Every parent across the UAE will know just how trying this time of year can be when it comes to keeping the children physically busy and mentally active, but it is important according to health experts.
While the summer holidays provide a break from school work and a chance to reset for the new term, health experts are suggesting that families that are staying put in the UAE for the summer, it is imperative that parents focus on finding the right balance between entertainment and creative engagement for their children.
Doctor Arif Khan, Consultant Pediatric Neurologist and Epileptologist and Head of Children's Services at Abu Dhabi's American Center for Psychiatry and Neurology, says keeping kids engaged both physically and mentally during the break can improve their performance ahead of the new academic year. He adds that being active strengthens their muscles and bones and ensures their bodies are capable of running day-to-day activities.
It is also important to remember that children’s activity levels in their early stages can have an effect on them for the rest of their lives.
Following, Khan offers five tips to help parents keep their kids mentally and physically healthy this summer.
1. Structure the day or week with activities — create a schedule each day or week so your child knows what to expect. For example, 9-10am: Bike riding or dog walk to the park. This type of structure works particularly well with children who have a lot of energy. By creating plenty of activities in advance, you will reduce distractions, impulses, boredom, and ultimately depression and accidents.
2. Encourage children to track their activity — for the kids that spend countless hours in front of a computer or TV screen, activity trackers might be the motivator they need to get moving. Activity trackers, such as iBitz or the TupeloLife offer an eight-week after school programme where children can track their steps and learn about the importance of being active every day.
3. Take advantage of summer camps — with so many different camps available for children during the school holidays, enrolling your child in a camp based on their preference, skills and interest is an option that can be very rewarding. Summer camps can help children build self-confidence and self-esteem by removing the kind of academic, athletic and social competition that shapes their lives at school. Summer camps also provide a stable routine and environment that is usually different than the daily routine that children are used to.
4. Exercise their minds and get involved — introducing children to creative activities that they might not necessarily have the time to do during the school year can be equally rewarding, like cooking or playing games, or taking part in family activity days.
5. Set a bedtime — this will help keep your child develop a consistent schedule and ensure proper rest. Lack of sleep can have a negative effect on a child's learning, as well as their ability to grasp and understand things during the day. A child can become quite fidgety, hyperactive and can also resort to excessive eating if they chronically lack sleep leading to obesity, social isolation and other health care issues.
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