Passover Happens! -a reposting!

[this blog entry was so popular this time last year that we decided to repost it this year]

No matter where you are, who is visiting, which kid is sick, or what is happening in your life, Passover happens. This was made very clear to me by a friend last week as we started to talk about First Seder on Monday, April 14th.  I can feel the rise in  the anxiety level of some of my friends, I can see it in the eyes of some of the PJ library parents I run into. I say, fret not, have no fear, we can tackle this Passover, Seder and all, with gusto while having a good time.

I know one BIG fear is, what will the kids do at the Seder table? Will they behave? Will they embarrass you? What can you do to prepare them? These are valid concerns, but when looked at in a different light, when expectations are realistic, and with some preparation, a Seder can be a joyful experience that you and your children will talk about all year.

There are so many great resources available to us (visit http://www.cjepb.org/ to see full calendar), online chat rooms about Passover menus and recipes, Pinterest boards full of recipes and craft ideas, books for children (I recommend No Matzoh for Me by Nancy E. Krulik) and even a downloadable 30 Minute Seder Haggadah (http://www.30minuteseder.com/) whose testimonials claim to “save Passover” by blending tradition with brevity. I also like this easy to use guide online for a Developmentally Appropriate Pesach Seder for children ages 4-5 years old, designed by the URJ (Union for Reform Judaism). There's even a funny look at the holiday in the online article: "Sedering with Kids” with helpful tips and tricks.
 

These are all great places to start. And starting early is the key. Begin talking with your children NOW about the upcoming holiday in language and on a level they understand.

• Take out Passover children’s books from the public library (or from your own PJ Library at home) and read them nightly for the weeks leading up to the holiday.
• Download free Passover coloring pages from the internet and hang them around your home.
• When the big night(s) come, assign jobs for the kids at the Seder: passing out of the kippot, serving the matzoh, going to wash their hands, opening the door for Elijah, etc.

These will all get the kids focused on a task and take them out of their seats enough so that they won’t get fidgety during the Seder.

Some other tips:

• Seat the children with the adults. Creating a “kids table” is nothing more than asking for trouble.
• Invest in some on the table distractions (a bag of plagues toys or finger puppets of the Seder plate objects) and incorporate them into your Seder meal.
• Use your child’s favorite Passover book to tell the story of the Exodus instead of the one in your own Haggadah.

Most importantly, if you are excited, the kids will be excited. Passover is a totally interactive experience for the whole family to treasure. Still nervous about Passover happening? Contact me at the Friedman CJE, with questions and concerns, I am here to help and connect you in the Greater Palm Beaches.
Amy, a.bergman@cjepb.org, www.cjepb.org

Not registered for the PJ Library? Go to: www.pjlibrary.org, it's FREE!