CONNECTOR.AE 28 CONNECTOR.AE 29 Kids And Education Kids And Education and will be excited to bring their food into school and show off their hard work!” Janet Foley from GEMS Wesgreen International School, Sharjah, advises parents to let children select their meals from a list of healthy options for the week. Involving kids in food shopping, cooking, and meal preparation can make them more engaged and excited about their food. Allowing them to experiment with creating their healthy snacks can broaden their tastes and encourage them to try new foods. It’s important to teach children that there are no ‘bad’ foods, just poor eating habits, to help them develop a positive relationship with food. Charne Rossouw from GEMS Founders School, Masdar City, suggests that preparing your own lunch and your child’s lunch together sets a strong example of healthy eating. Consistency in these habits not only benefits your own health but also encourages your child to adopt similar practices. Focus On Visually Appealing Food To make sure your child enjoys their meals, pack simple, nutritious foods that are also visually appealing. When food looks inviting, children are more likely to want to eat it. Janet Foley from GEMS Wesgreen International School, Sharjah, adds, “I recommend packing food that is easy to Laura Nulty from GEMS First Point School, The Villa, suggests that parents can enhance their child’s sleep by creating a screen-free bedtime routine. This includes engaging in calming activities such as reading or drawing before bed, setting a specific time to turn off screens, and establishing a relaxing environment with dim lighting to signal that it’s time to wind down. Charne Rossouw fromGEMS Founders School, Masdar City, recommends reducing screen time before bed by implementing a ‘digital sunset’ an hour before bedtime, turning off all devices. Instead, create a calming evening routine with activities like reading, light stretching, or mindfulness exercises. Establish screen-free zones, especially in the bedroom, to support this routine. Encouraging children to engage in creative hobbies such as drawing or playing an instrument offers a relaxing alternative to screens and promotes better sleep quality. eat and visually appealing. For example, a whole-grain tortilla wrap with lean turkey or cheese and lettuce, cut into small pieces, paired with a fruit yogurt is a great option. For snacks, consider veggie sticks with hummus or a fresh fruit salad. Making the food fun to eat and involving your child in the preparation can increase their likelihood of enjoying it.” Reduce Screen Time Janet Foley from GEMS Wesgreen International School, Sharjah, advises setting a strict screen time limit, such as no screens at least an hour before bedtime, to help your child’s brain relax. Establishing a bedtime routine is essential, especially for young children, so encourage activities like reading, drawing, or quiet play before sleep. If screens are unavoidable, use blue light filters to reduce their effect on sleep. Ideally, keep screens out of the bedroom to maintain a calming sleep environment. Laura Nulty from GEMS First Point School, The Villa adds, “Sleep is vital for health and academic performance. School-age children should get between 8 and 11 hours of sleep per night, depending on their age. Proper sleep supports cognitive function, mood regulation, and overall wellbeing. During sleep, our bodies repair themselves, so insufficient sleep can lead to sluggishness, fatigue, and poor concentration in school.” Involve Your Child In Meal Preparations Involving children in meal preparation can help establish a routine and teach them the importance of nutritious food. “Involving your child in meal planning and preparation can encourage healthy eating habits. Let them choose from healthy options and participate in age-appropriate cooking tasks. This not only makes healthy eating more enjoyable but also teaches valuable life skills that will benefit them in the long run,” adds Natacha Ajaka at Mubadala Health Dubai. Highlighting the importance of decisionmaking, nutritious meals and how children will benefit from meal planning, Samantha Hodges at Swiss International School in Dubai says, “Including children in decision-making is a key way to build their confidence and help their development. A good way to do this is to turn nutrition and meals into a fun activity, from menu planning, grocery shopping to cooking and assembling. That way, children learn all about what makes a meal nutritious
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