Afternoons with Helen Farmer

Dubai is an amazing place to raise kids, but when five-star hotels, holidays, brunches, deliveries and household help are just part of everyday life, how do we teach our children to appreciate more what they have?

And probably the remaining weeks of summer break is your time to declutter... the help you need is here.

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A Porter Airlines flight, which was preparing to depart from Victoria to Toronto had to return to the terminal as a "young child was standing in their seat and would not secure their seat belt". The delay meant the flight could not depart before the runway closed after midnight so passengers had to be rebooked on a flight the following day. Discussing travel etiquette, cruises and itineraries with travel journalist Sarah Hedley-Hymers.

After years of bigger, flashier and more Instagrammable, are the ultimate status symbols now things we can’t buy in a boutique: time, privacy, access and the ability to properly switch off? 

We have more camp info for you and your kids that involves actual wood, actual tools and something they've made themselves to bring home.

And we tell you why you should smile at your dog more often.

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If you graduated from a university in the UK, what happened to your student loan? Have you finished paying it off, or is it still hanging over you 17 years later?

Sending children to private schools here in the UAE takes a huge chunk out of our budget. So, how much do we actually need to spend to give our kids a good education?

A new report suggests that, for many women, the problem isn’t whether they have health insurance, but what happens when they actually try to use it. Two women are on a mission to create a solution.

And while we’re getting our kids ready for back-to-school, it’s not just about the uniforms, new shoes, and haircuts, we also need to think about the life skills they’ll need.

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Many experienced women are finding it hard to find employment nowadays. What does ageism in recruitment actually look like?

Dubai Police have joined us to talk about Hemaya International Centre and how 1,402 students from 31 nationalities graduated through its 2026 Summer Student Programme.

We meet a teenager who has lived with more than 50 severe food allergies since infancy.

Thousands of people across 15 US states have reportedly become ill during an outbreak of Cyclospora linked to recalled iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico. Hundreds have been hospitalised and two deaths have been reported. We discuss parasitic illness on the show today.

And we're giving you more info on camps from crocheting to barista workshop.

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Homegrown favourites under one roof in Mirdif, staycays, Dubai’s heaviest chicken sandwich – we’ve got more on the list!

From the kitchens of some of India’s most celebrated hotels to 15 years helping turn Dishoom into a household name in the UK, Chef Naved Nasir has spent much of his career telling stories through Indian food. 

Open kitchen, no delivery. What’s in a restaurant to have this confidence? We ask the husband-and-wife chefs of LahKee.

Earlier this week a text came into the show asking for a little help. Best friends Ayesha and Yaseen have poured their savings, time and probably quite a lot of tastings into Buttrd, the sandwich business they launched from a cloud kitchen in Business Bay six months ago. The business is trying to survive. They were hoping for a shout-out, we’re giving them a platform. 

What can AED 10 buy you in Dubai these days? Well, this summer, potentially a very good lunch or dinner. 

Plus, we help you plan the perfect night in with the best movies and shows this weekend.

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Doctors here in the UAE say they see a noticeable rise in cases during the hottest months, with dehydration the major culprit. So who is most vulnerable, what should we be looking out for, and how quickly can a stone actually form? 

New research suggests half of Gen Z say the cost of going out and meeting new people is getting in the way of their financial goals, while another study found 51 percent are spending absolutely nothing on dates. 

Meet the community helping People of Determination develop more skills, confidence, independence and connection through arts.

And more summer camps for you, at the museum, and one with pets.

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Friendship can look like something that just happens naturally in childhood, you find someone in the playground, start playing and off you go. But those relationships are actually where children learn some of their most important life skills. So what happens when making friends doesn’t come easily?  

Breastfeeding may be natural, but that doesn’t mean it always comes naturally. We've got expert advices for mums and mums-to-be.

If you're confused where to bring your kids for camp this summer, we've got you covered from indoor experiences to teaching them about business.

And we share another Dubai success story, one camel milk soap at a time.

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We’ve all done it. You pop into the supermarket for milk and somehow leave with chocolate, crisps and a “buy one, get one free” you never planned to buy. There's an explanation for that.

One person's diagnosis can help protect brothers, sisters, children and even cousins by prompting earlier screening and potentially life-saving treatment. Today we talk about genetics and hereditary illnesses with a geneticist and with someone who's lived this reality. 

And what role do our earliest relationships play in shaping how we connect with others? 

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From wearable technology and preventative healthcare to reducing food waste and building confidence through comedy, we look at how small changes and practical habits can improve everyday wellbeing, communication and quality of life.

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How much of what feels like forgetfulness is actually an overloaded brain, and can learning new skills help build resilience as we age? Plus, new pathways for Emirati orchestral musicians, and how playing in a band can build confidence in children.

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