Issue #10 Doha Family Guide Autumn 2014

FREE

Keeping kids entertained

AT HOME

GYMNASTICS A great sport for your developing preschooler

PLAYGROUPS

Good for kids and parents

AUTUMN 2014 | ISSUE 10 | BROUGHT TO YOU BY DOHA MUMS

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Inside This Guide A

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PA RK

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Baby Care & Products

Bio-Oil 4450-6245 34 Just Baby 3314-6619 33 Try Nice Things 5569-4136 21 Wyeth Nutrition 800-6669 54

Children’s Retail

Angelo 7040-6070 8/33 Play & Learn 4005-2600 8 Ziddy 4486-2288 22

Events & Entertainment

Doha Players 4447-4911 34

Events, Catering & Party Services Balloon Décor & More 3319-8817 33 Children’s Way 6658-6398 33 Easy Party’s 5559-4228 21 Events Party Shop 4413-1155 10 Glamorous Cakes 6618-7283 33 L&M Cocos Cakes 5594-3576 33 Reems Bakery 7782-9689 33

Food & Beverages

Carluccio’s Pearl Qatar 6690-1777 31 Nando’s 4444-2345 11 Spicy Pickle 4407-7119 9

Gifts, Cards & Books

Living Parallel Lives (Book) See ad 21 Flip Flop Papers 3300-1866 33

Health & Medical

Acti Patch 4467-7801 51 The Fetomaternal Centre 4475-6369 11 Virgin Health Bank 4404-9024 2

Jewellery Smallprint 6600-4306 21

Kids’ Activities

Doha Mums Library See ad 16 Enana Ballet Academy 4444-1399 53 Hamilton Aquatics 3381-2212 21 It’s Time to Play 5599-6296 21 Jungle Zone 4499-9699 42 Laura Knight Academy of Dance 3346-9121 21 Legacy Sports Academy 5582-1375 41 Monkeynastix 4486-6293 49 Doha Family Guide

Discover Qatar

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Playball Doha 7794-3009 21 Science Made Fun 3399-6665 30 SFQ Sports Academy 4486-6293 25/44 Toddler Soccer 4486-6293 25 The Gymnastics Academy 5582-9428 39

Leisure Classes Caramel 4442-6267 30 CPR First Aid Training See ad 13/25/40 Sugar Flair 6694-7398 21

Nurseries

Central English Speaking Kindergarten 4413-5675 55 Kanga’s Pouch Nursery 7788-6171 49 Little Academy Nursery 4460-2713 5 Steady Steps Nursery 6616-3682 31 The English Kindergarten (TEK) 4491-9318 17 Tiny Town British Nursery 4483-4553 25

Online

memloom See ad 15

Pets

Dogs in Doha 6618-4924 17 Cats in Qatar See ad 55 QAWS See ad 30 Qatar Vet Center 4016-1366 9

Photography Laura Utarbayeva Photography 5529-0340 21 Mariana Photography 6675-4219 21

Recruitment Michael Page 4413-3500 24

Relocation Services

Santa Fe Relocation Services 4335-8919 4

Retail Bella Materna 4493-0914 10 Hyatt Plaza

4499-9666 27 Purely Honey 7736-1282 33 WHSmith See ad 43 Takiwall 4460-4085 5

Schools

Al Nebras International Preschool 6622- 6678 9 Al Hekma International School 4493-5522 7 The Gulf International School 4457-8705 56

Spa & Beauty Dados Beauty 4498-0033 4 Andrea Espinosa Make-up Artist 3392-2670 33

Tutorial Services Geometric Learning Centre 4427-9295 52 KipMcGrath 4417-7103 17 Oxford Learning Centre 4491-0777 50

Wellbeing

Pilates with Maggie 5539-9158 21 Pilates with Theresa 5596-9124 21 Razor Fitness 3311-8103 55 SFQ Sports Academy 4486-6293 26 Stars R Fit 3363-8586 33 Zumba With Diyah 7782-4982 21 3

Inside This Guide

Discover Qatar

Barzan Olympic Park 6 10 Ways play dough helps your child develop 18-19 5 Yoga poses for children 36-37 Gymnastics, a great sport for your developing preschooler 38-39 5 Great reasons to play more

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Back to school must haves

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Playgroups, good for kids and parents 46-47

On the Cover

Lewis (age 2) is the winner of the Doha Family Guide photo contest.

From the coast of Scotland, he feels right at home‌ at Katara Beach. We love this snapshot as it shows the best of both worlds!

Photo taken by Lissa Skinner, mum to Lewis and Emma

% 10 FF O www.dadosbeauty.com Al Seal Residence, West Bay 4

T: (+974) 4498-0033 dohamums.com

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Things to Do

Barzan Olympic Park

W

hat sets this one apart from Doha’s other parks is the variety of activities on offer, including a train ride and a leaping water fountain.

Parks Around Qatar If you’re looking for something different, head to Barzan Olympic Park—an attractive and secure paid park located just north of Doha in Umm Salal.

By Bethan Wyn Speakman

The water fountain isn’t there just to look pretty; it is part of the park’s play equipment and always full of kids having the time of their lives frolicking and getting sopping wet. It’s a great way to cool down after running around in the playground!

Another real pull on a hot day is that there is no shortage of shade.

The playground is entirely shaded providing nonstop fun. After a good long play, settle in one of the many shaded seating areas to have a picnic in the lush, green and well-kept surroundings. Before you leave, don’t forget to hop on the little train that does a loop around the park or hire a single, twin or four-seater bike to ride around the bike track.

As you would expect from an ‘Olympic’ park whose slogan is ‘sports for life’, it also has a wide range of sports facilities from football to table tennis. For a park that seems small in size, it’s astonishing how much there is to do in Barzan Olympic Park!

‘Keeping c oo l ’ r e m m u S e h t in

Key Information: Opening hours: 06:00-22:00, opens at 16:00 on Mondays Entrance fee: QR 10, entrance is free for children under three, disabled children and children with learning difficulties. barzanpark.net Driving directions: • Take the Doha Expressway/Al Shamal road out of Doha, heading north.

• Pass Ezdan Mall on your left. Then pass IKEA on your right.

• Approximately 4km after Ikea you will see Woqood Rawdat Hamama Service Station on your right. (It has a large colourful outdoor play area.)

• Directly after this service station, at the Al Mazrooah interchange, take exit 16 off the Al Shamal Road.

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• Take the 1st exit off the slip road (sign-posted Rawdat al Hamama) and follow the road until you get to a roundabout.

• At the roundabout, do a U-turn and continue straight, crossing over the Al Shamal Road.

• Continue until you get to another roundabout. At this roundabout, turn right.

• Continue along this road and follow the road as it veers to the left running parallel with the Al Shamal Road. You will see Qatar’s Ministry of Interior building on your left.

• Continue past this building until you get to a smaller roundabout.

Go straight at this roundabout following the brown sign to Barzan Olympic Park.

• You will see the park walls and its grand buildings on your left.

After driving over a couple of speed bumps, follow the brown sign and take a left. You will see the canopied entrance to the walled park on your left.

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Est. 1974 KM

Call today for an assessment Tel: 4491-9319 Al Maamoura Area Build a brighter future for your child Kip McGrath’s qualified teachers create individually tailored programmes for your child, using proven methods of tuition. Kip McGrath caters to all curricula including: the American, British & Qatari curricula.

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We are a network of people who help to rescue, foster, adopt and find missing dogs. We do not have a shelter but rely on the kindness of people to foster or sponsor a dog while we work to find a forever home. All dogs that are ready for adoption have been to a professional vet and are healthy, have been vaccinated, spay / neutered and micro-chipped. Our philosophy is 'Don't Shop, Adopt', help us to spread the word. If you are interested in volunteering, fostering or adopting a dog into your family please contact us.

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PHO CON TO TES

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SEE YOUR CHILD ON THE COVER OF THE NEXT ISSUE!

Enter by submitting photos of your child in costumes or dress-up clothes

TOP TIP

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Indoors

Busy Kids

Keeping Kids Entertained At Home “ Reading in the fort”

by Ben Husmann

By Ghenwa Yehia-Malaeb

S

ometimes there are days when you just feel like you’ve been to every mall in Doha, been into every store and memorised the merchandise. And some days you just want to avoid the hassle of packing up the kids and car and venturing out. So now you’re stuck at home, with restless kids that you somehow have to keep entertained.

But being stuck at home doesn’t mean that you have to write the day off just lounging around watching the clock tick away the minutes and hours. You can definitely have an enjoyable day without losing your cool.

The first thing that you have to do, even before you face a situation where you’re stuck at home, is to be prepared. Whether you’re in Doha and you’re stuck inside because of the heat, or in any country really, it’s smart and practical to anticipate days when you simply can’t go out. Having a list of pre-planned activities along with supplies is the perfect way to take the guesswork out of spending a day indoors.

That being said, here are some fun ways to spend a day indoors:

Build a fort. Gather all of the couch cushions and pillows, along with some sheets from the linen closet and have the kids assemble them into a fort. Enjoyment will ensue. That’s all that there is to it, really; no kid can resist a fort!

Arts and Crafts. If you want to get your kids’ creative juices flowing, it’s time to pull out all of the stops. Pull out the crayons, markers, glue, glitter, construction paper, pipe cleaners, popsicle sticks, beads, string, googly eyes, etc. Kids have wonderful imaginations so be prepared to be amazed.

Quiz time. Who says learning can’t be fun? Prepare ageappropriate questions for your kids and present them in a game show style theme. From identifying shapes and colours for toddlers to simple math equations and word problems for adolescents to full on brainteasers for the teens: it’s all about creating the right atmosphere to make learning fun.

Play in teams or individually and give points for right answers and a prize for the winner. A little competition will definitely make them forget that they are learning.

“The most important thing is not to let a day indoor drive you stir crazy.”

Put on a play! It doesn’t have to be elaborate. Decorate paper bags, stick buttons on old socks or simply get the kids to dress up. Whatever it may be, give your kids a set amount of time to put together a play for you based on their favourite story of one they’ve made up themselves. If they are younger, help them out with the puppets and storyline. You can be as involved as you want and it’s a great way to keep them busy for a while.

Put on your chef ’s hat. Cooking with your kids may seem like more trouble than it’s worth, but it can be both a teaching experience and a fun way to bond. Crack open a cookbook or use the Internet to look for a recipe that both you and your kids agree on. Set out on making the dish together. Give your child ageappropriate tasks: washing the vegetables, measuring and mixing ingredients, seasoning and plating up the final product. Even babies can be secured in their high chairs and given a plastic bowl and Doha Family Guide

spoon so as to be included. And the best part is that your kids are more likely to actually eat what you’ve prepared together without complaint as they had a hand in making it!

Film Festival. While it is important to limit time spent in front of a screen on a daily basis to a minimum, making an exception on a day spent totally indoors is OK. Have everyone in your family pick a movie, pop some popcorn and prepare some healthy snacks, get comfortable and press play. Make sure to keep your kids stimulated and engaged about what they are seeing while you watch by asking them to explain to you what’s going on. The hours are sure to slip by.

The most important thing is not to let a day indoor drive you stir crazy. Use the opportunity to spend some quality time with your kids. So often the chaos of our daily lives rarely gives us the chance to truly connect with our kids. Use this time to laugh, play and have fun together. And who knows? You may have so much fun that you come to look forward to staying at home!

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Healthy Living

5 YOGA

POSES FOR CHILDREN

By Nathalie Hodgson Introducing children to yoga, meditation and spirituality is one of the greatest gifts we can give them. It can set their future on a nourishing and creative course.

Swami Shankardev Saraswat

Y

oga at an early age encourages self-esteem and body awareness and is a great gift to give our children. No matter how young your children are, it’s never too early for them to learn yoga!

It enhances their flexibility, strength, coordination and body awareness and helps to improve their concentration, sense of calmness and relaxation.

Here are five easy poses you and your children can do at home. Let them breathe normally throughout the poses or try getting them to hold the pose for two to three breaths.

1. Mountain Pose: Stand up straight with your shoulders over your hips, arms down by your side and palms facings thighs and reach down with your fingertips. Balance your weight evenly on your feet. Breathe in and raise your arms over your head, looking up between them.

2. Cow Pose: Get on your hands and knees. Keep your shoulders over your wrists and your hips over your knees.

Arch your spine and look up to the sky.

Try to touch your head to your tail.

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3. Cat Pose: While on all fours, curl your spine like an angry cat. Imagine your tail curling in between your legs.

This is the reverse shape of the spine in cow pose. Alternate between cat and cow and have your kids make the noises in between!

“ Encourages self-esteem and body awareness.”

4. Downward Dog: While your feet and hands are on the ground, stretch your hips high to make a triangle shape.

Spread your fingers wide and press your hands into the ground. Stretch your back and try to get your head to touch the ground while your heels stretch to try to reach the floor.

5. Tree Pose: Stand on your left foot with the right foot bent and placed on the inside of your left thigh. Imagine that your foot is growing roots into the earth and you are reaching up to the sky through the crown of your head like a tall tree. Practice lifting the arms up overhead and sway the torso side to side like a tree blowing in the wind.

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Self-Esteem and Body Awareness

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2

3

4

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Try this sequence and give your children the gift of yoga. They can start at any age and the benefits will last a lifetime.

Photos by Lindsay Kirckcaldy Doha Family Guide

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Healthy Living

GYMNASTICS A Great Sport for Your Developing Preschooler

By Myrna Beth Haskell

T

here are many activities your preschooler can participate in, so why choose gymnastics? Most experts agree that motor skills, listening, direction following and attention span are some of the most important skills your child should develop in order to be successful in kindergarten. Your child has been developing these skills because of various stimuli and activities that you have exposed him or her to since birth.

Participation in gymnastics can help your child develop these skills and many more.

Many sports teach commitment, dedication and time management. However, gymnastics, because of the complex progression of skills and the vast number of physical techniques required to master elements on the different events, teaches perseverance, patience and discipline beyond the realm of many other physical activities.

When a child participates in a gymnastics class he is developing a wide variety of motor skills. A gymnast develops speed, strength and agility while simultaneously learning balance and grace. Few sports teach such a diverse range of skills. A student must develop acute listening skills in order 38

to be able to transfer verbal instructions to complex, physical movements. The balance beam event, in particular, teaches the student to focus and concentrate for prolonged periods. Gymnasts tend to do well in school because they are able to utilize this ability while studying.

Is It Safe?

If you are only familiar with the level of gymnastics that you see on television, you may be asking yourself, ‘Is this sport safe?’ After all, the skills that we see elite gymnasts perform at international competitions do seem a bit daunting.

Most children, however, never reach this level of performance.

including bicycling, climbing on playground equipment and swimming in pools—activities that almost all of our children participate in. Dr. Sands mentions that the information represents ‘all of gymnastics, including injuries that occur from striking the furniture while performing in the living room.’

Obviously, in a controlled and supervised environment, injury is less likely.

There have been many changes over the years. The equipment is continually improved with safety in mind. When I began competing in the 70s, we used wooden balance beams and folded mats held together

by Velcro! With the advent of foam pits, padded balance beams and softer crash mats, learning gymnastics has never been safer.

“Teaches perseverance, patience and discipline.”

It would be irresponsible to suggest that your child won’t get injured doing gymnastics.

Relatively speaking, however, the playground is a more dangerous place than your local gymnasium. In a 1999 issue of Technique Magazine (a publication of USA Gymnastics), Dr. W. A. Sands discusses a study by the Consumer Product Safety Commission on the number of people visiting emergency rooms and the subsequent per cent of admissions.

Gymnastics ranked lower than 23 common sports and activities

Choosing the Right Gym for Your Child It is best to visit all the gyms in your area. This way you can get a good feel for how the staff members relate to the children as well as the overall atmosphere in the gym. Make an appointment ahead of time so you can speak with the owner of the gym as well as the instructors who will be teaching your child. You should also watch the specific class your child will attend. For instance, do not watch a team practice if

you plan to enrol in a ‘Moms and Tots’ class. This enables you to see first-hand how the coaches relate to students your child’s age. Many gyms distribute a ‘philosophy on coaching’ statement with their enrolment papers. Be sure to read this carefully. Check to see if they promote safety and having fun as primary goals.

Be prepared with specific questions. This list might include: • May my child take a trial class?

• What is the student-teacher ratio?

• Are make-ups provided for missed classes?

• What is your emergency policy?

• Do you provide family discounts if more than one child is enroled per family?

• What is your policy concerning bad behaviour during class?

Finally, you will want to take a good look around the gym. Are there bulletin boards with updated parents’ information, gym rules and schedules?

Is the atmosphere controlled, or noisy and chaotic with several classes going on at once? Preschoolers should have as few distractions as possible. Is there plenty of room between the equipment and the spectator area or are dohamums.com

Discover a New Sport Author Bio: Myrna Beth Haskell is a feature writer, columnist and author of LIONS and TIGERS and TEENS: Expert advice and support for the conscientious parent just like you (Unlimited Publishing LLC, 2012): For details: www.myrnahaskell.com. Book also available at: Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk

you concerned that one of the students might tumble into your lap? Parents should be able to watch their child participate in class, but there should also be rules concerning younger siblings and babies. Is there a play area so that siblings of students can amuse themselves while your child is taking class?

Better yet, is there a homework area for older siblings? Do the coaches instruct the students at their level, so that instructions are easily understood? Most importantly, watch the children closely. Do they seem excited and

activities. Your child will acquire shoulder, leg and back flexibility as well as basic tumbling skills.

She will also be introduced to the equipment (vault, balance beam and uneven bars). For vaulting, your child will start on matting blocks to learn hurdling and landing skills. She will learn basic swing techniques on the bars. She will learn to exchange balance from one foot to the

other, and she will learn proper focus while traveling sideways, backwards and forward on the beam. Sometimes coaches incorporate games or music and movement activities. Your child will not be doing complete routines at this level. Instead, she will acquire the proper progression of basic skills and she will learn that gymnastics is fun as well as challenging.

motivated?

The best preschool programs provide a positive and encouraging atmosphere with structured and continuous activities.

What You Should Expect Your Child to Learn Your child will be working on activities that strengthen and develop her motor skills as well as her listening and social skills.

She will acquire flexibility, balance, strength, speed and grace at a pace that is geared toward her age group. Many gyms set up “obstacle type� courses where the children go through six to eight stations of skill building Doha Family Guide

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Family Matters

P

d o o G , s p u o r g y P la s t n e r a P d n a s d i f or K

laygroups are a great way to get children of all ages together for some fun playtime. With a little bit of planning, it’s easy to set the right mood and help everyone have a great time.

Children and parents alike benefit from getting involved in playgroups.

Toddler Playgroups Whether your children are older or you have young toddlers, there are ways that they can all benefit from play dates with other children. Once children are a year old, it helps to start getting them around other people for playgroups. While children under the age of three generally engage in parallel play, rather than being interactive with other children, groups can still be beneficial

46

for them. Children older than three get a chance to play and interact with others. It’s a great opportunity for them to learn to share and take part in group activities.

Addressing Problems Children need to learn how to get along with other people, and playgroups are a great way to start them on that path. The children get a chance to practice their social skills and have fun at the same time.

However, that doesn’t mean it will be all fun and games.

‘Parents need to have realistic expectations about little ones getting along,’ says Dr. Eileen Kennedy-Moore, a psychologist and author of the book ‘What About Me? Twelve Ways to Get Your Parents’ Attention without Hitting Your Sister’ (Parenting

r B y: Jacqueline B odna Press, 2005), and ‘The Unwritten Rules of Friendship: Simple Strategies to Help Your Children Make Friends’ (Little, Brown, 2003). ‘It’s normal for very young children to ignore each other, to snatch toys, and to cry when they don’t get what they want.’

“ Children need to learn how to get along with other people.”

Understanding that there may be problems can help you work to prevent them from happening and to deal with them if they do. Although young children often have a hard time sharing, they may be able to understand the concept of taking turns.

Groups like this are great for helping

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Social Interaction children begin to understand the concepts of taking turns and following directions.

When young children get frustrated, they may resort to hitting, pushing, or biting.

Preventing such problems before they start is the key. When you see a child getting frustrated, try to step in with a new activity, provide a healthy snack or physically separate the children.

Parents Do Benefit ‘Parents can definitely benefit from play dates for young children,’ says Dr. KennedyMoore. ‘Besides providing the camaraderie of other parents, play dates are also a great opportunity to observe other children.

Seeing that everybody else’s kid does it, too, can help parents feel more confident in their own parenting abilities and more accepting of their child’s developmentally normal behaviour.’

“ Parents can definitely benefit from play dates for young children” Planning Is Key Keep in mind that having fewer children present will help keep things calmer.

Another good way to avoid meltdowns is to keep the visits short; a good range for children under three would be no more than two hours at once. When it comes to deciding what to do during that time, keep in mind that the activities should be something that will involve all the children and should be kept age-appropriate. You can plan field trips, create themed play dates or have treasure hunts. No matter what type of playgroup you plan, make sure you have fun.

‘Children under the age of three in playgroups have the opportunity to explore new areas in their environment,’ explains Suzanne Reszka, the lead teacher at People’s Church Preschool, located in East Lansing, Mich. ‘As they explore these new areas, they become more independent. Their emotional, social and language skills develop and their feelings of self-esteem increase.’

Doha Family Guide

For this age group, Reszka recommends planning events around sensory activities, such as water play, textured blocks and playing dress-up. Other areas that are good for this age group are activities that involve large motor skills, as well as playing with music and finger play.

Dr. Kennedy-Moore’s P lay Date Disasters Rules

‘Children over the age of three will develop in social and emotional areas and in language, as well,’ says Reszka. ‘They will have the chance to interact with their peers, learn how to handle a variety of situations and begin to develop problem-solving skills.

These children will love to build with blocks, paint, play in sand, and play learning games.’

Remember, if your child sees you getting frustrated at some of the behaviour, they will pick up on that and become frustrated, as well. Have fun and they will have fun, too.

‘Play dates are very exciting for young children,’ says Dr. Kennedy-Moore. ‘But focus on keeping them short. Shorter play dates work better.’

Author’s Bio: Jacqueline Bodnar is a freelance writer that specializes in family and women’s issues.

Hitting and biting This is usually a response to frustration.

The best strategy is prevention. Keep a close eye on the children during the playgroup and be ready to step in and move him or her a safe distance away.

Refusing to share Before the playgroup starts, put away special toys. Most kids find it easier to take turns than to share.

Not playing together Encourage joint play, but don’t insist on it. Many young children enjoy parallel play more than cooperative play. Some children need time to feel comfortable with new playmates.

Dislike of snack Don’t stress. They can eat when they get home.

Your home is trashed Incorporate a regular clean-up time as the last part of the playgroup. Put on lively music and have everyone pitch in.

Crying at the end Consider a shorter session next time or a different time of day.

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