Quick & Easy Hairstyles with Fashion Stylist and Mum, Dareen Al Yawar

Dareen Al Yawar’s 5 back-to-school tips, in collaboration with DTCM (The Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing

• Shop and prepare ahead of time
  A lot of preparations take place before the kids go back to school to make sure they have everything they need. For me, it’s really important that I begin early – not only does it save me any last-minute stress, but it gives me the opportunity to take advantage of the back-to-school promotions happening across Dubai, ahead of the new term.

• Get a good quality backpack
  A solid backpack is an absolute must for the little ones heading back to school. Make sure the backpack is made from a tough material and has a thick strap so it’s comfortable and easy for the kids to wear all year round. My favourite place to buy backpacks is Paperchase in Mall of the Emirates, as they have such a wide selection for both boys and girls. In addition, Paperchase also has great stationery too, such as notebooks and pencils.

• Make sure to get a great lunchbox
  Having a lunchbox with multiple compartments makes it super easy to ensure all food is packed neatly and allows you to add splashes of colour using different food groups. My favourite brand for lunchboxes at the moment is Joseph and Joseph, which I buy from Tavola at Mall of the Emirates. MUJI have a great selection too, with buy two get one free offers on selected lines, until September 19^th.

• Go shopping with your daughter for accessories
  My daughter is really impatient in the mornings and does not like doing her hair by any means. I find that when we go shopping together for headbands, clips and other cute hair accessories, she gets very excited and it’s a great way to bring some fun to the morning routine of getting ready for school. Our favourite store is Accessorize, as it is reasonably priced and full of items little princesses love.

• Reward your children
  To keep my kids motivated, I reward them if they have done well at school. This method works, and I’ve gotten great feedback from their teachers. I’m conscious of not buying them too many materialistic toys and games so tend to reward them with fun experiences, such as a trip to the theme park or for example, during the summer, we really enjoyed Modhesh World.