↓للعربي

Hi my name is Lara, I am half Egyptian half French but I consider myself Egyptian at heart. Five years ago, I was pregnant with my first child and started studying (independently) everything about parenting and children psychology. I wanted to make sure that I can provide a healthy environment and do the right thing for their development. I read and still read a lot of books about parenting and child psychology. My main concern is how to raise healthy children. So I researched from what they’re supposed to eat, how much they should sleep, to how to build their emotional intelligence, self-esteem, resilience and confidence. 

Living in the 21^st century, I can see how people, little children and myself are constantly disconnect from the world around us thanks to the takeover of smart phones. Babies are watching cartoons strolling in the streets. They don’t look at the birds and cars around them anymore. “Look the cat!” I feel sorry for our children growing today and I remember playing “oda el dalma” with my cousins and sliding on the soapy floor in the corridor of my grandmother’s house in Gardencity. That was fun. 

It’s as easy and as simple as that. As parents, our role is actually very important and very minimal. We just need to be lovingly firm. Children have no time to get bored nowadays. From one sport activity to another, then screens, PlayStation or Tiktok, YouTube... All these are preventing our children (and ourselves) to use their imaginations and PLAY. But boredom is your friend! All you need to do is welcome boredom in your children’s life. They will inevitably find a way to entertain themselves. They will pick up a book, a pen , some colors, some toys, dress up and start create and imagine their own world. This world, this play time, has been proven to be essential for their healthy mental development. It’s easy, it’s free, it’s reachable for the determined loving parents. Embrace boredom, say NO to screens and stick to it. In my household cartoons are allowed only on weekends. Or when they are sick. You can find your own balance where you make sure that there is dedicated time for boredom/PLAY. And you will be surprised of the results and what you will discover about your child’s personality and capacity of imagination and creativity. Not to mention they will feel more fulfilled. 

I chose wood because I like how it feels and because it’s better for the environment (I'm a red sea lover) What is not very healthy, specially for younger age, is the toys operated with batteries. The reason is that they just press a button then it sings, moves and dances. So, it’s not really interactive. The child again only sits and watches (and gets bored of it very fast). Try to find toys where the child puts a ball and make a trail for it and watch the ball fall the trail for example. Thinks that involve the child’s motor skills and needs his input. One-year-olds love to open a box, put things in it, close it and then empty it again. This seemingly simple play is amazing for the baby’s brain development. And they can do that for a long time! 

Another way to support independent play is NOT TO INTERRUPT. When they are focused on play: Don’t interrupt, don’t try to help. Don’t comment on what they’re doing, drawing etc. Most of all don’t judge. Let them be in the flow of the moment. Let them try and try and try until they find out how it works or how they want it to work. Or until they ask you for support. And when they do, give them minimal guidance. Resilience and self-confidence are developed right there. Don’t show them right away “no not like that, like this” better to leave them space to fail and experiment. Better say something like “Maybe if you turn it?” Because when they finally figure it out thanks to their own persistence, they will feel the real pleasure of self-fulfillment and gratification. This is how we raise resilient, determined and confident children that are prone for success in the future. Wishing all your children to grow happy and healthy.