The UAE’s schools have been marking National Day this week, ahead of the national holiday. But what does it mean for kids here to grow up with a sense of identity, regardless of nationality? Helen is joined by Maddison Lewis from Horizon English School and Haniya Mirza, a sixth form student at Repton Al Barsha.

Meanwhile, this winter sees a longer school holiday coming after a packed – and for many people, stressful – term of tests, exams and sports. So, how can you use the next four weeks to help your child, tween or teen decompress and relax? Psychologist Maha Cooper has all the advice you need.

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It’s mathematically impossible, but 17% of parents believe they’re raising a child with international athletic potential. So, as a Repton Dubai unveils its new Sports Village alongside global football icons like Drogba, Marcelo, Pirlo and Kaká, we ask, what does healthy competition and encouragement look like for kids?  
Plus, as new research finds screens are replacing storytime, MC Grammar joins us to explain how rapping is making reading fun again…

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In a world driven by screens and structure, the art room is often the one place children can truly experiment, make mistakes and push their imagination. So how do schools nurture that freedom to build real-world skills? Helen asks two Dubai-based specialists.
Plus, children now spend nearly five hours a day on screens outside school, yet almost half of teens say their parents don’t understand their online world. So what would they tell you if they didn’t fear the consequences? Helen speaks to cyberpsychology expert Catherine Knibbs.

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From native languages to Arabic and others, how do we help our kids engage with new dialects? Helen hears from the experts at Repton Al Barsha and Horizon International School.

Plus, it’s shifted from the playground to phones and online platforms, but the impact of bullying remains huge. So, how do you help your child, tween or teen recover after bullying?

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We all know our children need to learn about modern technology - but what does that look like in practice and how do we balance progress with safety? Helen is joined by Andy Perryer, Head of Digital Learning at Cognita Enrich Me and Ian Wallace, Cognita's Director of Education.

Meanwhile, with 60% of the UAE's population, we learn how the British Council in Dubai is helping the nation harness the huge potential of its youth...

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It’s early years admission season — from stay-and-plays to school assessments, parents are wondering how to tell if their little ones are truly school-ready. Helen Farmer is joined live in the studio by Ashleigh Thompson, Head of Junior School at Repton Al Barsha, and Stephanie Nazarian, Assistant Head Teacher and Head of EYFS at Horizon English School, to talk about what schools are really looking for, how to prepare your child with confidence, and why “ready” looks different for every child.

Plus, as Dubai Police warn parents about a risky new TikTok trend, psychologist Mark Samways joins Helen to unpack the science behind peer pressure, how social media fuels it, and how to raise confident kids who can say no.

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Teaching is about much more than ABCs. But what sets the best apart? Helen honours our educators with two school leaders.

Plus, we dive into the realities of bullying in our schools - and how to tackle it.

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From the UN to our local schools, the education world is being charged with raising a new generation who understand our climate challenge. But how do we promote a sustainable future at all ages? Helen finds out from Audrey Grossemy, Sustainability Lead at Ranches Primary School, and Repton Dubai sixth formers Arhaan Chokshy and Azlan Rehman Shah, Co-Lead Mechanical Engineers for the school’s H2 Grand Prix Pro entry.

Plus, as research shows we’re all reading less, we find out how to foster a love of books with a host of local booksellers and authors…

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We explore the transition from education into employment, especially for neurodiverse youth. Are we doing enough to support inclusive pathways into the workforce?

We also take a closer look at key academic transitions — from the leap into secondary school in Grade 7 to the pressures of starting GCSEs in Grade 10. How can we help students navigate these pivotal moments both academically and emotionally?

And finally, we tackle the age-old question: homework. How much is too much, especially for primary school students — and how can schools strike the right balance for families?

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Should you encourage my child to play an instrument? Helen finds out how harnessing the transformative power of music for your kids and teens can benefit them through school and beyond, with Mark Tribble of Repton Dubai and Chloe Amsellem from RGSGD.

Plus, from anxiety to classroom confidence, toilet and feeding issues to teacher woes, we get some expert advice on how to tackle school issues early in the term from OT Adam Griffin and child psychologist Dr Haneen Jarrar.

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