Training course at the KU College of Medicine’s Family Academy for Pediatric Medicine  in Jabriya near Mubarak Hospital for parents and child caregivers. Wednesdays from 7pm-9pm  nights starting from March 5 and will last five weeks.

Topics will include Children’s Development, Premature & Newborns, Asthma, allergies and immunities, ENT, Dermatology, Children’s emergency & first aid. Registration is open, will be in Arabic. WhatsApp 9880-9300 for more information.

The kids had an awesome time yesterday at the Kids Day Out at the Lilly Center in Industrial Shuwaikh. The carnival was raising money for the Syrian refugees. Located in the Lilly Center courtyard, it was small enough for me to keep a watch over the girls and there was literally a dozen different activities for them to try and they ended up going home with goldfish, lots of prizes and grass heads (yes, that is a real thing!). 

I loved the diversity of activities - which are rare in Kuwait. The carnival games, organized by the Kidz Nursery, included challenges that kids can actually win at (throwing darts at balloons, balls through the snowman's tummy, hoops, pin the tail on the donkey, etc.) It's not so much the prizes but the fact that they feel like they can win that's important. I'm so glad we are starting to see more children's carnivals and festivals with games and activities that focus on the kids. 

Never help a child with a task at which he feels he can succeed. - Maria Montessori

I took my youngest to explore a new park in Bayan last week. (I'm building a list of all the great parks and playgrounds in Kuwait. You can find it here.) 

The park is beautiful and expansive but the play area is really for older kids and Sabel just isn't ready for climbing posts or giant slides. I was surprised, however, with her eagerness to climb over, on or between pretty much everything. She crawled up the tiers of concrete steps, undaunted. She clambered onto the balance beam and proceeded to walk it and tried to climb up to the next higher one, which was taller than she. After that she ran through the park, plucking at the grass, stumbling and falling and essentially have a blast.

Sabel started to crawl and walk early - long before she was physically ready - and as a consequence fell down quite often. We've been to the hospital emergency room several times in her two short years and as a result, I am a bit overprotective. I still make her hold my hand when walking down the stairs or even along a slightly uneven sidewalk. In other words, rather than risk her getting hurt, I hover.  

This was the first time, however, I stood back and let her go. It wasn't easy. I bit my nails when she found a ladder and climbed up halfway before I had to intervene and bring her down safely. Though the park isn't toddler friendly, I could see she wanted to explore on her own. So I let her. 
 
I realized that this moment marked a milestone. She no longer needed me at every moment. Or rather she no longer wanted me to hover. She is still hesitant and wouldn't go near a clown or a swarming mass of goldfish if you paid her. 

But she is finally starting to find her feet. 

She can still get hurt. Her balance is still nascent. But confidence and ability comes from trying. From trying and failing and then trying again and getting it right. So I realize I need to stop the hovering (its not as easy as you might think) and stop it now. I have to start to let go and give her the chance to fail and to succeed. 

Somehow I missed this step with my older daughter, she was always adventurous. And so I'm learning a new lesson in the lifelong school of parenting: Trusting their instincts even when mine aren't sure. 

So true. You can't even open the door for someone or smile at them as you walk down the street without fear of them taking it the wrong way. 

We took the kids to Wafra one Saturday for a day in the Kuwait countryside. It can be easy to forget that there is more than desert to Kuwait. Our goal was to finalize the adoption for our foster dog, Belle and pick up some fresh fruits and veggies, if we chanced upon a farm.

Adopting a pet
First stop: Ks Path Animal Shelter. Last spring we went for an open day and while there decided to foster a dog. After several months, Belle has become a member of the family and so we needed to make the one hour drive back to the shelter to finalize the adoption and sort out her vaccines and paperwork. If you’ve not been for an open day, definitely add it to your list of things to do. Bring a few cans of dog food or some other donation (their website includes a list of needed items). I wouldn’t recommend it as an outing for young children but it’s great for older kids and a good excuse to spend a few hours in the Kuwait countryside.

Farm fresh
After finishing with the paperwork and the vet, we wanted to pick up some fresh fruits and veggies and so decided to just roam around for a bit. Wafra is farm land though sadly most of the farms are surrounded by high walls. We found a farm with a large ‘Farmer’s Market’ sign at the entrance that turned out to be Yasmin Farms. It’s a beautiful place, the entrance laid with cobblestones, fields of flowers and corn banked on one side with a small shop and a farmer’s market on the other stocked with fresh veggies and herbs including my personal favorite, bunches of fresh coriander.

The shop sells Alban Dairy products including fresh milk, laban, cheeses, yogurts as well as honey, dried herbs and spices and the absolute cutest tin milk cans. Mr Jamil Al Sultan was kind enough to allow us to tour the farm and so we sauntered down the path to the cow shed, past fields of corn and squash. The hidden gem in the farm is a small manmade pond about the size of four swimming pools. Surrounded on all sides by palms and tucked in between a few small hills, the pond sits in front of the farm house. It was lovely to see the cool morning breeze rippling across the water – a rare site in arid Kuwait.

Established in 2005, Yasmin Farms employs ethical farming techniques, doesn't use pesticides and uses hydroponic techniques for its greenhouses. The farm produces a wide array of vegetables including tomatoes, cabbages, squash, and corn as well as fresh herbs. You can visit the farm or buy its fresh local products at the Sultan Center stores. Map 

We had a quick picnic on the grass, the girls devoured a whole bottle of the cold, fresh Alban milk. They are open on the weekends – Thursday through Saturday – from 8am to 5pm but its best to go early as the produce sells out quick. (Update: I have now heard that the farm is charging KD 1 for walking tours and KD 2 for guided golf cart tours.)

Green to go
Back on the road, we found a small roadside stand selling potted plants, flowers and adolescent trees. The kiosk stood at the entrance to Washingtonia Farms and we were granted a quick peek inside this hidden oasis. Row after row of lovely green trees, plants, flowers and more. We bought several including two succulents, an aloe vera and a jade plant. The drive home passed quickly as we were all tired.

If you decide to go, pick out two or three farms or places you want to visit, plan to spend the day and be sure to pack a picnic lunch and water.

Editor's Note: Article and photos were originally published in the Kuwait Moms Guide Newsletter - Issue #1 on December 1, 2013.

I know its still cold out but winter won't last much longer. Here's a great idea for storing your boots and keeping them in shape. 

Not sure about 2-3 year olds carrying firewood but am just going to ignore that one since there's no firewood in Kuwait anyway. 

It is important for children to have chores from an early age so that they learn personal responsibility, help them feel more involved in contributing to the family, giving them a sense of accomplishment and confidence in a job well done as well as helping improve gross motor skills, balance, concentration and self- discipline. 

At the beginning of the week, we make a list of chores for our kids and remind them daily and see how they do. At the end of the week, we reward them with allowances that they can spend or save as they like. 

Chores are part of our large plan of what we teach our children. 

Shared by a mom in Kuwait (thanks Monika)...Love this idea as the bookshelves for the kids are always a mess! I plan to go shopping for some wooden dish racks this weekend. Any suggestions on where to find good sturdy ones at affordable prices? 

Dear Moms

Welcome to Issue #4 of the Kuwait Moms Guide Newsletter. Inside we've got some awesome info on yoga in Kuwait, afterschool activities for children with special needs and visit to the fabric souq and much more. Sign up for the KMG Newsletter and receive it in your inbox today. 

One of the most beautiful and refreshing parks I’ve found in Kuwait so far is the large community park in Bayan. I keep a running list of great parks and playgrounds in Kuwait and am always on the look out for lovely outdoor spaces. This one blew me away. Gated and surrounded by trees, the park is a quiet oasis of green grass and trees.

The park was very clean, had large expanses of grass and lawn and even a hill for kids to roll down. There are the standard wooden climbing structures (similar to what can be found in Salwa park) and the long aluminum slides. (Not sure why someone thought these were a good idea but we avoid them as kids can hit their heads on the bottom of the slides when they land on the dirt!) 

Sadly I would not recommend this park for small children. But it’s great for older kids and for boys who need space to run, jump, slide, climb and basically run amok. There are picnic tables, a green pitch for football (aka soccer) and a sand/dirt pitch with goal posts. There is also a Pizza Hut on the grounds in case the kids get hungry. We took bubbles and a snack and made a picnic on the grass.

I think I love it for the oasis-like feel. It’s so green and enclosed and so you feel like you’ve stepped out of the city into a garden. 

I’m including a map, but the directions are really simple. Take Fahaheel Expressway (Highway 30) and turn off at exit 306 (Masjid al Aqsa street). Head toward Bayan (turning right if you are coming from Kuwait City or turning left if coming from the south). Take your first right into Bayan, take your first right again and you will see the park on your right. The park is located in Bayan, block 4, street 11.