HEALTH met with three families in Dubai to find out how they planned to keep the kids happy and beat the heat…
Hammad Sheikh and Qurat Imtiazi have one daughter, one and a half year old Amal Hammad
Q) During the time you are here during the summer, how do you keep the kids happy, busy and entertained without an overload of gadgets?
A) “We gather with our friends and make use of as much family WHAT ARE YOU DOING THIS entertainment deals and vouchers around the city, preferably indoors.”
Q) Summer here is really hot! How do you deal with the fact that kids have to stay indoors much of the day?
A) “Outdoors is unbearable in the region and this is one factor that Dubai has overcome by providing a lot of indoor activities for the whole family. Staying indoors doesn’t seem like a setback. In winters we are out and in summers we are in.”
Q) What about getting kids active with various classes and activities?
A) “It would be great to have such activities to keep the kids busy. We believe children learn from everywhere and not just schools and home. Anything that enhances our child’s growth physically and/or mentally is welcome.”
Jalal and Nazia Rumi have four children; 11-year-old Wajeeha, 9-year-old Omer, 6-year-old Aayan, and 2-year-old Madeeha
Q) During the time you are here during the summer, how do you keep the kids happy, busy and entertained without an overload of gadgets?
A) “We like to take the children to water parks, malls, parks and we arrange gettogethers.”
Q) Summer here is really hot! How do you deal with the fact that kids have to stay indoors much of the day?
A) “It’s a problem as we mostly have to be at home or go to malls for indoor play areas and indoor pools.”
Q) Do your kids maintain any reading, studying and general quiet time over the summer?
A) “Yes my kids maintain reading by reading story books and play general knowledge games.”
Waqqas Qadir Sheikh and Sana Amjad Malik have three children, 2-yearold Manha Qadir Sheikh, 5-year-old Zaid Qadir Sheikh, and 7-year-old Amaan Qadir Sheikh
Q) During the time you are here during the summer, how do you keep the kids happy, busy and entertained without an overload of gadgets?
A) “Kids need lots of physical activity to release their energies. Otherwise they become quite agitated. Thankfully we live in a city that celebrates Ramadan and summer with festivity and there are lots of free indoor activities and shows for the kids to enjoy. Also, I involve them in practically all household chores from laundry to cooking and cleaning so that they don’t take any of it for granted and appreciate whoever is doing all this for them. I believe taking care of your basic necessities is an essential life skill that every kid needs to be equipped with.”
Q) Summer here is really hot! How do you deal with the fact that kids have to stay indoors much of the day?
A) “It does pose a problem since I have to constantly remind to the kids not to step outside in the sun for too long. Kids hardly care when they are busy playing so parents have to pester them with restrictions. An easy solution is an inflatable pool; they can hang around in it for some hours in the late afternoon.”
Q) Do your kids maintain any reading, studying and general quiet time over the summer?
A) “Yes, I encourage the kids to start off their days with at least one story, a few lines of handwriting in each language that they are studying in addition to some online study program supported by their school. Of course the kids don’t follow it to the tee but it sure helps them stay in touch with studies.”
