Children need to be engaged in many activities

Children need to burn their energy through activities, a reader says. Fatima Al Marzooqi / The National

I think it is an exaggeration to say that parental pressure to send children to after-school activities is putting more strain on children and parents (Primary pupils see doctors over stress as school and activities take toll, May 15).

What do you want children to do after school? I see my children coming home and being super bored, full of energy and with nothing to do. They jump, run around, scream, play, cry and fight. I prefer they release this energy into something more productive.

Marina Lomaya Kansou, Dubai

I’ll never forget one of my little kindergarteners, who once told me: “I love Wednesdays because I don’t have to go anywhere after school.”

Josie Gonzalez Nabti, Abu Dhabi

Shark killing was unnecessary

Sharks are an endangered species and we need to protect them (Emirati fisherman recovering after shark attack off Khorfakkan, May 15). If you enter shark territory and swim around holding bleeding fish, there’s a chance you’re going to be accidentally bitten. It was probably not necessary to kill it.

Lisa Justice, Dubai

Why another luxury project?

While Marsa Al Arab seems to be an amazing development, the biggest question would be why? (Marsa Al Arab project near Burj Al Arab to feature two new luxury islands, May 15). The market is oversaturated and unless these attractions are going to be climate controlled, it seems lacking in forward thinking.

Michael Grantham, Al Ain

I think the Burj needs to be left alone. It is too busy on the seaside. People coming to see open beaches are finding construction all around. You can do the same on the World project.

Ksenia Mikhaylova, Abu Dhabi

Large-scale construction of artificial islands has brought about many changes in the ecosystems of the Arabian Gulf. Three major changes are shoreline erosion, change in water currents causing pollution and the impact on marine life.

Adam El Balawi, Dubai

End of the road for Le Pen

France will never choose the far right (You haven’t really won, Emmanuel Macron, May 9). This is the end for Marine Le Pen. She said it herself. Even her father said so.

Rim Lebhar, Dubai

The writer is right in a reverse way: fighting fascism is never over. The moment we drop our guard and become complacent, the black shirts start their march.

It’s in the small things – treating people with respect, never letting a racist or bigot get away with their comments – and the big things such as never accepting that any group should have less rights than you, even if those rights don’t affect you. Once they finish with one group, they’ll turn on you.

People do stupid, horrible things when in a mob that empowers that action. Let’s not ever let that hate become acceptable.

Daniella How, Dubai

This is an interesting article, but I hope and pray that the far right does not ever succeed and come to power anywhere in the world.

If anyone needs a reminder of what could happen if they do, one should recall the time between 1933 and 1945.

Tanya Milbourne, Dubai