Parents discuss balancing work-from-home responsibilities with children’s online learning, managing new home routines, and ensuring kids’ safety amid regional uncertainties.
As schools transition to distance learning and spring break is brought forward, parents across the UAE are juggling work responsibilities while supervising their children’s online lessons.
The UAE Ministry of Education announced on Wednesday that spring break for all public and private schools will now run from Monday, March 9, to March 22, advancing the previously scheduled dates of March 16–27 that applied to international schools. Indian schools across the UAE are still awaiting guidance from their respective education authorities.
UAE Parents Navigate Remote Work and Online Learning Amid Early Spring Break
With schools shifting to distance learning and spring break moved forward, working parents across the UAE are balancing professional duties while supervising their children’s online lessons. The extended break has kept families home longer, prompting renewed calls for private-sector employers to extend remote work options.
Adapting Daily Routines
In Dubai, Inga Rusu, a marketing executive and mother of two, describes the challenges of managing her family’s new routine.
“It’s difficult as working parents. My husband starts work at 9am and finishes by 6, while I begin at 8:30am and often work beyond official hours. With us remote working and the children doing distance learning, it’s challenging.”
Their apartment has become a shared office and classroom, with laptops occupying every available surface. Despite the pressure, Inga prioritizes safety:
“Safety comes first, and I am glad spring break has been moved to start early. I believe this is a prudent decision by the education bodies.”
The usual rhythm of Ramadan has also been affected. Timings that once structured the family’s day have blurred amid school logins and work calls.
“With children attending online classes, it’s a bit chaotic,” Inga admits. “My younger child requires frequent supervision to stay on track. I have to intervene and nudge my little one from time to time. Technical challenges add unpredictability; sometimes Toddle wasn’t operating at full capacity because their servers were affected by the situation in the region. The school said they were transitioning to alternative platforms.”
Despite the daily struggles, Inga notes some benefits:
“Working remotely gives parents flexibility to be more involved in their child’s learning, especially when they’re young, and helps us monitor our children’s emotional wellbeing given the current scenario. I hope to continue working from home until the children return to their regular school routine and things normalize in the wider region.”
Juggling Multiple Roles
Across Dubai, architect Sumin Luthra and her husband, an IT professional, face similar challenges. Their nine-year-old son is attending online classes while both parents work full-time from home.
“It has been a difficult time for many of us. With everything happening in the region, anxiety is already high at home, and on top of that, we are managing office responsibilities while ensuring our children stay focused on distance learning,” Luthra said.
She explains the constant shift between professional and parental roles:
“You’re on a work call one minute and helping with a maths problem the next, while trying to deflect topics about the ongoing regional conflict. Extending work-from-home would not just be convenient; it would give families stability, allow parents to be more present, and offer children the reassurance they seek during uncertain times. The adjustment to the spring break schedule has come as a relief and reflects a thoughtful decision by the authorities.”
Leaning on Routine Brings Comfort for UAE Families
In Al Ain, Aiham Joratli and his family are relying on carefully structured routines to navigate the challenges of remote learning while both parents continue working.
“My wife, a dentist, now works between 11am and 1pm after our children’s school shifted online. During Ramadan, she worked from 10am to 12pm but requested a change to better manage distance learning. In the evenings, after iftar, she returns to the clinic for another four hours,” Joratli explained.
He maintains his early work shift at Abu Dhabi Motors from 7:30am to 3:30pm. To support their children’s schooling, his wife sometimes takes them to her clinic so they can complete homework under supervision.
Evenings are reserved for family and community activities.
“I often take the children with me to distribute iftar boxes at three locations across Al Ain, where the Emirates Red Crescent carries out distributions. I go every day,” he said. “The only break was on Monday and Tuesday when distributions were temporarily halted due to regional tensions, but they have resumed today.”
Despite long hours and shifting schedules, the family remains confident in the UAE’s leadership.
“We have full faith in the UAE government and trust they are doing what is best for its citizens and residents,” added the Syrian expat.
