you to also carry a neck pillow along with the eye mask and ear plugs that will enable you to fall asleep even in the most uncomfortable situation. Daiso Japan offers a set which includes both eye mask and ear plugs with a wide range of neck pillows in different styles that cater to all your family’s your needs.
TAKE EXTRA CARE OF YOUR BAGGAGE
When you’re travelling, you need to protect your valuables. It is best to have a padlock to help you lock away any valuable items and a name key chain to help you recognise your bag amongst hundred of others.
PACK SMARTLY FOR YOUR BEACH HOLIDAY
Planning a beach holiday with your family? Do not forget to pack the beach mats, wide brimmed hats and slippers for your kids. The hats and caps will help both mums who like to keep it stylish wherever they go, as well as protect the little ones in the sun. You can find a variety of hats and caps with a huge range of Disney-inspired beach mats and slippers for the children in various colours and prints at the Daiso Japan store.
KEEP A SEWING KIT HANDY
A sewing kit can really come in handy – and it’s always ‘better to be looking at it than looking for it!’. And now you know where to pick one up!
This is our monthly kid’s calendar and round-up of what’s happening to keep your children’s lives fun-filled and stimulating.
THIINGS TO DO EVENTS | ACTIVITIES | OUTDOOR
MOTHER, BABY & CHILD | AUGUST 2018 | 07
things to do IN AUGUST KIDS’ JUNIOR BIOLOGIST SUMMER PROGRAM AT DUBAI AQUARIUM If your kids are passionate about marine animals and ocean conservation then there is some good news for them! Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo is giving children the opportunity to become a Junior Biologist with their Summer Programme.
The programme also includes learning interesting facts about sharks and why are they endangered, along
Summer Program - Become a Junior Biologist
W HER E!
Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo, The Dubai Mall
Open for children between 7-14 years, kids can look forward to a full day of learning about the marine world and ocean conservation. Kids can enjoy learning, meeting and getting to know all about the ocean wildlife. As part of the programme, kids can watch feeding sessions with sharks and otters as well as participating in hands-on activities with the carers and aquarists.
WHAT!
W HEN!
Until 16th August
PR ICE!
AED 950 per child with understanding animal behaviours in the underwater zoo. Additionally, kids can learn all about corals and their importance to the marine ecosystem.
Enrol your kids today and let them discover the life under water. For further information: thedubaiaquarium.com
CARTOON NETWORK’S LIVE STAGE SHOWS AT DUBAI MARINA MALL Popular comic characters Ben 10 and the Powerpuff Girls have arrived! Dubai Marina Mall will host an entertaining interactive event until 8th September, featuring live stage shows and activations with the cool and mischievous Ben 10 and the super powered girls - Blossom, Bubbles and Buttercup. Kids can also enjoy an augmented reality experience that allows them to interact with their heroes, as well as go wild at the interactive photo-booths and fun games. They will get a chance to take pictures with the Cartoon Network superstars and can create their own Powerpuff Girl on a magnetic wall. For more information: visit dubaimarinamall.com, or phone 04 436 1020. 08 | AUGUST 2018 | MOTHER, BABY & CHILD
AED 900 per child if booking two siblings in the same week AED 850 for U by Emaar Members
W HAT !
Ben 10 & Powerpuff Girls
W HERE ! Dubai Marina Mall
W HEN !
Until September 8, 2018
PR ICE! Free entry
DUBAI MALL
FOR EVERY
+97 1 4 325 3913 DUBAI MARINA MALL
+971 4 399 7042 YAS MALL
250
AED
50
AED
SAVE
SPENT
+971 2 565 1856 AL WAHDA MALL
+971 2 447 0225
EXCLUSIVE TO MOTHER, BABY & CHILD READERS | REDEMPTION PERIOD FROM 15TH SEP TO 14TH OCT 2018 | CANNOT BE USED IN CONJUNCTION WITH ANY OTHER OFFER VALID FOR FULL PRICE SELECTED MERCHANDISE ONLY | ONE VOUCHER PER TRANSACTION ONLY | ONE VOUCHER PER CUSTOMER
things to do IN AUGUST
FAMILY ADVENTURES
AT TEPfactor DUBAI
If your children are aged eight years or over, then getting the whole family involved in exercise and physical activities together has just stepped up to a new level of exciting with TEPfactor, in Dubai’s JBR.
logic and skill, which can be done in any order and as many times as needed. This is a great way to incorporate fun physical activity into family time, especially for kids with high energy levels and those who love to get competitive!
TEPfactor is an adventure centre that is themed like a crazy series of caves, where you and your team must go through a series of challenges. This is a totally unique adventure experience in Dubai and promises an exhilarating, thrilling and hugely fun way to spend family time – and the more family you involve, the better!
Working as a team to complete the tasks and collect all clues will help you when you attempt to open the ‘Final Chest’. Expect rushes of adrenaline, hours of laughter and family memories to last a lifetime.
Work in teams to take on the challenges When you take part in the challenges, you’ll have to work in teams of 2-6, as you make your way through the mysterious tunnels of the cave at JBR, and take on the 21 challenges, each testing your every skill, along with the friends and family in your team. Guests from the ages of eight and above are welcome, however children between the ages of eight to 12 do require an adult (aged 18+) on their team for supervision purposes.
Challenge categories
TEPfactor Dubai’s Eid offer Groups of four can play for the price of three at TEPfactor Dubai during Eid, from the 21st to the 23rd of August. The offer is available on all time slots until 6pm and is a great way for family and friends to undertake a unique new activity over the break. Further information: Website: tepfactor.ae Tel. +971 56 404 0802
There are four different categories designed to try patience, fitness,
WHAT!
WHO!
Family Adventures
Guests from the ages of eight and above are welcome
10 | AUGUST 2018 | MOTHER, BABY & CHILD
Email: info-dxb@tepfactor.ae
WHEN! Every single day! Opening Hours: 10am - midnight
W HE R E ! Dubai - JBR
Childs Farm ! D L I M E B O T N BOR Toiletries for baby & child
H E RE ’S A W IL D ID E A.
th at ’s packed fu ll of er is ur st oi m a t ou ped How ab an d sp ec ially deve lo s nt ie ed gr in d ve ri natu rally de s an d babi es? to care fo r new bo rn r it ’s ev en su itable fo d, il m so ’s at th e On pr on e skin . se ns itiv e or ecze m alitt le id eas, So if yo u love ou r th e revolu tion . of en dr il ch e th in jo ch ilds farm .coM
things to do IN AUGUST
SPECIAL SUMMER DEAL
AT HOLIDAY INN DUBAI FESTIVAL CITY
Holiday Inn Dubai Festival City is spreading the joy of travel this summer with an exclusive staycation offer. Stay for a minimum of two nights before the 1st of September 2018, and receive a saving of 30% on the best available rates, 20% discount at participating food and beverage outlets, 20% discount on spa treatments and a AED 100 voucher to spend at Robinsons Department Store!
Summer Staycation Package: • Up to 30% Discount on the best available rates • Late check-out, subject to availability • 20% Discount on food and beverages at Anise, Choix Pastierre & Restaurant par Pierre Gagnaire, Vista Lounge, Zaytoun, Skyline Lounge and Mezzaluna • 20% Discount at SPA InterContinental • AED 100 voucher per room per stay to spend at Robinsons Department Store • Direct access to Festival City Mall, which features over 400 retail stores, including Robinsons Department Store. This hotel has vibrant atmosphere with modern finishes and delightful spaces. The open deck temperature-controlled pool is the perfect spot to cool down with family and friends, while Zeste Café offers a comforting selection of healthy food and beverages to keep the energy levels up. Situated only 10 minutes away from Dubai International Airport and close to major tourist landmarks in the city, the hotel provides the perfect location for a staycation. Despite having so much to see, do and experience close by, the Holiday
Inn Dubai Festival City provides plenty of fun family choices within the hotel itself. There are three food and beverage outlets, a pool and fitness centre – and for any unavoidable work catch-ups, there are also four meeting rooms and a conference centre, as well as a new rooftop bar.
direct access to Dubai Festival City’s retail and leisure facilities such as Toys R Us, Fabyland, a ‘futuristic’ family entertainment destination for children of all ages and IMAGINE – a water, light and fire show at the Festival Bay at the Dubai Festival City Mall.
The family-friendly hotel is perfect for those travelling with children, offering
Book Online at www.ihg.com/holidayinn or call Reservations on 1-888-Holiday.
12 | AUGUST 2018 | MOTHER, BABY & CHILD
things to do IN AUGUST
THE UAE’S FAVOURITE FAMILY FUN DESTINATION! Al Hokair Group has been providing our favourite hospitality, entertainment and fun for UAE families and children for more than 50 years. Their 90+ family entertainment centres and parks include Sparky’s, Snowy Forest, the Sky Zone Trampoline Park, Al Hokair Time and Flash Bowling Alleys, to name just a few. AWARD-WINNING KIDS ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE In amongst all the fun, Sparky’s is Al Hokair’s proud flagship brand with very good reason! You won’t be surprised to hear that it is one of the best-loved birthday party venues for kids, and as such, was last year’s Mother, Baby & Child Gold Award Winner for Kids Entertainment Centre of the Year. This year, Sparky’s has been nominated in two award categories as the best in children’s entertainment: • Kids Entertainment Centre of the Year 2018 • Party Venue of the Year 2018
VOTE FOR A CHANCE TO WIN A SAMSUNG NOTE 8 OR PLAY STATION 4 If you’re a regular visitor or experiencing us for the first time, you could be in with the chance to win some fantastic prizes! Simply cast your vote for Sparky’s through the following link and you could be the lucky winner of either a Samsung Note 8 or Play Station 4
• Friendly rides, suitable for all ages
TO VOTE: motherbabychild. com/awards/2018/
• Edutainment and fun activities like dancing, little chef, art and crafts and tons of competition games
Use this link to vote in the categories for ‘Kids Entertainment Centre of the Year 2018’ and the ‘Party Venue of the Year 2018.’ The winners of the two raffles will be drawn at the end of August and October, respectively. This family fun park and children’s play centre is where you’ll experience: 14 | AUGUST 2018 | MOTHER, BABY & CHILD
• State-of-the-art arcade games that older children love • Exciting entertainment • Ice rinks • Bowling Alleys
• “Tuesday Fun” offer - lots of games for only AED 1, every Tuesday! With all these and more funfilled attractions, children and kids-at-heart will be thrilled with the excitement, memorable experiences, entertainment and great fun that you’ll only get at Sparky’s!
PRODUCTS TECH HELP FOR YOUR COMPUTERS & PHONES One often-overlooked aspect off getting ready for the new school term is making sure that your home computer and your child’s computer and phone are running efficiently and don’t let you down when you need them most. If you have any questions or need help with your computer or phone, reach out to GEEKS and they will happily help you! For further information: Website: www. Geeks.ae Tel: 800 7475 Email: support@ geeks.ae
QUICK HOME COMPUTER HACKS FROM THE GEEKS:
Want a clean laptop? Grab a post-it, run the sticky side between the keys and say goodbye to dusty keyboards. Avoid using car chargers unless you really need to. Cigarette lighter ports supply a higher voltage, causing damage and overheating to your device. Accidentally closed a tab? Don’t worry. You can reopen it by pressing Ctrl+Shift+T. Always on Youtube? You will need these: Press 'K' to pause or play. Press 'J' to rewind back 10secs. Press 'L' to fast forward 10 seconds. Press 'F' for full screen. Your phone's keyboard has a shortcut! Tap your space bar twice and you'll get a period + space.
Spilled water or coffee over your laptop? Immediately turn it off, remove the battery (if possible), and whatever you do, do not try turning it back on.
TOMMEE TIPPEE ADVANCED ANTI-COLIC BOTTLE When dealing with colic, your baby’s comfort is the number one priority. Tommee Tippee has combined a breast-like nipple with the latest in anti-colic innovation to create their Advanced Anti-Colic bottle. The unique 3-piece anti-colic technology draws air away from the milk, and the star valve prevents the milk from travelling up the tube - which means 80% less gas, spit-up and fussing. And 100% more smiles! As an extra plus, a built-in heat sensing straw gives you extra reassurance that your milk is just the right temperature, so both you and baby can feed comfortably.
16 | AUGUST 2018 | MOTHER, BABY & CHILD
Heat is your laptop's enemy! Don't leave it in the car, nor take it with you to the beach. Long heat exposure causes overheating which could permanently damage your laptop.
PRODUCTS
The Sweetest Way to Celebrate Your Child’s Birthday
Your child’s birthday is probably the most important and special day of the year for them – and you! Celebrating birthdays simply has to be done with a cake and because of the occasion, the cake needs to be very special too. At Mother, Baby & Child, we did a little research to find the best quality, tastiest, most show-stopping celebration cakes
– crucially at the most affordable prices (typically less than AED 200 for the larger sizes). Our hands-down winner? Mister Baker – you can see an amazing range of cakes on the misterbaker.com website, or visit the stores located across Dubai (see website for the nearest!), as well as across the UAE in all the seven emirates. Equally as impressive as the price,
quality and amazing craftsmanship that goes into every cake, is that most of the Dubai stores are open until midnight! For further information: or to discuss your requirements for your child’s birthday cake, visit www.misterbaker.com, or find your nearest Mister Baker cake shop on the website.
SAY HELLO TO MARKS & SPENCER’S SUMMER FOOD RANGE! Marks & Spencer’s new summer range celebrates quintessentially British flavours, both traditional and modern. Each mouth-watering dish has been carefully selected by M&S food experts and has everything you need for both summer entertaining and delicious mid-week meals! For a twist on a classic, try Marks & Spencer’s King Prawns, dressed in a deliciously vibrant British pea, mint, spinach & roasted pumpkin seed pesto. Marks & Spencer’s Salmon selection offers customers something extra special, with exclusively farmed Scottish Lochmuir Salmon, using unique and award-winning farms. This tasty favourite is great served with Baby Charlotte Potato Salad, a British classic, perfectly combined with salad onions and a unique creamy mayonnaise. The range is great way to leave your guests wanting more! MOTHER, BABY & CHILD | AUGUST 2018 | 17
ALL ABOUT YOU!
GUERLAIN KISSKISS - showing your true colours
The Guerlain KissKiss lipstick range helps show your true colours, with the new collection of stand-out reds, feminine pinks and classy corals. In their matching packs, these five shades come in their own ‘designer wardrobe’ of the iconic lacquered sculptural case – but in the season’s hottest colours. Inside, we find the same winning formula: hyaluronic acid spheres and commiphora oil to smooth and plump up lips.
MAKE-UP ARTIST QUALITY FINISH WITH
GUERLAIN’S TWO TONE BLUSH
Guerlain’s first two-tone blush is inspired by studio make-up artists’ draping techniques to illuminate and enhance your skin in a single step. Its ultra-light, subtly iridescent highlighter gives the contours of your face a luminous sheen. Its incredibly silky powder blush gently warms up your cheekbones and temples. Oh so perfect, mamma!
18 | AUGUST 2018 | MOTHER, BABY & CHILD
HASK DRY SHAMPOO COLLECTION - A HERO FOR YOUR HAIR!
With those early morning starts, long nights and all-around busy lives, dry shampoos have become quite the hair heroes for us ladies. These instant cleansing sprays breathe new life into the hair and help extend the life of blow-dries by absorbing excess oil and adding volume, without making your hair feel stiff. In the middle of peak summer time in our region, dry shampoo is the ultimate modern-day savior to fight against limp, flat and oily hair while removing dirt and residue from dust and pollution. Featuring ingredients that are good for you, and formulated without parabens or sulfates, the dry shampoos boast luxurious fragrances and offer salon style results with affordable prices.
SWISS IMAGE
ABSOLUTE HYDRATION DAY CREAM & ABSOLUTE REPAIR NIGHT CREAM The most basic function of a moisturiser is to hydrate and soften skin. The skin naturally loses the ability to retain moisture as we age and daily activities such as washing, can strip natural hydrators from the surface of the skin. Creams applied in the morning are equipped to protect skin from the environmental aggressors faced outdoors while night creams focus on repairing damage to the skin as well as replenishing moisture levels. Enriched with the natural extracts of edelweiss and Alpine glacier water, this light textured hydration day cream from Swiss Image is easily absorbed by the skin and offers long-lasting hydration and the nourishment of minerals and essential nutrients. The non-greasy overnight cream works in harmony with your skin’s natural regeneration cycle to replenish moisture levels and provide nourishment with essential nutrients. (AED 30 each at glambeaute.com)
DOLL FACE TRIPLE-
ACTION FACIAL CLEANSER Everyone should have a cleanser in their skincare kit. At night, it works to remove make-up and grime from the day and in the morning, it removes any residual night cream and cleans out impurities. This invigorating, tantalising foaming facial cleanser from Doll Face restores the skin’s natural glow without upsetting wellbalanced oils. Available at glambeaute.com
PRETTY ANIMALZ SHEET MASKS (AED 18 EACH)
Beauty and skincare experts recommended that you use a good quality mask at least once a week and sheet masks are a wonderful self-pampering addition to your basic skincare routine. They are easily the simplest and fastest way to hydrate your skin and are packed with rich skincare ingredients. Pretty Animalz by Look Beauty is a fun collection of Korean sheet masks that leave skin nourished and even allow for fun masking selfies. To find out more, visit glambeaute.com
MOTHER, BABY & CHILD | AUGUST 2018 | 19
FACT FILE
4 HEALTH BENEFITS OF SPROUTED BROWN RICE Attributing to its high nutritional value, sprouted brown rice has been gaining a lot of importance in the past few years. The nutritionists at India Gate tell us why! Sprouted brown rice is loaded with a number of healthy nutrients. It is a whole grain that is relatively low in calories as it does not contain any saturated fat. It is high in fibre, gluten-free and a good source of manganese, phosphorus and Vitamin B6. Eating sprouted brown rice is especially beneficial to women as it controls weight, promotes healthy skin, helps reduce menstrual stress and increases stamina and energy.
TOP 4 BENEFITS FOR WOMEN
1
Improves Performance and Quality of Sleep
In this day and age, when women are multi-tasking in different roles at work and at home, it is important that they have the stamina and energy they need. The mineral manganese is found in sprouted brown rice and helps to get the best from proteins and carbohydrates, converting them into the essential energy required for the body. Manganese is also an important mineral that helps digest fats. A peaceful, good night’s sleep is the best prescription for a productive and energetic day, but is exactly what many mums lack. This could be due to a number of reasons, such as life with a new baby, lifestyle and stress. Sprouted brown rice includes certain minerals, vitamins and active compounds that can help stimulate liver function and detoxify the body. It is also nutritionally enriched with gamma amino-butyric acid, which impacts neurotransmitter activity, boosts your mood and helps your sleep quality and quantity.
20 | AUGUST 2018 | MOTHER, BABY & CHILD
2
Helps with Menstrual Stress and Symptoms
The magnesium content in sprouted brown rice helps in preventing muscle cramps and PMS symptoms, as well as reducing headaches, easing digestion and contributing to the normal functioning of the nervous system.
3
Helps Control Blood Pressure and Diabetes
Sprouted brown rice is suited to people with diabetes, as it is a low glycemic food that reduces insulin surges and helps to stabilise blood sugar levels. It’s an excellent source of Gamma Amino Butyric Acid (GABA), the health benefits of which include obesity prevention, stress reduction, and help in lowering blood pressure, among others.
4
Promotes Skin Complexion
Your skin is a mirror of what you eat. The essential nutrients in sprouted brown rice are extremely beneficial to the skin. It is rich in fibre, which helps in doing away with existing spots, blemishes and inflammation on your skin. In fact, the protein found in sprouted brown rice also works wonderfully as an exfoliator. It promotes new cell growth and stimulates blood flow in the skin, thereby improving your complexion. The selenium present in it also helps to repair damaged skin, maintains skin elasticity - protecting it from wrinkles, and sagging. Sprouted brown rice contains a variety of astringent and cooling properties along with antioxidants, vitamins and magnesium, which protects the skin from blemishes and acne breakouts.
This is both for you and about you. In this section we present a diverse range of issues, topics, opinions and advice from the experts.
PARENTING N AT U R E | N U R T U R E | L I F E
MOTHER, BABY & CHILD | AUGUST 2018 | 21
parenting
AM I A FUN PARENT?
Writer and mother, Hina Zohaib Khan takes full charge of all the practicalities of looking after two toddlers and the running household while her husband works outside the home. When he comes home, he plays with the kids. Here, she gives us her honest thoughts on who the ‘fun’ parent really is in this scenario.
22 | AUGUST 2018 | MOTHER, BABY & CHILD
he best sound in the world is that of children laughing and squealing, and having fun playing with their dad. I love that my husband is a fun parent, it is truly a blessing. But I can’t get something out of my mind… Last month, we went for a family photoshoot where I discussed ideas with the photographer, helped him with props and all the periphery stuff. When the much-anticipated pictures were finally revealed, it is mostly their father in the candid shots playing with the kids. We are all around him having the best time in the pictures. It made me wonder - do our two children ever have fun with just me alone? Am I a fun parent? Every family has its own dynamics. Growing up, I remember my mum was always the fun parent who would give us a taste of street food, take us to new, interesting and exciting places, and she was the one to play hide and seek with us when we were kids. My father was always the serious one. Whereas now at home, it is my husband who creates all the fun, and I hardly take them out as much, except for the routine park trips. It’s not that I am jealous, as my husband is helping to keep the kids busy while I work, but why is it not the other way around? Which brings me back to the fundamental idea that each parent has their own individual role. My husband isn’t at home during the day so he makes up for all the missed time by playing with the kids in the evenings. And while I’m busy with the shopping, cooking, tidying, sleep and feeding routines for our two toddlers, the question remains, is it possible for me to be a fun parent at the same time as taking care of all the practicalities?
NOTE TO SELF AND OTHER MUMMIES Just as we take care of the discipline and chores, it is really important to have some fun with the children too. That means one-on-one fun time, for example: • Look at their toys through their eyes • Make up fun stories together with the kids and let them fill in some words… (eg. ‘One day, we went to the zoo and we saw a ------’ – let your child fill in the
“
It made me wonder do our two children
back and forth, and get the little ones to roll it back as quickly as possible and say ‘quick quick!’- there are plenty of giggles to be had when the pace picks up, especially if you deliberately fumble and ‘let them’ be the quickest and best at the game! • Do some regular painting and colouring together. A little messy, but absolutely worth the fun factor and ther is minimal mess if you put down an old sheet and some newspaper. Simply download some simple pictures to colour in and off you go. Plenty of praise for their colour choices and efforts makes this even more satisfying for kids.
ever have fun with just me alone?
Simply relax on some of the chores and take the time to be a child with our child is my aim. I now let them climb on me, so that I can give airplane rides on my shins. I get silly with them and go through the animal noises. If it rains, it is a golden opportunity to go out and splash in the puddles WITH them. At night go out and count stars and make up stories about them. Tape or draw wings on tennis shoes and tell them they make them jump extra high. Find shapes in clouds. Plant seeds for special flowers or a tree.
Am I a fun parent?
“
T
words and make up a story. They love this!) • Build a fort from the couch cushions and throw a sheet over the top as the roof • Have some reading time together – you can really hold the attention of small children when you put on all the exaggerated voices of the characters in Goldilocks and The Three Bears, or all the characters in The Gingerbread Man! • Play ‘Quick Quick!’ Sit on the floor facing each other and - roll a soft ball
I think we need to worry less about the chores and mess, we are already doing a lot to keep them alive and happy. Hopefully as they grow up, it will be easier to have fun with them, when their feeding and cleaning and clothing demands become less. They will have fun with us when we don’t have to put as much time into doing the basics. Of course routine park trips take effort too, such as feeding and clothing them beforehand, then bringing them back, giving them a shower and all that cleaning, and most of all trying to keep them happy during the trip. All of this takes up a lot of our energy. But at home, let’s try to make some memories and rituals too. Let’s be special in our own way, and enjoy the relationship our kids have their father, without feeling the pressure to be the same kind of parent. Fathers often have a more playful relationship. It compensates for their sometimes lack of emotional connection! So bask in the feeling of happiness as you think of who our children ask for in their time of need? Their MAMA!
MOTHER, BABY & CHILD | AUGUST 2018 | 23
parenting
QUICK CLEANING HACKS!
O
ver the coming months, Mother, Baby & Child will be taking an indepth look at the vitally important topic of home hygiene. In the meantime, here are a few cleaning basics to bear in mind help get the chores done quickly and efficiently!
Planning Try setting a time limit for each room. For example, Kitchen 20 mins; Living room 10 mins; Bedrooms 10 mins; and bathroom 15 mins. Work on the harder rooms first to ensure you are not exhausted by the time you make it to the bathroom. Whizz around with a couple of empty grocery bags to stash the trash you may pick up as you go room to room. Leave the laundry and trash outside of each room for later pick up.
Kitchen Putting away clean dishes as a habit helps keep a fresh, clean working area that is quicker and easier to keep tidy. Try using vinegar to clean your counter tops, refrigerator and meal prep area. Not only is it safe to use, but it works better than a lot of harmful cleaning products.
Bathrooms Make your bathroom cleaner using items you have in your medicine and kitchen cabinets. A simple recipe for grouted tiles is: 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda, 2 tablespoons of baking soda and ¼ cup of vinegar. Mix these in a plastic container and use a toothbrush to clean the grout. This will also work great for scrubbing the sink, bath and toilet.
Bedrooms One way to keep your bed smelling fresh is to place fabric softener sheets inside your pillow cases. Vacuuming the mattress will remove dust and dead skin cells as well as other kinds of debris. Vacuum your
Dyson air purifier to clean the air in your home.
curtains and blinds at least once a month. Wash your bed linens at least once a week, using the hottest temperature setting to get them clean and fresh.
Your living area will smell fresh for at least a week. Change them as needed.
Living Room
Your home air quality can be a huge health concern. Dyson conducted research in association with Zayed University that analysed dust in homes. It found that household dust is likely to contain microbes, bacteria, allergens and even toxic heavy metals that have found their way into your home from traffic fumes. For this reason, we’re recommending a Dyson air purifier to remove dust and irritating particles from your family rooms, as this does the job like no other!
Sometimes what may feel like a dirty room, is just actually a cluttered room. If you don’t need it, store it or throw it. Vinegar is a great TV screen cleaner and window cleaner. Put a little vinegar mixed with water in a spray bottle to clean, streaky, dirty windows. You can also keep your living area smelling fresh without candles and sprays, with washing machine fabric conditioning sheets, Place a sheet inside each vent.
24 | AUGUST 2018 | MOTHER, BABY & CHILD
Cleaning your air at home
parenting
ENCOURAGING ENTREPRENEURIAL KIDS By Kay Marham
There is such a thing as a ‘natural entrepreneur’ and if your children show signs of being one, this is a great trait to encourage and nurture. This is the story of my niece, Gina, who started her first business venture at age five and how her parents encouraged her to learn from her experience. 26 | AUGUST 2018 | MOTHER, BABY & CHILD
My niece, Gina, set up her first business ‘venture’ at age five, unbeknownst to anyone until the trouble and fallout followed. Completely under her own initiative, she decided to make raffle tickets, sell them to her classmates and give away her unwanted toys as prizes. As a proud auntie, I really admired the business model and remain absolutely awe-struck that it was dreamed up from the mind of such a young child, who’d had no exposure to business of any kind.
SETTING UP AND TAKING CHARGE
Using the small plastic scissors from her child’s arts and crafts kit, she cut the sheet into tickets - as carefully as someone of that age can. They were all slightly different sizes! Nobody knew about this as she put her tickets into her bag, took them to school and started selling them. Within a few days her tickets had sold out as word spread among her 5-year old peers that they could win toys as prizes at the end of the week if their ticket was a winning one. She charged whatever she could get for the raffle tickets, yielding the equivalent of between 5-20 fils each and explained to her unsuspecting customers that she would announce the winners on Friday afternoon, and her decision would be final because, as she said: “I’m in charge.”
THE DRAMATIC BUSINESS FAIL Come the day of the “Grand Prize Raffle” (as by then she had re-branded it), there was such a kerfuffle of excitement that her classmates could concentrate on nothing else and became more distracted by this than their work. However, Gina hadn’t thought things out properly. The “grand prizes” turned out to be an old jigsaw that had pieces missing and a scruffy old yellow teddy bear that she never liked anyway. Not only this, her unravelling also came when it became obvious that she only drew one copy of each ticket, had no record of the ticket numbers or who
“
As a proud auntie, I really admired the
business model and remain awe-struck that it was dreamed up from the mind of such a young child.
“
Setting up ‘the business’ began when 5-year old Gina helped herself to a sheet of A4 paper from the printer at home and set about hand-drawing her raffle tickets. She industriously wrote various spellings of: “Rafel tiket” and “Fabelus Prizs” on every individual ticket, and numbered them from 1-15.
had bought each one. So, she called out numbers that she was clearly making up in her head – numbers like “129.” The customer complaints came swiftly and mercilessly, to the point where the teacher quickly got involved, exposed the whole scam and Gina’s parents were called to the school to “discuss the matter.” Luckily, Gina managed to see the error of (some of) her ways, repaid the raffle ticket money and restored customer satisfaction by bringing in sweets for all her classmates, expensed by her own ‘savings,’ much to her chagrin.
ENCOURAGING AND STEERING GINA’S BUSINESS AMBITIONS While helping Gina to understand why parts of her business idea were illconceived, her parents made sure to let her know how impressed they were that she took the initiative. With his accountancy and financial background, Gina’s father talked to her about how a business operates and, unusually for a five-year old, she grasped the basic
MOTHER, BABY & CHILD | AUGUST 2018 | 27
parenting principle that her income must exceed her expenses in order to make profit. He also talked to her about the importance of keeping customers happy, in order to safeguard her income. Gina’s father would then talk to her about the different businesses she was exposed to (such as the car wash, the supermarket, car boot sales, market stalls, their local café, etc.) and explain how they make their money.
LESSONS LEARNED
Her father negotiated a percentage of any subsequent income for his role in carrying the stock and providing his time and the transport to the boot sale venue. Gina felt unfairly treated at the idea of paying him 40% of her takings for his time and labour, but he told her that he was doing this as her ‘employee’, not as her father. She didn’t like the idea of ‘losing’ income from her sales, but she understood that her father was a necessary ‘expense’. And she liked the idea of being her dad’s boss! This obviously still disturbed her, because entirely on her own, she came up with a brainwave to increase her profits. She remembered that there was nowhere to purchase candy for kids at the car boot sale venue. She used some of her own savings to buy three large bags of sweets and a 20-pack of cheap potato chips. She set about dividing some of each candy and a bag of chips into small freezer bags and selling these on her stall too. With help from her father, she added the costs
“
She didn’t like the idea of
‘losing’ income from her sales,
but she understood that her father was a necessary ‘expense’.
on a calculator and divided this by 20 (the number of candy bags). This gave her the cost of each bag, and Gina herself decided on what to price charge on top, and therefore work out what profit she would make. With her trusty employee/ father by her side, the kid woke up extra early to go and secure her stall at the boot sale, then spent the day manning the stand and engaging with the public. She worked
28 | AUGUST 2018 | MOTHER, BABY & CHILD
“
Equally as impressive for this proud aunt is that the following year, when Gina was six years old, she applied her new knowledge and understanding to the car boot sale business model – whereby people set up a small stall selling their unwanted - or other items, such as homemade cupcakes. In cahoots with her dad, she asked the neighbours if they were intending to throw out any of their clutter. The neighbours duly gave her unwanted old candlesticks, a couple of small side tables, unwanted pictures from the wall, spare little plant pots, ornaments, and all kinds of bric-a-brac. She stored these things (she quite correctly referred to it as her “stock”) in her own room, made a list of all the items and how much she planned to charge.
hard this day and the net result is that she successfully made a profit of AED 554, which was after she paid her ‘employee.’ Gina later went on to run a ‘mini-company’ as part of a school project when she was older and by then was not afraid to work the cafeteria and sell her product! I don’t know what Gina’s future holds, but I would not be at all surprised if it involves running her own business. Both as Gina’s aunt and as Editor of
– or a variety of possible solutions – to every problem. Challenging situations provide great teaching opportunities. Discuss examples of the problems you face in your business and ask your kids how they would respond if they were in your shoes. This will help to develop a ‘can-do’ attitude and mindset in them and help to avoid them getting overwhelmed in in stressful situations.
Financial Responsibility Even as a 5-7-year old, Gina was careful with her money. Any birthday or Christmas money was carefully squirrelled away and treated as treasure that she wanted to accumulate. When it came to buying Christmas presents for her family, she took it upon herself to write out the names of the people to whom she wanted to give gifts and allocated the amount she wanted to spend. She would finally add up the total spend, then set about reducing and adjusting the amounts until she was satisfied she was going to spend the bare minimum! (Her older sister never did such a thing – this was Gina’s own character trait.)
Mother, Baby & Child, I’m so proud of the story of her business escapades! More importantly, she has gone from showing herself to be a natural little entrepreneurial character, into this flair being nurtured and encouraged by her parents, which gives her valuable skills to help her navigate life in adulthood, whatever she chooses to do.
ENCOURAGING ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT IN YOUR CHILDREN Look For The Signs
Not everyone is naturally entrepreneurial, but some children do show early indications that they think like a little business person. These signs include a natural interest in money, including keen stashing and saving behaviours and being careful about what they spend from their own pocket money. If they can
get what they want from you without spending their own money, they will!
Problem-Solving And Understanding When your budding entrepreneur comes to you with a question or problem, avoid handing them the answers. Instead, ask questions and challenge their thinking. Help them to understand all sides of the equation, as well as the consequences of their choices. Let your children do the thinking.
Coping Skills Seasoned entrepreneurs have great coping skills in the face of stress. Instead of seeing only the problem, get your child used to attaching a solution
Help your children to gain an understanding of finances and to manage their pocket money. This will help them to operate with a mindset of responsible choices as they grow.
Develop Work Ethic A strong work ethic is a trait that is shared by successful entrepreneurs. From an early age, get your children to do little chores around the house, such as putting their clothes in the laundry basket, putting their toys away, or tidying their room. You can incentivise older children with pocket money for the chores – the more they take on, the more they earn. This will help them to develop the work ethic and commitment that it takes to succeed. The most important thing to remember is that if you want to nurture your little entrepreneur, it needs to be fun for your child, and you should not be too serious with them. Nurture their natural spirit in a positive and fun way, to help them develop the life skills to build their future dreams. MOTHER, BABY & CHILD | AUGUST 2018 | 29
parenting
BEHIND INSPIRATIONAL DAUGHTERS ARE INSPIRATIONAL MOTHERS:
MEET HALIMA JUMANI On a bus journey from Dubai to Al Ain, I met the truly inspirational mother and daughter duo, Halima Jumani, a company director of fresh food delivery firm, Kibsons, and her 10-year old daughter, Soha. Why so inspirational? Read on!
30 | AUGUST 2018 | MOTHER, BABY & CHILD
T
he bus was en route between Dubai and Al Ain on a visit to the high-tech Tomatolicious tomato farm that supplies juicy, sweet cherry tomatoes to home produce delivery firm, Kibsons, where Halima Jumani is one of the company directors. I sat beside her ten-year old daughter, Soha, who is a lively, intelligent, articulate, and astonishingly nutritionally-aware little girl. This became obvious from playing a game of ‘Masterchef Mystery Box’ on the journey. (I listed 4-5 random ingredients and Soha not only told me what dishes she’d make, but also how to cook them to achieve a variety of tastes and textures in the dishes. She’s 10 years old!!) In my mind, I affectionately regarded Soha as ‘the Kibsons’ Kid’ and thought to myself that she’d make a great brand ambassador for the fresh food delivery service that does so much to help mothers provide healthy choices for their families, by selling fresh food at wholesale prices. Young Soha also spoke at length at how she wishes her school would provide only healthy meals at lunch; how she believes that: “children should try all the
ugly vegetables, like celeriac, which is so knobbly and has black dots that look like a disease, but is the most delicious thing on earth – my favourite vegetable ever.”
MOTHER, BABY & CHILD | AUGUST 2018 | 31
parenting She described healthy ways to “make food crunchy without frying” adding: “can you imagine how disgusting it is to…
actually…totally cover your food in oil?! Why would people do that?!”
I learned so much from this 10-year old and was therefore curious to find out much more about her mother, Halima and how ‘the Kibsons effect’ has not only helped her to raise happy, healthy children, but has also taken UAE households by storm.
How do you balance having a young family with being part of such a busy company?
What advice would you give to other women who are trying to balance their work and family lives? Don’t feel guilty about investing in yourself and nurturing your own strengths with passion. A stronger version of you can never be a disadvantage to your loved ones. I believe we also have a responsibility to add value to the extended community outside our own little family.
Your children are clearly inspired by you, Halima, but in both your career and family life, who inspires you?! Soha, my daughter is truly instrumental and inspirational in my journey. It is her love for clean eating and a healthy lifestyle that initially inspired us to share our privilege with other children and families in the community. She is a passionate little advocate for healthy eating, has a very friendly, happy attitude, is a confident communicator,
dreamer and go-getter. For these reasons, she so inspires me to match her traits every single day. My mother. I guess nothing would have happened in my life without the continued support and push I get from my mum. She always believed in me, saw the best in me and reminded me to not let go of who I am and what I am capable of while I often got distracted in my domestic roles of being a wife and a mother of three.
How did your Kibsons journey begin? Kibsons is a family business that I married into. Given my background in finance, I was always involved in the business, but it wasn’t until after my MBA at LBS and my Six Sigma certification at GE that I actively got more engaged at a strategic level.
32 | AUGUST 2018 | MOTHER, BABY & CHILD
“
I guess nothing would have happened in my life without the
continued support and push I get from
“
I married wisely! I am lucky to have someone who relentlessly supports me to fulfill my aspirations and my responsibilities. The fact that he is a great father and enjoys spending quality time with our children means that I can always count on him whenever my own career requires this. His patience with my phone and countless hours of work deserves an award!
my mum
What are you most proud of having achieved with Kibsons? Most mums know that consuming produce like avocados, blueberries, kale and other superfoods make their families healthier, but these foods can be simply too expensive at the supermarket to consume regularly. Good quality fruits, vegetables and meat have always been an important part of our own family diet given that our three children have always had a very active lifestyle. Because Kibsons is a family business, at some stage we became increasingly aware of the privilege and access we had been enjoying to such good quality food at wholesale prices, compared to the prices that other families in the UAE were having to pay for quality. So, the idea for making fresh fruit and vegetables began from extending this price advantage and quality to
family and friends. We were blown away by the unexpected appreciation and compliments we received and that motivated us to come up with the concept of home delivery for fruit, veg, meats – and even other healthy essentials like nuts, seeds and highquality convenient foods for the freezer. As a mother and a busy career professional, I know just how helpful and convenient it is for mums to just be able to order these things on demand, using the website. It’s a game changer really, and I think it has helped to add real value and meaning to many households in UAE, by giving families an easy and affordable option for healthy eating.
How do parents know they are getting great quality food for their families, at such low wholesale prices? We import all our fruits, vegetables and
meat directly from farms locally and internationally. This cuts out the middlemen and avoids the ever-increasing retail overheads – and this translates into bargain prices for everyone. We have our own cold stores and temperature controlled delivery fleet, which saves even more costs and keeps all our products truly fresh until delivery. All the products you see on the Kibsons website are carefully selected keeping in mind our commitment to health and quality, to the point where I would happily take all these products home for our own personal family consumption. And that is important to me, but equally important to kids like Soha, who see only pure logic in the idea of eating healthily to be healthy and give herself the energy to make the future hers. And as a mother, I just couldn’t ask for more.
MOTHER, BABY & CHILD | AUGUST 2018 | 33
parenting
TAKING YOUR BEST EVER FAMILY PHOTOS Hands up if you have some embarrassing baby photos, or awkward looking family pictures from your childhood? Here are some professional tips from Ian Hardie, Family Photographer at The Studio Dubai, to ensure that you get the very best and most beautiful results from your family photoshoot.
W
atching Ian Hardie, family photographer at The Studio Dubai, at work photographing babies is an experience like no other. Young babies are naturally shy and uncomfortable around strangers, but Ian has the very special and rare gift of quickly winning trust, attention and engagement from babies, toddlers and children of all ages. And then he takes simply stunning professional photographs that capture the spirit and personality of children and families, like no one else can. Here, Ian gives some tips on how to get the most from your family photoshoot:
FEED YOUR BABY BEFORE YOU START THE SHOOT Seems simple but it’s always better to schedule the shoot after the baby’s feeding time, or tweak their feeding time slightly on the day of the shoot. At the very least, a small top up with some milk beforehand can help your baby’s mood.
BABIES TEND TO POSE BETTER WITHOUT CLOTHES ON If you want your baby dressed up in a little dress or outfit, be honest with yourself - if it doesn’t fit, ditch it - and wait till they are old enough to fill out the outfit. Ill-fitting clothes just distract and get in the way during a shoot.
HAIR DRYERS OR A SPACE HEATER… Both of these are very useful to keep newborn, or young babies warm and cosy
as they sleep during a shoot. Also, the gentle whirring sound of the hair dryer can have a soothing effect and help them to sleep.
HIDE ALL THE TOYS IN A BAG BEFORE YOU ARRIVE FOR YOUR SHOOT Toddlers and older kids tend to latch onto toys and some won’t let them go! Bring the toys out only when they are needed, as these can be used to encourage some beautiful shots of your child. Don’t give in too early, otherwise you might have the same toy in every-single-picture!
TRY TO WEAR MATCHING OR COMPLIMENTARY COLOURED CLOTHES If you are booking a family shoot, try to wear clothes where there is a running theme. Avoid patterned clothing like the plague as they are very distracting! You want the pictures to have a timeless feel, not date quickly. Something simple like white t-shirts and jeans for example will stay classic for longer on the family living room wall.
For more advice on how to prepare for our family photoshoot, or arrange professional shots of your child, visit: thestudiodubai.com / Tel: +971 4 347 1745 34 | AUGUST 2018 | MOTHER, BABY & CHILD
Photos at The Studio Dubai
MOTHER, BABY & CHILD | AUGUST 2018 | 35
FACT FILE
5 STEPS TO EASE THE TRANSITION OF CHANGING SCHOOLS Back-to-school is a busy and overwhelming time for everyone, but when a child is going to a new school, there may be an added level of apprehension for both the child and the parents. If parents have a positive, flexible approach, and model this for children, a change in schools can open many new opportunities. Here, the teachers at Clarion offer a few thoughtful and proactive steps that can help ease this transition for the whole family, helping everyone to adjust to a new culture and new people quickly and smoothly.
3. MEET THE TEACHER Whenever possible, schools often offer to have new students meet the homeroom teacher prior to the first day. This is usually a brief but very meaningful visit. It provides an opportunity for a child to find a few things they are excited to explore in the classroom and discover some common interests with their teacher. It definitely helps get over the hurdle of the first day. 4. GET INVOLVED
Parents should do their best to be informed before the first day of school. This means reading the school’s literature and making notes about things that are confusing. Keep in touch with the admissions team and the administration over the summer and ask questions.
One of the best ways to develop a connection to a school culture is to get involved, for both children and parents. Children may be able to sign up for optional clubs or afterschool activities. For parents, finding a common interest and volunteering is a great way to meet people and learn about the school. It also shows your child that you care about their school and learning environment.
When September comes, you will have many more questions, and will be glad you took the time to review the mission statement, curricular overviews and school calendar in advance.
Reach out to the Parent Association to find out what the different committees are, and find one that works with your schedule and matches your interests. There is usually something for everyone.
2. MEET OTHER FAMILIES
5. HAVE FAMILY MEETINGS
Many schools put current families in touch with new families to help them assimilate. The ‘buddy families’ are a valuable resource, in that they can help answer the parents’ questions and often host playdates or make introductions to other families. Having even one familiar face on the first day of school makes a big difference for your child.
In those early weeks, practice being an active listener as your child adjusts. Regular family meetings where you can discuss the school day, from friendships to learning experiences, will help foster a connection between you and your child, and also between your family and the new school.
Many times mutual friends offer to make introductions to people they know at the new school. Parents should take advantage of any introductions for their children - and for themselves. Any friendly face and resource helps to go from feeling like the ‘new kid’ to feeling comfortable.
A new school is a new beginning. It is a chance to make friends and learn about your child as their world expands. Children are often very resilient and embrace change, as long as they have the support and guidance to feel comfortable in the process.
1. READ UP AND ASK QUESTIONS
By Susan Whistler, Director of Communications, Clarion School
36 | AUGUST 2018 | MOTHER, BABY & CHILD
Shoes, backpacks, uniforms, stationery... it's all here in our back to school special section!
BACK TO SCHOOL LEARNING | DEVELOPMENT | PERFORMANCE
MOTHER, BABY & CHILD | AUGUST 2018 | 37
education
POWERED BY:
ROAD TEST FOR REAL LIFE
For many young people, work experience is a first taste of life beyond the classroom and September will see the launch of a new Year 10 placement programme at Kings’ School Al Barsha, designed to prepare students for their future.
C
T
M
abu Saul, Careers Counseller at Kings’ School Al Barsha is heading up this exciting initiative, which will launch in September and build up to a week of in-house experience just before Ramadan.
Y
CM
MY
CY
“Work placements build useful skills that can’t be taught in the classroom, and students are also exposed to contacts they otherwise wouldn’t necessarily meet. At the same time, prospective employers will always look favourably on the efforts taken by those who have undertaken work experience,” says Tabu. Soft skills are another area where young minds benefit, with placements showing students how they need to work with others to make things happen, as well as helping to develop communication and leadership capabilities. The students will also be encouraged to explore their own list of contacts to find relevant opportunities, and several youngsters are already actively pursuing potential dream careers this summer. Tabu explains: “We have a student who has organised work experience with a law firm in Jersey and also with PwC here; and another who will be shadowing at a robotics company that works with NASA, prior to undertaking a five-week engineering-related summer programme at the University of Toronto.”
CMY
K
TABU’S TIPS FOR WORK EXPERIENCE Get the basics right Be presentable, enthusiastic, ask questions and make a good first impression. Be enquiring Tap into the people you have access to, find out about their journey and ask for tips on your own career pathway. Reflect and evaluate Really reflect on each day to evaluate what aspects might work for you in a future career, or to identify those which may not.
38 | AUGUST 2018 | MOTHER, BABY & CHILD
Learn about the industry Learn as much as you can about the way the business and your chosen industry work. Build contacts Establish good contacts that you could potentially use as a future reference or call upon for specialist advice. Communication and collaboration Organisations operate like machines, and the different components have to work together effectively to succeed. Don't undervalue the role that any single person plays, and learn as much as you can.
education
BACK TO SCHOOL SMART CASUALS
AED 69 each AED 169 each
AED 99 each
AED 169 each
AED 69 each
Beverly Hills Polo Club 40 | AUGUST 2018 | MOTHER, BABY & CHILD
Marks & Spencer Back-to-School Collection
2-Pack Girls' Skirts AED 115
2-Pack Boys' Regular Leg Shorts AED 85
2-Pack Boys' Regular Leg Trousers AED 120
2-Pack Unisex Pure Cotton T-Shirts AED 65
3-Pack Girls' Easy to Iron Blouses AED 125
AED 60 each
AED 275
AED 195
AED 120
AED 135
MOTHER, BABY & CHILD | AUGUST 2018 | 41
education
PACKING COOL BACKPACKS
42 | AUGUST 2018 | MOTHER, BABY & CHILD
Pottery Barn Kids has unveiled its ‘Back-to-School’ Collection with a creative line-up of must-have school accessories – including backpacks, lunchboxes and water bottles for the little ones. Popular collections include the ‘Disney Frozen’ collection featuring the best-loved characters from the film, including Anna, Elsa, Hans and everyone’s favourite snowman Olaf. For kids looking for a slightly different style, the Mackenzie backpacks are the perfect buy for the pre-kindergarten to the pre-teen years. The backpacks come loaded with design details like ergonomic padding, side pockets and sturdy zippers – perfect for rough and tough usage. It also has a reinforced bottom and extra buckles for added convenience and safety. There are also trendy, girly designs – including glow-in-thedark dinosaurs, shiny metallic hearts and glittery designs and details that are hard to find anywhere else. For kids looking for action-packed school gear and for those fussy about their favourite film and comic book characters, there are Avengers, Justice League and Star Wars-themed backpacks to choose from, with favourite characters emblazoned on the front. The perfect accompaniment to the Mackenzie backpack is the Mackenzie lunchbox which is durable and re-usable. Made of shatter-resistant plastic, it is designed to resist stain and scratches – and keeps food fresh and healthy. There is also a colourful lunch bag collection that comes in a host of colourful designs and cool patterns – so that kids will always look forward to their lunch. A backpack would be incomplete without a water bottle. Pottery Barn Kids has a funky collection of bottles with leak-free push up lids that are easy for little hands to use, a removable straw and a locking lid to prevent spills and leaks. The bottles are fully insulated to retain warm or cold temperatures for up to six hours. You can find these cool backpacks and more in Pottery Barn Kids branches: Dubai: at The Dubai Mall or City Centre Mirdif, AbuDhabi: at Dalma Mall or YAS Mall For more information visit : www.potterybarnkids.me MOTHER, BABY & CHILD | AUGUST 2018 | 43
BEST FOOT
FORWARD
FOR THE NEW SCHOOL TERM! AED 449
AED 399
Ecco Back-To-School Collection AED 399 AED 479
AED 549
AED 12
AED 129 AED 129
AED 79
A sneak peek on Babyshop's Back-to-School Collection 44 | AUGUST 2018 | MOTHER, BABY & CHILD
AED 345
AED 325
AED 375
Clarks Back-To-School Collection AED 275
AED 325
AED 325
ASICS at STADIUM AED 175
BOSS
CHILDREN'S CLASSICS
AED 469
AED 214
REMEMBER:
TRY BEFORE YOU BUY!
School shoes are such an important purchase, as they need to be comfortable as well as practical.
BOSS
DOLCE & GABBANA
AED 648
AED 944
Always get your children to try on new shoes with socks before you consider buying them, and get them to walk around the store, as they would wear them to school. Don’t just rely on knowing their size from the summer – it can be surprising how quickly their shoe size can change over the break!
PAUL SMITH JUNIOR
YOUNG VERSACE
AED 597
AED 1,545
A couple of days before the new school term starts, get your child to wear them in a little bit around the house to ensure that when the first day of school comes around, they are can avoid sore or blistered feet. MANUELA DE JUAN
GUCCI
AED 969
AED 372
CROCS
AED 229
CROCS
AED 249
Childrensalon.com Back-To-School Collection MOTHER, BABY & CHILD | AUGUST 2018 | 45
education
Wilko Ace Alfuttaim AED 7 Just Kidding AED 69
, ''MUM WHERE'S
MY STUFF?!
Wilko Ace Alfuttaim AED 3
Just Kidding AED 60
Just Kidding AED 35
Amalfi Ace Alfuttaim AED 89 Wilko Ace Alfuttaim AED 2 each
Babyshop AED 27
Circu AED 24,657
46 | AUGUST 2018 | MOTHER, BABY & CHILD
Just Kidding AED 249
Ted Baker Bloomingdale’s AED 150
"MUM, WHERE'S
MY
Ban.do Bloomingdale’s AED 105
Ted Baker Bloomingdale’s AED 140
STUFF?!"
Kikki.K Bloomingdale’s AED 105
Ban.do Bloomingdale’s AED 220
Circu AED 2,450
Rex London Bloomingdale’s AED 26
Wilko Ace Alfuttaim AED 3 each Just Kidding AED 3,050 Rex London Bloomingdale’s AED 19
Wilko Ace Alfuttaim AED 5
MOTHER, BABY & CHILD | AUGUST 2018 | 47
FACT FILE
5 HEALTH BENEFITS OF VACUUM CLEANING As with any chore, spending time vacuuming your home probably isn’t your idea of fun. But this is a much more serious issue than whether or not it is ‘fun’ – and the one household task that should never be ignored. Regular vacuuming offers you and your family a host of health benefits. Here’s how a regular vacuuming schedule can keep your family out of the doctor’s waiting room.
1
PROVIDES ALLERGY RELIEF BY ELIMINATING POLLUTANTS AND PARTICLES Dirty carpets, sofa upholstery and even mattresses trap all sorts of respiratory irritants such as pet hair and fluff, dust mites, as well as daily dust, sand and dirt. When inhaled, these can aggravate allergies, causing annoying runny noses, sneezing and coughs, in addition to an uncomfortable respiratory feeling. To beat the battle with the dreaded allergies, experts at the Asthma and Allergy Foundation in America recommend that you vacuum your home once or twice a week, with a good quality vacuum. This prevents the microscopic particles from being released back into the air. With this regular routine in place, you and your children can breathe easier.
2
ELIMINATES DUST MITES Your home may be infested with dust mites, but as these microscopic pests can’t be seen with the naked eye, you won’t even know they are present. They leave behind body fragments and feces which contribute to allergy attacks. It is essential that your vacuum cleaner is able to get rid of these particles. However, not all vacuum cleaners can remove these microscopic specks, so for the
By Karan Anand Partner at Gtech UAE
48 | AUGUST 2018 | MOTHER, BABY & CHILD
best results, look out for those that are designed to do so effectively.
3
GIVES YOU BETTER SKIN Besides causing respiratory allergies, household dirt particles circulating around the home can also irritate sensitive skin, causing itches and rashes. When you vacuum, make good use of the different attachments to thoroughly suck up grime, dust and dirt on all surfaces in the house, including areas you may not have thought of, such as window sills, blinds, beneath the furniture, the top edges of doors, inside cupboards and drawers - and even your computer keyboard. Your skin will thank you for keeping your home dust-free.
4
IMPROVES YOUR PSYCHOLOGICAL HEALTH If you’ve ever felt like a mental load has been lifted after a satisfying home cleaning session, you are not alone. There are many studies documenting how keeping a clean and organised home has positive effects on stress levels in household inhabitants. While it may seem daunting to tidy up an entire home, start first with a thorough vacuum and once you start breathing in the clean, dust-free air, you might just be motivated to keep on going until everything is back in its proper place.
5
GIVES YOU REGULAR EXERCISE If you feel that running a home and family leaves too little time for the gym, you can benefit from the great regular exercise that a thorough vacuum cleaning provides. A recent study found that vacuuming and scrubbing your floor regularly provides enough exercise to help make a difference in protecting your heart health, thereby extending your lifespan. How’s that for effective multi-tasking?
We never forget that our readers are modern women as well as mums, so you’ll always pick up good living tips here and remind yourself it’s okay to be you!
GOOD LIVING F A M I LY | F A S H I O N | L I F E S T Y L E
MOTHER, BABY & CHILD | AUGUST 2018 | 49
good living STAYCATION REVIEW
MUM’S DIARY OF
“
THE BEST STAYCATION EVER! Hina ZK
Hina ZK
”
Hina ZK
1,646 I’ll play with the wh
2,117 e with the Kids Spending some tim
ite ones
3,145 Such a highlight!
Parenting writer and mother, Hina Zohaib Khan, shares her charming staycation weekend diary and tells us how she kept her two toddlers busy, happy and ‘holidayed,’ while mum and dad also had “the best staycation ever!” 50 | AUGUST 2018 | MOTHER, BABY & CHILD
M
y husband and I were up for a weekend getaway and unwinding with the kids, but the idea of taking long flights with two toddlers was a little daunting. So, we drove off over the weekend to Ras Al Khaimah and had the best staycation ever at DoubleTree by Hilton Resort and Spa on Marjan Island. I’m delighted at how refreshing it was to break our routine and get some extra R&R! We set out for RAK late on Thursday evening and checked in around 8pm. There was good parking space available (handy for arriving with two small kids!), a beautifully spacious lobby and lovely flower arrangements. With shops, bars, the club, restaurants, pools, exquisite architecture and most definitely a beautiful beach, the hotel is a destination in itself. And it didn’t take me long to realise that it is one of the most children-friendly resorts that UAE offers.
OUR ROOM
After dinner and an evening stroll, we put the children to bed. My husband and I sat and relaxed on the balcony for hours, looking out at the garden and beach; it was such a serene retreat.
PICTURESQUE VIEWS & HOTEL FACILITIES Come the morning, we woke up to a picture postcard view of the sea with its white sandy beach and green gardens all around. There were lots of loungers all around the beach, other visitors were sunbathing or out in the water; and we could see a lot of activity in the waterpark. We spent the Friday morning exploring the facility and took the children to the kids’ pool, where they splashed around for hours. It wasn’t shallow enough to leave my three-year old unattended; but it was temperature-controlled, and
more importantly, very clean. There were lifeguards in attendance by each pool, and I could see them at a distance even on the beach.
“
The hotel offered a number of adventure activities, like scuba diving, parasailing, fishing, fly boarding and jet skiing, to name just a few. Other facilities such as the spa and gym could also be availed, but we decided to stay together at the pool. The gardens were immaculately kept, and the shady palm trees made it possible to roam around in the hot and humid weather.
THE STAFF & CONCIERGE
I want my
Birthday here and that is final!
“
We booked the ‘Be Exclusive’ package, which offered us a large variety of dining and drinks options during our stay. Our room was a King Bay Club beach front room with a sea view. It had a double bed and a cot for the little one, a sitting area and a balcony that could easily fit our family of four. The room was beautifully lit and furnished with hues of blue and yellow. The iron and iron board in the room came in handy at several times during our stay!
The staff was extremely welcoming and friendly, especially with kids, and that’s why we enjoyed our stay even more. Even with the kind of tantrums the children were creating every now and then, our trip was unbelievable smooth. I have to make a special mention for the concierge, who was polite and courteous, and they all helped us around with a buggy car to reach the restaurants and pools, even at odd times of the day.
ACTIVITIES Evenings are the best here! DoubleTree by Hilton Resort and Spa - Marjan Island is such a fun-filled place, especially the park, with its swings, family swimming
MOTHER, BABY & CHILD | AUGUST 2018 | 51
good living pools and the waterpark. Fussball, snooker and board games were available for the hotel guests too. There are various activities happening around all over the hotel. We spent Friday evening out and about, exploring one activity to another. We took the little ones over to the Kids Disco at the Kids’ Club, where they danced till they were about to drop. We enjoyed live music at the main pool terrace, but missed out on a Fire Show, as we were having dinner by then. Husband dear was quite keen on going to the Xclusive Night Club, but I suggested that we go there with friends some other time. There are quite a lot of activities to keep the adults as well as little ones entertained. It really is a family resort in the truest sense. On Saturday, even though it was hot and sunny, we still took a trip to the beach. Had a quick dip and then sipped on some chilled mocktails at the bar. It’s a great place to unwind and socialise.
AHHH, THE FOOD! I have saved the best for last – yes, the food! And ahhh the food!! It was like a culinary journey, I can tell you. Choosing from a collection of superb dining options was the best part. We started out with Brasserie, an à la carte restaurant with classic European dishes on the menu. We had Asparagus on Pâte Brisée (shortcrust pastry) as an appetiser; and then onto the main course, Orange-glazed Salmon and Roasted Chicken, both were done to perfection with the finest ingredients and flavours. We were so full that dear husband and I shared the Chocolate Fondant for a dessert - and trust me that cake could beat the best! The waiter at our table was very well-informed about all the dishes. The live music at the restaurant was the cherry on top of a perfect dining experience. I have already decided and communicated to husband dear, that I want my birthday dinner at Brasserie, and that is final. We had breakfast at Bay Club Restaurant. The sumptuous buffet offered a huge variety of the freshest food. I loved the positive vibes around, prompt service, wide variety, flavourful food, and the kickass cheese omelette! At a friend’s suggestion, we took the
Spice Route on Friday, and I can say it was a highlight of our dining experience. Held at the Meze and Sanchaya restaurants, we were in for a treat with an assortment from the Turkish and Asian cuisines. With the finest and freshest ingredients and unique flavours, it was a treat for all of our senses. We indulged in an array of culinary surprises with the appetizers. From the Turkish Meze, we were served mixed hot and cold meze, Mixed Gavurdagi Salad and Seafood Hot Pot. We got to taste a variety of new flavours that we had never experienced before. It was a real treat for our palates. The Asian starters were Tuna Tataki, Crispy Mixed Fry Basket, Glass Noodle Salad and the Sanchaya Sushi Collection, which was delightful. Our main courses were their Nasi Goreng and the Mixed Grill, which had a very tasty selection of marinated and charcoal-grilled meat and seafood, served with Turkish rice. We skipped the dessert because we were so full and had enjoyed so much food already. Overall, this was a very pleasant fine dining experience, and a very unique way to get the best of two culinary styles. A special mention goes to the live music, which was a treat for
52 | AUGUST 2018 | MOTHER, BABY & CHILD
our ears, the sax played by Galina was brilliant! The dining experience was a rollercoaster for all the senses. On Friday night we went to the Anchor Bar & Grill and hung out on the balcony that faces the open sea of Marjan Island. The restaurant is inspired by sea travel and seafood, and serves contemporary flavours. We had the Traditional Fish and Chips and Pulled BBQ Chicken Burger, which again delivered on great taste. All the restaurants provide a kids’ menu, which has a decent variety of quality eating options for when the kids get a hunger attack. Our staycation at DoubleTree by Hilton Resort and Spa - Marjan Island was an excellent option for our family. There is something for everyone. Loads of food selections, attentive and friendly staff, beautiful architecture and a clean beach. All the fun and peace there makes me want to go again. And oh, did I mention the cookies at check-in? They were heavenly! For further information on family staycations: Marjanislandresort.doubletree.com +971 720 30000
MOTHER, BABY & CHILD | AUGUST 2018 | 53
good living
THE IMPACT OF COLOUR IN CHILDREN’S ROOMS *
Scientists have learned a lot about the way colour has the ability to energise, inspire, soothe, focus our attention and even agitate us. Children can be extra sensitive to the impact of colour, so this article gives you useful information on the importance of choosing the colour of your children's rooms.
*
Interior designers colour wheel
54 | JULY 2018 | MOTHER, BABY & CHILD
S
tudies have been carried out over the last 30 years demonstrating the effect of colour on children’s focus and performance at school. For example, one famous test asked children to wear coloured goggles and complete tests. Those wearing wearing goggles of their favorite colour solved the tests much faster than those without. Buy why?!
cool colours can have a calming effect on children. Plus, many of these colours help small spaces seem a bit more open. An interior designer might mix different shades of the same cool colour with the addition of soft and comfortable textiles for warmth.
Colour can help connect the neuropathways in the brain and our eyes are built to differentiate different colours. When colour passes through the retinal cells in the eyes, the receptor cells absorb the hues and send a signal to the brain, where the colours are deciphered. These brain impulses also impact hormone regulation in our endocrine glands, which then evokes an emotional and psychological response.
WARM COLOURS
THE COLOUR WHEEL Professional interior designers refer to a ‘colour wheel,’ which is divided into ‘warm’ and ‘cool’ colours. The blue and green-based colours are categorised as ‘cool colours’ and the red, yellow and orange hues are known as ‘warm colours’.
COOL COLOURS
Warm colours are known to encourage cheerfulness and a feeling of comfort in people. These warm colours are also comforting for young children, as they can make bigger rooms and open spaces feel more cosy and intimate. While this is true, it is a nice idea to use warm colours (including the brown and tan shades) as a basis from which to add brighter colours.
IMPACT OF COLOURS IN KIDS’ ROOMS
Cool colours are often used on the walls of sterile and ‘formal’ environments, such as clinics and offices. However, the lighter
Children react to colours on a physical level. The explanation behind this is that light enters the part of the brain that controls the nerve centres, as well as the heart rate and respiration. The wavelength and energy of each colour varies and affects children differently.
MOTHER, BABY & CHILD | JULY 2018 | 55
good living
Red
Orange
Red has the ability to energise us, physically and mentally. Being around the colour red even raises our heart and breathing rates. In the room where your child does homework, reds can be used in combination with other colours, as it can help in detail oriented or repetitive tasks.
This warm, friendly and youthful colour is actually great for children since it's said to encourage confidence, extroversion and independence. Many educational institutes use this colour, as it enhances critical thinking and memory. Exam rooms in orange hues are known to enhance performance in tests.
At the same time, some research has shown that being surrounded by too much red in the room can affect focus negatively, with research even suggesting that it can make us feel aggressive.
Effect on your child: The social nature of this colour also puts children and their friends at ease, inspiring communication and cooperation.
Effect on your child: Red is great as an accent but might not be the best room colour for an already restless child.
Yellow
Green
This is the colour of happiness and sunshine for children. Yellow stimulates intelligence and is ideal for kids’ rooms, study rooms and play areas. Studies also associate this bright and cheery colour with motivation.
This calming, natural colour has a soothing impact on children. Scientists have also found that green may improve a child's reading speed and comprehension.
Effect on your child: Softer yellows can help boost concentration, while brighter ones can help increase your child’s memory. Beware of using too much bright yellow, though! 56 | AUGUST 2018 | MOTHER, BABY & CHILD
Effect on your child: There's no need to keep this anxietyreducing colour to a minimum!
Blue Blue raises creativity levels and stimulates a cool and relaxing environment. Having the opposite effect of red, blue decreases feelings of anxiety and aggression and lowers blood pressure and heart rates. However, don’t use too much blue for everything in your child’s room, as this can have a melancholic effect.
Effect on your child: Children who experience tantrums or other behavioral problems may appreciate the soothing effects of a blue room.
Purple
Pink
Often associated with royalty, purple is ambitious and selfassured. It's also the colour of passion, creativity, wisdom and spirituality. This deep and emotive colour is great for inspiring sensitivity and compassion in children. Purple is a great colour choice for kids’ rooms.
Although it's usually associated with typical girly spaces, pink has a calming feel that can lower the heart rate. Cleverly used, shades of the colour can actually be used for both boys’ and girls’ rooms.
Effect on your child: But if your child is particularly sensitive, you may want to keep this colour limited to accents.
Effect on your child: Any child can grow out of too much pink quickly, though, so try pairing pink artwork, accessories and textiles with a neutral background. MOTHER, BABY & CHILD | AUGUST 2018 | 57
good living Babies grow, change and develop at an astonishing rate, showing an amazing acceleration of skills with every passing month. They achieve so much between being a tiny, helpless newborn to hitting the cognitive and developmental milestones over their first 12 months. Here, we enlist the help of birthday boy, Keyon Aaron Savio Fernandes, to demonstrate why reaching one year of age is truly something remarkable to celebrate.
A BABY’S MILESTONES IN THE FIRST YEAR Photo: Ian Hardie, 'The Studio Dubai' photography Birthday Cake: Mister Baker, Jumeriah, Dubai Outfits: Babyshop Magazine Stylist: Sarah Radwan 58 | AUGUST 2018 | MOTHER, BABY & CHILD
R
ight from the get-go, babies are almost solely focused on the business of building their nutritional stocks, learning, growing and getting underway on an incredible transformation over their first year. In baby Keyon’s case, this process started at 11.56am on the 3rd August 2017 - and he has come a long way since then.
It is important to remember that each individual baby will develop at their own pace, but shares common milestones that are usually achieved over the first 12 months. Bearing in mind the child-to-child variations, Keyon’s story helps to tell us what babies really get up to during each stage of their first year that makes their first birthday such a remarkable occasion to celebrate.
WHAT DEVELOPMENTAL MILESTONES DID 1-YEAR OLD KEYON REACH? Between 1 - 3 Months
Keyon spent this phase of his development growing his body via his healthy feeding routine to put on weight. His brain worked at an amazing pace to learn about the new world around him. During this time, he achieved the following: • He smiled. Early on, it was just to himself. But within three months, he was able to smile in response to his parents’ smiles and stimulation. • He learned to raise his own head and chest when Perleen placed him on his tummy. • He gained much more control over his eyes than he had at birth, and learned to track objects as they moved around in front of him. • He learned to open and clasp his hands, and bring them to his mouth. (He’d need that skill later!)
Photographer Ian Hardie from 'The Studio Dubai' is an expert at understanding the stage of development every baby is at, in order to help them to engage and get the best shots to commemorate their milestones.
“
• He was confidently gripping objects in his hands. • He would take swipes at, or try to reach for dangling objects. During these first three months, Keyon’s developmental journey allowed him to learn how to start engaging with and affect the world around him. He became aware that he had hands, and began to use them as tools! (Can you imagine never having experienced your hands before – and having to discover all the possibilities by yourself?) This is a huge developmental step from his early newborn days just 8-12 weeks earlier. He also discovered his voice, as mummy Perleen will tell you!
Keyon’s story
helps to tell us what babies
really get up to
Between 4 - 6 Months • Keyon learned that he could move himself by rolling over onto his front or his back. • He started to make sounds and babble that started to resemble deliberate language attempts or communication. • He laughed when he was happy or amused!
during each stage of their first year
“
Keyon’s parents, Brian and Perleen, were thrilled at the news of her pregnancy, with Keyon’s much-anticipated arrival causing an excitement and joy that, of course, was shared by the baby’s grandparents. Wondering how their newborn would look was quickly replaced with a need to know whether their baby’s development was on target. But what does ‘on target’ mean for a baby’s first year? This is where Keyon helps us to understand!
• He started to purposefully reach out for, and grab objects in front of him. He could interact with toys and people. • He was making decisions about the people he was, and was not comfortable with, and recognising his favourite people, such as his grandparents. • He sat up, with a little support from Perleen or Brian, and had learned how to control his head.
MOTHER, BABY & CHILD | AUGUST 2018 | 59
good living
• He communicated to Perleen and Brian that he was ready to try solid foods by putting objects in his mouth – even his hands. (Talk about dropping hints!) Showing eating instincts
Between 7 - 9 Months After Keyon had reached his six-month milestone, he had equipped himself with enough knowledge and skills to become more active. He knew by now that he could get from A to B by rolling over, he had a firm grip with his hands, and was working on figuring out how he could move forwards or backwards at his 7-9 month mark. Perleen and Brian babyproofed their home at this time!
Meanwhile, Keyon… Reaching for what he wants
• Started to crawl - in his own way at first. This involved shuffling on his bottom, dragging himself around using his arms and legs, with his tummy sliding along on his clothes against the smooth floor at home. He was also working hard on practicing crawling on his hands and knees. • Was able to sit up without support from Perleen by now.
Crawling and moving
• Was ready, willing and able to respond when he heard familiar words, like his name. He also stopped in his tracks when told “No,” by briefly stopping and looking at Perleen. (This in itself is a form of two-way communication.) He started to babble "Mam" and "Dada." • Clapped his hands, either on his own, by copying someone doing it, or sometimes when gently asked to do so. He smiled, laughed and enjoyed the reaction to this. • Played little games, such as peekaboo and was able to anticipate and predict what was coming next in the game.
Smiling, laughing and playing
• Learned to pull up himself to a standing position and independently decide to enjoy himself by holding onto – or hanging off the edges of the furniture. He was making decisions!
60 | AUGUST 2018 | MOTHER, BABY & CHILD
Between 10 - 12 Months Over the last eight weeks, Keyon has been busy learning to: • Begin feeding himself. He has mastered the ‘pincer grasp,’ meaning he can hold small objects such as little rusks between his thumb and forefinger. • Develop his confidence in moving around the room on his feet while holding onto the furniture. • Say a few words, and refer to his parents as "Mama" and "Dada." He understands much more language than he can speak himself and has an acute awareness of many things around him and can communicate how he feels about them. • Point at objects he wants and get attention from people – his parents and others. • Copy Perleen and Brian – for example, by communicating that he wants to play with their phone and holding it to his ear – an absolutely correct use of the object. Over the last two months, Keyon has taken a huge leap forward in his development. This little man now knows what foods he likes and dislikes, he can move around and decide where he wants to reach, he has strong little legs and is brave and instinctive enough to keep trying to stand unsupported, before realising that he is not quite ready for that yet. His sense of adventure means he will keep on trying new foods, thereby getting a range of vitamins and nutrients to continue to grow. He has taken ‘a stretch’ in his height and growth even just over the last four weeks and is starting to transition into a little toddler – equipped for the next phase of his journey of discovery and development. So, to Keyon Aaron Savio Fernandes, and all babies celebrating their first major milestone, we extend our highest level of awe, respect and congratulations for all you’ve achieved, as well as a huge HAPPY BIRTHDAY to you from everyone at Mother, Baby & Child!
Babyshop Giggles (comes with t-shirt) AED 119
Babyshop Giggles Hats starting at AED 15
BABY'S CLOSET Photography by Ian Hardie, The Studio Dubai
When your baby reaches their first birthday, they’re at the in-between stage of baby and toddler. They now have the power of mobility and are not afraid to use it! Thankfully, the new Babyshop summer range gives babies on the move an extra turbo boost of style, with cool fabrics, in happy colours for the summer months. As well as tons of choice, there’s lots of growing room for babies who need room to manoeuvre!
Babyshop Juniors AED 18 each
Babyshop Giggles Shirt and shorts AED 57 each
Babyshop Giggles Polo T-Shirt and Dungarees AED 115
MOTHER, BABY & CHILD | AUGUST 2018 | 61
good living Dress AED 49
MAX
IT UP!
MAX’S BACK TO SCHOOL CHARACTERS COLLECTION FOR SOME SERIOUS INSPIRATION New classes, new friends, new year, new challenges! The start of a new school year can be a stressful moment in every child’s life. To boost your child’s self-confidence, Max has launched a new Back To School Collection inspired by iconic childhood characters. The new collection is here to help your kids get cool for school! The collection features all your children's favourite characters from Mickey & Mini, Cinderella, Snow White and Hello Kitty to the fearless Avengers superheroes and the timeless Spiderman. You can pick between cool jeans with Disney character prints, princess skirts and cute tops with flutter sleeves and open shoulders for girls or soft and comfy jog pants and printed T-shirts for boys. The style is subtle and plays on the personality behind every iconic princess and Marvel Super Hero.
Dress AED 60
62 | AUGUST 2018 | MOTHER, BABY & CHILD
The collection has a range of back to school clothes, backpacks, lunch boxes and stationery that are sure to keep your kids confident and excited about getting dressed and ready for school! Check out these Max’s cool outfits, and get ready for an A in first-day style..
T-shirt AED 34 T-shirt AED 29
Jogger AED 44
Jogger AED 49
T-shirt AED 39
T-shirt AED 29
Dress AED 49
Denim AED 70
Denim AED 55
MOTHER, BABY & CHILD | AUGUST 2018 | 63
good living Steve Madden AED 399 Kurt Geiger AED 399
Steve Madden AED 369
Desigual AED 379
LOVE IS
IN THE
BAG!
Outfit to the left can be found at RIVER ISLAND
64 | AUGUST 2018 | MOTHER, BABY & CHILD
Charles & Keith AED 349
Kurt Geiger AED 799
Ecco AED 2499
Steve Madden AED 279 Ecco AED 799
Charles & Keith AED 399
River Island AED 279
M2Malletier AED 1,380 Twinset AED 1,380
Kurt Geiger AED 549
Ecco AED 699 River Island AED 289
MOTHER, BABY & CHILD | AUGUST 2018 | 65
FACT FILE
HOW ASTHMA SUFFERERS CAN SURVIVE SANDSTORMS Asthma awareness is crucial when living in the GCC, especially when we live in a climate that has significant environmental triggers such as sandstorms. Several studies conducted in the Gulf countries with a high rate of sandstorms, confirmed the increased prevalence of asthma in those countries. It was also reported that sandstorms frequently cause adverse health effects on the respiratory symtem’s function and just 15 minutes exposure to smaller-size sandstorm dust particles have a greater potential to cause asthma. Asthma requires long term treatment; however, it can be managed if precautions are taken to reduce the severity of the symptoms. Knowing how to control your asthma during sandstorms can provide asthmatics with a better quality of life. Here are six health and safety tips to survive this sandstorm season: STAY INDOORS Stay indoors as much as possible during sandstorms and keep windows and doors closed. Reduce your exposure to common allergens during the sandstorms that may provoke asthmatic attacks. CHECK WEATHER AND POLLUTION FORECASTS It is recommended that asthmatics check the daily weather and air quality reports, especially during the sandstorm season. This can help you plan ahead and manage your daily activities.
By Mohamed Samir Regional Medical Director, Mundipharma
66 | AUGUST 2018 | MOTHER, BABY & CHILD
CLEAN AIR CONDITIONER VENTS Living in a hot climate country means we are indoors more often and use air-conditioning regularly. Dust collection in air conditioning vents can be a harmful trigger if not cleaned and checked regularly. Air conditioning units need to be regularly maintained and cleaned every six months to avoid the accumulation of dust in ducts and vents. USE AN AIR-PURIFIER Sandstorms affect allergy and asthma sufferers the most. An air purifier can help reduce indoor pollution and help you breathe better – and some brands do a far better job than others. Although air purifiers are by no means a cure for asthma, they help to remove the allergens and particles that can trigger symptoms by directing air through a filter. If you are asthmatic, an air purifier will help you to breathe more easily by improving indoor the air quality. WEAR A FACE MASK IF YOU'RE OUTDOORS Consider wearing a medical face mask or use a wet towel during sandstorms to prevent inhaling the dust particles. Do not forget to regularly change the face masks. Don’t worry about feeling self-conscious, in sandy dusty conditions, most people wish they had one. STAY HYDRATED Fluids, especially water, are just as important for you during sandstorms. Remember to keep hydrated or even spray water on the face and eyes if you come in direct contact with dust.
Real life health stories, the latest in nutritional insights, family wellbeing and our top health tips this month.
HEALTH
N U T R I T I O N | W E L L B E I N G | V I TA L I T Y MOTHER, BABY & CHILD | AUGUST 2018 | 67
health
CHOOSING A NURSERY THAT NURTURES & MATCHES YOUR CHILD’S NEEDS
As a working parent of a toddler, you might eventually have to work through the possibility of sending your child to a nursery. Here’s a guide to choosing and enrolling in a nursery, by Kids First Group (KFG), specialists in providing quality early years care and education for all children. 68 | AUGUST 2018 | MOTHER, BABY & CHILD
I
nstead of feeling bad over spending time apart from your toddler, find a nursery that will match your child’s best needs, advises KFG. But what are the hallmarks of a good nursery? • An Ideal location • Lots of greenery and large outdoor spaces • Friendly and qualified staff • An international curriculum As a parent, balancing work life and a toddler isn’t an easy job, which is why finding a nursery with flexible timings is extremely important. Kids First Group gives you all the above and more. As a renowned expert in day care and childcare, their experienced staff creates a safe, caring and positive environment for your child in their nurseries, which span throughout Dubai and Abu Dhabi. If you want to be actively involved in your child’s education, you might be delighted to know that KFG nurseries follow a strong and positive homenursery partnership and keeps parents involved in the day-to-day lives of their children. KFG follows a curriculum that is structured to nurture creativity, develop and broaden their intellect, while being sensitive to the needs of your child.
KFG LEARNING STYLES The Montessori Method This teaching method aims to give your child the fullest possible development in their formative years. It provides a pleasant environment with carefully devised materials that meet the child’s natural needs and of course, nurture his or her absorbent mind.
Tri-lingual Education Curriculum This promotes diversity, child empowerment and learner-centric approaches, using emerging themes such as creativity, critical thinking and social-emotional literacy. This curriculum will endow each child with basic skills that will help them excel in academics, independence and social skills, and other traits necessary for a successful future.
The Reggio Emilia Approach
HighScope
The Reggio Emilia approach was developed for childcare and education programmes serving children below six years of age. This approach requires children to be seen as competent, resourceful, curious, imaginative and inventive learners. The Reggio Emilia Approach has been adopted in several countries around the world, such as the UK, USA, Australia, New Zealand and the UAE.
The HighScope approach supports children’s learning through play. It helps children to develop their language, selfesteem and confidence. HighScope is a broad educational approach that strives to help children develop in all areas, with the core framework activities based on the children’s interests.
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) is a comprehensive framework that sets the standards for the learning, development and care of children from birth to the age of five. It promotes teaching and learning to ensure children are ready for school and gives children the broad range of knowledge and skills that provide the right foundation for good future progress through school and life.
ENROLLING YOUR CHILD AT NURSERY Register now to enrol your child in the most well-respected nurseries in the GCC. To learn more about our nurseries in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, visit the Kids First Group website and choose the one that perfectly matches your child’s needs. Admissions for Term 1 in September 2018 are currently open! For further information, contact the Kids First Group team directly at info@kidsfirstgroup.com
MOTHER, BABY & CHILD | AUGUST 2018 | 69
health
There are things you can do to help maximise the value of your visit to the clinic. Dr. Mavluda, Family Medicine Specialist from Amwaj Polyclinic in Dubai’s JBR, tells us more about this, and also gives pointers as to when your child should see the doctor.
GETTING THE MOST FROM YOUR DOCTOR’S APPOINTMENT
L
et the clinic know what the purpose of your visit is, whether you’d like a well-being checkup, or whether your visit involves a case of sickness for either you or your child. Generally speaking, a runny nose takes less time to diagnose than going through the complete health history of a patient, which would be necessary for more complicated cases and full check-ups. Do check your insurance coverage, so you avoid any unexpected bills! Also bear the following in mind: • For some doctor visits, especially in the case of check-ups that involve sending tests to a lab, do check in advance if you need to fast before your appointment.
• Try to get into the habit of writing things down before you visit the clinic, so you don’t have to worry about remembering everything you need to tell your doctor, such as the medicines you take - even supplements, your medical history and any family incidence of illness, such as heart problems. • You can also bring along previous records like X-rays, medical files, blood results, etc. • Write down any questions you have about your concerns, so you can be open with your doctor and ask questions. • Never be too embarrassed to see your doctor.
70 | AUGUST 2018 | MOTHER, BABY & CHILD
Keep in mind that your doctor has seen and treated so many patients, there is no need to be embarrassed about anything - they have probably seen your condition before and do care for your wellbeing. Remember, they became physicians to help people! It is important that your doctor knows about all your symptoms and if you are taking medicines, write down their side effects if you experience any. Also, personal factors like life changing phases or stress should also be discussed when you’re seeing the doctor. Make sure you ask your doctor to explain anything you want them to make clearer, as it is perfectly normal to not
WHEN TO TAKE YOUR CHILD TO THE DOCTOR If you are unsure if you should take your child to the doctor, a quick call to the clinic can help you make this decision, as you can speak to your doctor or a nurse.. In the following cases it is always recommended to see a doctor: • Breathing issues • If your child is losing consciousness • High or persistent fever: A fever (above 38 degrees celcius) is usually beneficial as it shows that the body is fighting off the infection. But small babies especially should be taken to the doctor immediately, as their immune system is not yet developed. Also if the fever is high and has lasted over several days, see your doctor straight away. • Frequent diarrhea and vomiting: The problem here is dehydration; if your child is not able to keep any liquids down (in order to produce at least once urine in 6-8 hours) or the child is becoming lethargic, take your child to your doctor. • If diarrhea or vomit contains blood understand everything, especially in cases where doctors use medical terms. You should be able to have an open and balanced conversation with your doctor, if one of you is having just a monologue it is a red flag. If you feel that your doctor does not take the time to listen to you and is just prescribing medication, it is time to change your doctor. It is the goal of every good doctor to find the course of the illness, not just treat the symptoms.
• If your child has been in contact with other people suffering from contagious diseases, such as chickenpox, or if you have traveled outside the country recently, going to your doctor is an absolute must.
medication, or decide by themselves that they feel better and stop taking it before the doctor advised. By taking the medication exactly as prescribed, you can then establish and discuss any possible side effects, and ask how long the treatment should take and if you are due for a follow up visit. • Take some informative brochures from the clinic and write notes when you’re with the doctor so you can remember everything after you’ve reached home.
AFTERCARE/ TREATMENT PLAN
• Inform your doctor if your condition worsens.
Make sure you follow the doctor’s treatment plan and prescription. People can often forget to take a dose of their
• If you still have questions after your visit, call the clinic and ask to speak to the doctor or the nurse.
If your child is tired, uncomfortable or in pain, they are better off recuperating at home. And usually a mother’s instinct is always the best way to know if your child needs to see the doctor. If at any time you are not sure whether your child needs the doctor or not, it is always better to err on the side of caution and go to the clinic!
MOTHER, BABY & CHILD | AUGUST 2018 | 71
COMPETITIONS WIN! UP TO AED 50,000 FOR SCHOOL FEES WITH THE DISNEY ‘GET READY FOR SCHOOL’ CAMPAIGN
Disney is spreading a little magic before the new school year with the launch of an exciting Back-to-School competition, which will conclude on the 10th of September. The summer holidays are nearly over and it’s time for parents to start getting their little ones ready for the school term. Disney’s Back-to-School range has families covered with all its new Disney, Star Wars, and Marvel collections, from pre-school to high school. Parents and their children will be thrilled to discover a whole new range of backpacks, stationery, notebooks and more, featuring iconic characters, such as Frozen, Spider-Man, Star Wars and of course the man himself, Mickey Mouse. TO ENTER
When shopping in stores across the UAE, parents you pay extra attention to the awesome array of backpacks on display for a chance to win up to AED 50,000 towards your child’s school fees for this year. Attached to each bag will be a tag detailing the steps needed to activate and participate in this amazing competition. You simply need to tell Disney why your child is so excited to head back into the classroom after the summer break! The winning family will be selected based on the most inspiring answer. The Back-to-School competition is open to all parents with children aged between four to fifteen years of age, who are currently studying in the UAE. So, get ready and start thinking “why is your child excited to go back to school?”
PLEASE NOTE: THIS IS A DISNEY COMPETITION – SO YOU CANNOT ENTER THIS ONE ON THE MOTHER, BABY & CHILD WEBSITE. DETAILS ARE ON THE DISNEY BACKPACKS SOLD IN STORES NATIONWIDE!
72 | AUGUST 2018 | MOTHER, BABY & CHILD
WIN A MALDIVES FAMILY VACATION WORTH AED17,000! A W A R D S 2 0 1 8
The 7th annual Mother, Baby & Child awards recognise the best products and services for children and families across the UAE as voted for by you. The only awards of their kind, the Mother, Baby &Child Awards give mothers the opportunity to help shape vital industries which are part of their daily lives and recognise brands that support both parents and their families. Cast your votes now and enter our draw to win an amazing three-night stay for a family of four at The Sun Siyam Iru Fushi Resort, Maldives – including a snorkeling excursion and spa treatments worth over AED 17,000! To enter all you need to do is hit the ‘share’ button after you have cast your votes online.
Voting Prize Partner
Supporting Partner
Official Publication
Media Partner
Organiser
motherbabychild.com/awards #mbcawards Voting closes 8th November 2018.
COMPETITIONS
A Day Pool Pass for two WIN! adults, including brunch, at Elements restaurant worth AED 650 Hili Rayhaan by Rotana is the first hotel under the Rayhaan brand to open in Al Ain - the garden city of the UAE - reflecting the essence of Arabic traditions. The hotel is conveniently located at Hili District, the heritage destination of the UAE, a stone’s throw away from Oman, Al Ain airport, and an hours drive time from Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Hili Rayhaan by Rotana offers 254 state-of-the-art spacious rooms and suites in an alcohol-free environment, a choice of three different F&B outlets, all with beautiful culinary offerings: • Elements - an all-day restaurant offering an international buffet for breakfast, lunch and 6 different, yet exotic theme nights for dinner. • Hili Majlis - the lobby lounge for informal get-togethers over coffee and light snacks, where you can try the new promotion ‘Coffee & Cake’ offer. • Sundeck Pool Café - the attractive pool café, which serves fresh juices and light snacks. The facilities within Hili Rayhaan by Rotana also include the Bodylines Fitness & Wellness club, complete with an aerobics room, tennis court, outdoor swimming pool, children’s playground and children’s pool, steam, sauna and massage rooms. Meeting and conference facilities are an additional benefit the hotel can offer to both guests and the local community. Directly linked to Hili Rayhaan by Rotana, Hili Mall is the newest shopping destination in the city with its iconic design combining heritage with modernity, lodges and a wide variety of brands under its roof, which will surely add more zest to your stay!
WIN!
A Leapreader and Leapstart from Leapfrog Harness worth AED 598
Whether you’re travelling abroad this summer or braving the heat in the UAE, ClevaMama has a range of ultra-clever products that make parenting that little bit easier. The brand is giving away two of their best loved items, which are both practical and pioneering. If you are travelling, the ClevaFoam 3-in-1 Mattress will fast become your best friend. Offering the ultimate in comfort for your little one, this multi-use mattress can be used as a play mat, as a comfortable mattress for inside your travel cot and as a mini-sofa for when your baby gets a bit bigger. The second prize is the ClevaWedge, a revolutionary product that elevates your baby using a 3-point harness to ease the discomfort caused by reflux, colic and nasal congestion, as well as aiding digestion.
WIN! An AED 500 Voucher to spend at Tavola
Tavola is the exclusive retailer in the Middle East of a wide range of popular, high quality cookware, bakeware and tableware brands. Tavola has been established for over 10 years in the Middle East, with many shops throughout the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Qatar. You can also order your favourite kitchen and tableware brands on tavolashop.com Also offering a range of cake decorating and kitchen skills classes, Tavola is the only authorised Wilton method provider in the Middle East. Who doesn’t love letting loose in a cook and bakeware store?! Enter online for your chance to win!
A Cetaphil Baby WIN! products hamper worth AED 500
The lucky winner will have a chance to try out the Cetaphil Baby range that comes in a gentle formula, clinically proven for baby’s sensitive and delicate skin. From the tear-free Gentle Wash & Shampoo, to the 24hour hydrating Daily Lotion, to the soothing Massage Oil, all Cetaphil Baby products are hypoallergenic, non-irritating and dermatologist-tested, making it the ideal daily skin care range from baby’s first day of life onwards.
*Terms and conditions apply. CPI Media Group employees are not eligible to enter. Winners will be selected at random from correct entries.
74 | AUGUST 2018 | MOTHER, BABY & CHILD