We should ensure that all new housing developments make adequate provisions for playing areas, including organised and unstructured sport. Silvia Razgova / The National
We should ensure that all new housing developments make adequate provisions for playing areas, including organised and unstructured sport. Silvia Razgova / The National

Children need space to play



The benefits of free play don’t seem to be acknowledged in many new housing developments, which often lack the facilities needed for children to exercise both their minds and their bodies. Some developments don’t offer any space for free play, while others offer only swings and slides suitable for very young children.

While the Mudon Community, off Al Qudra Road in Dubai, provides an equipped playground, it lacks facilities needed for organised sports and unstructured play. As The National reported yesterday, the management issued a notice recently banning children from playing on green areas, restricting them to a playground which is too small for older children to play football and other ball sports.

This issue requires attention. As the UAE expands rapidly, we should ensure that all new housing developments make adequate provisions for playing areas, including organised and unstructured play.

Playing outside is essential for children to develop balance, coordination and physical strength. It provides opportunities for children to gain social skills, and improve their imagination, creativity and problem-solving ability. It can also strengthen their sense of self and their sense of connection with their peers and to their community and the environment.

This is why children need to have play spaces that include wide areas for free, active, social, exploratory and natural play. Separate sports areas are also essential.

But such facilities are rarely available and many parents find it difficult to find proper playgrounds for their children, regardless of their age. While there are more opportunities for structured play, places for free play in its many forms are more difficult to find. Children nowadays spend long hours inside the house on the internet, video games and other devices that don’t necessarily teach them life skills or encourage healthy lifestyles. The lack of open space for them to play will only make the problem worse.

Tips for entertaining with ease

·         Set the table the night before. It’s a small job but it will make you feel more organised once done.

·         As the host, your mood sets the tone. If people arrive to find you red-faced and harried, they’re not going to relax until you do. Take a deep breath and try to exude calm energy.

·         Guests tend to turn up thirsty. Fill a big jug with iced water and lemon or lime slices and encourage people to help themselves.

·         Have some background music on to help create a bit of ambience and fill any initial lulls in conversations.

·         The meal certainly doesn’t need to be ready the moment your guests step through the door, but if there’s a nibble or two that can be passed around it will ward off hunger pangs and buy you a bit more time in the kitchen.

·         You absolutely don’t have to make every element of the brunch from scratch. Take inspiration from our ideas for ready-made extras and by all means pick up a store-bought dessert.

 

FIXTURES

UAE’s remaining fixtures in World Cup qualification R2
Oct 8: Malaysia (h)
Oct 13: Indonesia (a)
Nov 12: Thailand (h)
Nov 17: Vietnam (h)
 

Where to buy and try:

Nutritional yeast

DesertCart

Organic Foods & Café

Bulletproof coffee

Wild & The Moon

Amasake

Comptoir 102

DesertCart

Organic Foods & Café

Charcoal drinks and dishes

Various juice bars, including Comptoir 102

Bridgewater Tavern

3 Fils

Jackfruit

Supermarkets across the UAE