Children Guide Dubai
Dubai is a great city for kids and basically, the only real danger comes from the traffic. It is safe and there is a wide range of different activities to keep them entertained. Those with families often complain that their children have better social lives than they do. Kids of all ages seem to be in a constant whirl of after-school activities, clubs, classes, play dates, and sleepovers. They never seem to have a spare moment as there is always something to do.
In the summer months, the weather is too hot for most of the population, especially children, to be outside. However, for the majority of the year, the weather is pleasant enough for outside activities to be very popular. And, at the height of the hot weather, the schools are on holiday and most ex-pats escape to cooler climes.
Most places are very child-friendly, or at least child-tolerant. Children are welcome in shopping malls, restaurants, parks, galleries, cinemas, and health clubs. Many of these have special areas dedicated to children, some of which will, for a fee, entertain your children while you enjoy yourself.
The affordability of full-time live-in maids means that a lot of the pressure is taken off the parents. Whether they act as nannies or just help out with the other household jobs, maids provide parents with time for themselves.
Expats may find people from some cultures overly-friendly towards their children. Having strangers come up and touch and talk to your young children may take some getting used to. On the whole, though, their intentions are totally above board. Nearly everyone will be prepared to lend a helping hand. Once you get used to this, you may find it difficult to adjust once you go back home.
On top of all this, there are many good international schools which are able to compete with the best schools back home. The vast majority of these schools provide an English-medium education and at the same time have a great mix of cultures and nationalities.
