HOLIDAYS
HOLIDAYS
Let's face it: the Passover story can get a little long for our kids. While it's an incredible story, you can teach it to your kids in a more up-beat way. Teach your kids about the story and traditions through modern crafts that emphasize family togetherness.
You will revitalize your Pesach family traditions with crafts, activities, and contests that will have your children eager to lead the Seder instead of snoozing after they've had their required four cups of grape juice.
Teaching the Pesach story to young children can be difficult, but we have a few methods to make it more understandable and, most importantly of all, fun.
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When we usually teach Pesach to our tots, we have them follow Passover rituals with us. Dipping bitter herbs in salt water symbolized the tears of the slaves in Egypt is an elegant (and adult) part of the meal. But, it may be a bit too symbolic for our little ones.
Pesach is such an invigorating story--convey that to your children with the use of finger puppets. With these finger puppets, you can re-tell the story with images your children will more readily understand. Not only will they take an active part in learning, but they will also have a meaningful visual story for them to hold on to.
Before you know it, they'll be the ones who want to re-tell the story to you!
With these puppets, your family will have an opportunity to discuss the meaning of the Passover story in depth. If your kids love the puppets, go crazy and use them for the Four Questions too! You might have the first child smart enough to get bar mitvahed at the age of four.
Pesach is such an invigorating story--convey that to your children with the use of finger puppets. With these finger puppets, you can re-tell the story with images your children will more readily understand. Not only will they take an active part in learning, but they will also have a meaningful visual story for them to hold on to.
Before you know it, they'll be the ones who want to re-tell the story to you!
With these puppets, your family will have an opportunity to discuss the meaning of the Passover story in depth. If your kids love the puppets, go crazy and use them for the Four Questions too! You might have the first child smart enough to get bar mitvahed at the age of four.
Puppets may be great for little kids, but there are other craftier and artsier ways to learn. Here are more ways to make Passover more engaging for the kids and promote more family bonding!
Elijah's Goblet
Elijah's Goblet is important for each Passover meal because it represents Elijah, the Hebrew Prophet who believed the God of Israel is the one divine God, and his promise to return to earth.
Decorate a version of Elijah's Goblet with tissue paper, ribbon, and spring motifs.
Got a budding artist? Ask him to embellish the Afekomen cover with puff paints and glitter. There's no limit to what your child can do on the goblet -- let his/her imagination and creativity flow! As long as s/he knows what it represents, they could even adorn it with smiley face stickers, if they please. The yellow goblet on the right is a prime example of a home-made Elijah's Goblet.
Seder Plate
Let children of all ages hand paint their own Seder plates with acrylics and craft paints to imitate faux-stain glass. Just make sure that the materials are non-toxic, unless the plates will be purely decorative.
What's important to remark is that Seder Plates should highlight all of the Passover symbols which include:
Pillows
One of the Commandments of Seder is to learn how to recline, lean, and repose during the Seder.
What better way to help the family recline than by making many pillows?
Create tee-shirt stuffed pillows for guests to recline on during the holiday dinner meal. Your elementary schoolers and even pre-teens will feel great pride as their artistic creations are showcased around your home for grandparents and special guests at the Pesach meal.
How To Make a T-Shirt Stuffed Pillow
Courtesy of craftbits.com, here are a few simple tips to creating your stuffed pillow!
Elijah's Goblet is important for each Passover meal because it represents Elijah, the Hebrew Prophet who believed the God of Israel is the one divine God, and his promise to return to earth.
Decorate a version of Elijah's Goblet with tissue paper, ribbon, and spring motifs.
Got a budding artist? Ask him to embellish the Afekomen cover with puff paints and glitter. There's no limit to what your child can do on the goblet -- let his/her imagination and creativity flow! As long as s/he knows what it represents, they could even adorn it with smiley face stickers, if they please. The yellow goblet on the right is a prime example of a home-made Elijah's Goblet.
Seder Plate
Let children of all ages hand paint their own Seder plates with acrylics and craft paints to imitate faux-stain glass. Just make sure that the materials are non-toxic, unless the plates will be purely decorative.
What's important to remark is that Seder Plates should highlight all of the Passover symbols which include:
- A Charoset, which is a delicious mixture of apples, walnuts, red wine, cinnamon and sugar, symbolizing the mortor that the Hebrews used when they built the pyramids in ancient Egypt.
- Bitter herbs, usually represented with horseradish, which remind us of the difficulties that have been endured by our ancestors.
- Greens (parsley, lettuce or celery), which represent spring and a time of new beginnings
- An Egg, symbolizing the circle of life
- A Shankbone or neck of poultry, which represents God's mighty arm.
Pillows
One of the Commandments of Seder is to learn how to recline, lean, and repose during the Seder.
What better way to help the family recline than by making many pillows?
Create tee-shirt stuffed pillows for guests to recline on during the holiday dinner meal. Your elementary schoolers and even pre-teens will feel great pride as their artistic creations are showcased around your home for grandparents and special guests at the Pesach meal.
How To Make a T-Shirt Stuffed Pillow
Courtesy of craftbits.com, here are a few simple tips to creating your stuffed pillow!
- Start by laying out the shirt flat on a table. You can either sew the edges or glue them the choice is yours. Stitching will be more durable but for kids or a quick craft you can just glue the seams.
- Glue or stitch the bottom of the shirt and the arm holes closed. Leave the neck area open for the filling.
- A soft fiber fill stuffing will work well, but you can use other items such as beans, foam chunks or old rags.
- Gently fill the shirt until it is nice and plump looking, then either glue or sew the neck hole closed with small stitches.
- After all these activities, your kids will surely have all the answers to "the four questions" without the usual belabored rehearsal.
The history behind the Seder is meaningful and thoughtful.
Seder, the traditional Passover meal, is the foundation of the holiday celebration. In Hebrew, the word Seder means "order."
Accordingly participants in the dinner follow a prescribed set of prayers, eating special symbolic foods as they commemorate the liberation of the Jewish people from bondage in Egypt and tell the story of Exodus.
Seder, the traditional Passover meal, is the foundation of the holiday celebration. In Hebrew, the word Seder means "order."
Accordingly participants in the dinner follow a prescribed set of prayers, eating special symbolic foods as they commemorate the liberation of the Jewish people from bondage in Egypt and tell the story of Exodus.
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Gourmet the Easy
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Passover Seder Table
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Settings Ideas
The Story of
Passover
Passover
