From lazy summer days to school routines: A Dubai mom's transition tips

Summer in Dubai might leave many parents drained, but for Gabrielle Singh it’s also a chance to slow down. “Over summer, our days tend to be slower and more flexible,” says the Australian founder and CEO of Iyvos skincare and GC Skin Boutique. “Breakfast always happens a little later, activities are spontaneous, and there’s a lot more downtime.”

With her husband, Brodie and their three children — Jordyn, 10, Darci, 8, and Phoenix, 7 — Gabrielle relished the chance to ditch her super-early wake-ups. “I’ve really enjoyed these holidays,” she admits. “I’ve taken a break from those 5am mornings, and I’m feeling better for it.” Even in the heat, the family made the most of the outdoors before settling into a slower rhythm.

Once school resumes (her children attend GEMS International School), that calm gives way to structure. “Our mornings become earlier and faster-paced,” Gabrielle says. “Afternoons are scheduled around pick-ups, tutoring, and activities, and evenings are about winding down and sticking to bedtime so everyone’s ready for the next day.”

If there’s one part of the reset she dreads, it’s mornings. “After weeks of late nights and lazy starts, that early alarm feels brutal to all of us,” she says. For her, it’s also reshaping her workday. “I go from having large, uninterrupted blocks of time to working in between drop-offs and pickups.”

The children struggle too. “Even after two years here, they’re still not used to how early school starts in the UAE,” she adds.

Gabrielle has learned the hard way that trying to overhaul everything in one night is chaos. “Easing back into routine a few days, if not a week before school starts, makes a big difference,” she says. That means earlier bedtimes, wake-up calls closer to school hours, and uniforms and bags organised in advance. “For that first week, I like to have most things packed the night before. No one wants to go to school, or work, after meltdowns, for both myself and the kids.”

She prepares her children mentally by focusing on positives. “We talk about seeing friends again, new things they’ll learn, being in a new grade, and the fun activities ahead,” she explains. Involving Jordyn, Darci, and Phoenix in shopping also helps. “Picking their own things makes them feel more excited and in control.”

She applies the same approach to herself. “I remind myself that once the first week is over, the new routine feels normal again.”

And while some parents thrive on calendars, Gabrielle laughs at the thought. “I try to be that super-organised person with everything written down, but I last one week,” she admits. Instead, she runs the household on three non-negotiables: wake up at 6am; no screens until after breakfast, teeth brushed, and fully dressed — hair, socks, shoes, everything; and screens off again in the evening before an 8pm bedtime.

“I do have help at home, but we’re still very hands-on with our children,” she says.

Her own work rhythm has its tricks too. With Australia six hours ahead, she sends staff emails on Sunday evenings. “That way, they get them Monday morning. Otherwise, by the time I log on, it’s already 3pm in Australia.”

Her advice is to keep it gradual. “Start small and don’t try to change everything overnight,” she adds. “Adjust bedtimes, wake-ups, and screen time in the lead-up to school so the shift doesn’t feel like a shock.”

She also reins in holiday indulgences. “If the kids have had extra sugar, I cut it back, because it plays a big role in their sleep and moods.”

And when it all feels too much? She reminds herself to breathe. “The more organised I am, the smoother that first week goes.”