MOCCAE launches ‘Children’s Environment Award’
Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority, ECA, also held a competition to foster roles of parents in educating and engaging with their children
To mark Emirati Children’s Day, observed every year on 15th March, the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, in partnership with the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, on Sunday rolled out the Children’s Environment Award to promote the engagement of the young generation in environmental sustainability. The inaugural edition is held under the theme ‘Conserving Biodiversity’.
The competition is open to all UAE citizens and residents falling within one of the two age groups 8- to 12-year-olds and 13- to 17-year-olds. The award comprises five categories - Educational Video, Awareness Campaign, Technical or Scientific Project, Short Story, and Artwork. Entry submission will commence on 1st April 2020, and conclude on 30th November 2020.
Dr Thani Bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, said, “In line with the steadfast commitment of the wise UAE leadership to empowering youth and involving it in the country’s sustainability drive, we work to raise environmental awareness among young people and encourage them to adopt sustainable behaviour at an early age.”
He added, “In this context, we launched the Children’s Environment Award. The initiative addresses the imperative need to nurture a link between youth and nature to ensure that the new generation fully comprehends the importance of protecting the environment and sustaining every living organism on this earth.”
For her part, Reem Al Falasi, Secretary-general of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, said, “Environmental sustainability is one of the main pillars of quality of life and public health and safety. Caring for the environment is an inherent approach, championed by the founding father of the UAE, late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and carried forward by the UAE President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.”
She added, “The Children’s Environment Award falls within the scope of our efforts to foster the next generation of environmental stewards. Our participation in this initiative aligns with the directives of Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General
Women’s Union, President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, and Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation, to contribute to all activities that promote awareness about the importance of sustainability.”
Meanwhile, to celebrate Emirati Children’s Day 2020, the Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority, ECA, organised a competition to foster the roles of parents in educating and engaging with their children to encourage the development of their mental, cognitive and behavioural skills.
As part of its activities, ECA announced a community contest targeting parents of different nationalities in the UAE. Parents are encouraged to share creative tools and activities on how they spend time engaging with and encouraging the development of children under eight years of age at home. The contest aims to enable families to share knowledge and best practices with their peers.
The ECA emphasised the importance of parents spending time applying early childhood development practices and has outlined five tips, which should be followed by parents for engaging with their children at home.
The first tip is to set a weekday home routine by designing a schedule for children according to their age, with regular times for meals, bath, sleep, play, exercise and other activities.
While the second tip is to ensure children get enough physical activity for their age by practicing sports, playing or walking, the third tip is to guarantee that the majority of family time at home is spent playing with children, creating puzzles, playing board games, or any other activities that can be done as a family.
The fourth tip is to encourage children to read; during a child’s initial years, it is important to read at least two books with pictures each day.
Furthermore, ECA has urged parents to teach children to help with chores at home by involving them in age-appropriate activities, such as making the bed, tidying up, setting the table, baking and watering plants in a safe environment.