TimeOut Dubai Kids – August 2019

56 August 2019 Time Out UAE Kids

Education

Imagination is key when it comes

to lunchboxes. Keep it interesting

by blending vegetables into

sauces, make zoodles (vegetable

noodles), blend sweet potato/

basil/beetroot into dips,

add yoghurt to peanut or

almond butter.

When it comes to fast food and

treats, the 80:20 rule should

apply – healthy food 80 percent

of the time. Healthy eating habits

are established at a young age.

LUNCH BUNCH

Lauren Jacobsen, nutrition director

at Kcalworld.com, reveals her top

tips for lunchbox nutrition

After school snacks should be

low calorie so as not to Àll kids up

before dinner. High-Àbre snacks

such as fruit and veggie sticks are

great as are mini pizzas using pita

bread or small energy bites made

with dates and oatmeal.

SCHOOL INVOLVEMENT

Consider shorter hours to start with to

help your child build up their conÀdence

slowly. Discuss this with the school and

consider how to increase their hours over

a two-week period.

Communicate with staff and teachers

before the start of each school year as well

as during term time to get useful feedback,

suggestions and tips.

THE BIG DAY

Make sure you and your child have everything

packed and ready-to-go the

night before. No one needs the

added stress of trying to Ànd

those special red socks or the

superhero lunch bag at the

last minute.

Why not introduce a morning

workout with your child? It’s

an excellent way to get some

positive endorphins Áowing.

Jumping, sitting and standing,

starÀsh jumps, knees-up

jogging, rolling or crawling are

a few simple, fun ideas.

Make eating breakfast together part of your

regular morning routine. Children often talk

freely when eating. Discuss what you will do

together after school.

Stick to a routine when dropping off and

picking up each day. Mundane, everyday tasks

can help to distract and relax your child – for

example, does the nursery have an animal to

feed or a plant to water when you arrive?

Some parents repeat a special phrase or

mantra when arriving and leaving. This could

be a special song that you both sing every day

walking into school.

Always say ‘see you later’ and let your child

know when you will be back.

Once you’ve said your

farewells, leave. It can be

traumatising for children to

see their parents looking over

the fence or peering through

the door when they’re trying

to settle. You can phone the

school to check how your child

is doing or sit in the parent

lounge until you’re ready to

go, but leave the room. Your

child needs to be allowed to

start their own journey

of independence.

“Always let

your child

know when

you will

be back”

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