Sometimes it can feel like we’re on our own, getting our spaces ready for Pesach. It can feel like a heavy weight, especially when there are smaller humans that are perfectly capable of helping… but don’t necessarily step in.

It’s something that I find frustrating myself. I remember almost every single night between Purim and Pesach spent helping my mother clean the house. And while memories can be misleading, I know I helped a lot. So why doesn’t it work the same in my home?

The truth is, my kids are still young. And while there’s a lot they can do, there’s also a lot they can’t. It took some tries, but I learned some tricks and changes-in-approach that make a big differnece.

Nothing is going to be an all-in-one solution. Every kid is different, so different things will work for everyone. The goal is to share multiple ideas, so that hopefully, you’ll find something in here that is worth trying for your kid. You know them best. See which idea resonates most.

Some of these ideas are just changes in mindset. Some will cost a bit. I like to think of any costs incurred as additional cleaning help expenses. We spend the few extra bucks on a few extra hours of cleaning help, better cleaning tools… so if I spend a few on helping my kids help – while learning valuable life skills – it’s a win.

Make Pesach cleaning easier for the kids

One of my favorite approaches to encouraging kids to help clean for Pesach is by figuring out ways to make it doable. Here are some tips for that.

Choosing the right tasks

A lot of Pesach cleaning is about personality. One kid will get overwhelmed when I ask him to clean the stroller. The other will love it. One will move through a toy box quickly. The other will get lost somewhere in Spain in the process.

It can be easy to hand out the next task to the nearest child, but matching them up better goes a long way. There are also some things that the kids will do a better job of than others. The ones they can do independently are always a win. Some examples of things I give my kids to do:

• The stroller(s)
• Any smaller single drawer, shelf, or bin that needs a quick empty-and-reload.
• Anything that we spray down heavily to get most of the cleaning of it done (that is, figuring that the spray ensures that any leftover chametz is rendered definitely inedible) – like dining room chairs, kitchen stools, table, etc
• Not just cleaning: I also commission kids to cover areas that are being sold, etc.

It’ll take some trial and error to figure out which things work best, but a general rule is that micro tasks work best. When it comes to general picking up toys, I find that giving kids a count rather than an area helps. Meaning “pick up and put away 20 toys” is better than “clean the playroom” – even if you keep adding another ten until it’s clean (as long as you were clear you were going to do that before you started.

Choosing the right times

Another thing to note is timing. How many times have I gotten frustrated with a kid who wouldn’t clean as asked… because he JUST sat down with a book?! Or have them complain that they’re too tired and not really HEARD them?

I like to give my kids a time frame with a little flexibility. I also teach them basic time planning strategies. “You need to get this done before bedtime. You are not going to bed late. The later it is the more tired you might be, the more work it might feel like. Would you like to do it now, read for ten minutes (set a timer) and then do it, or are you pushing it off until the last minute?”

During vacation it’s easy to answer “but I’m too tired” with “okay, that’s your job to get done first thing tomorrow morning. I need it done before I can move on to XYZ.”

I like to think of it this way: I usually get to map out my tasks and have wiggle room with when I do things. In fact, I often get annoyed when I’m given a task that needs to get done NOW despite it having been known in advance. Giving my kids that room to choose their timing (with limitation) does also give them valuable skills for the future.

In general, I give them a lot more to do on the vacation days before Pesach than on evenings before vacation starts. My approach is usually to have them complete certain things before, for example, screen time. It motivates them (more on that soon) AND they tend to emerge from the screens kind of sluggish.

It feels heavy to save so much for those last days before, but there really is more time then. Now, I’m spending those last precious school days working. Then, they’ll have all day, and I won’t be able to get meaningful work done anyway. So it’s a wise strategy, even if it makes me feel a bit anxious.

Visual Aids

Some kids can complete larger (or even smaller) tasks much better with the help of visual aids.

As a paper planner person myself, I understand how much more approachable tasks can be when they’re visually mapped out for you. So, a few years ago, when a reader approached me with this request, I created some visual cleaning guides for kids.

There are two approaches. One focuses on a kid cleaning out their own areas. The other focuses on cleaning other areas around the house. The basic approach is to empty the area, for personal spaces only to sort (keep, donate, toss), clean, and put things back. Kids can color it in as they go along.

It really breaks things down for the kids into an easy-to-understand visual process, with the correct cleaning tool outlined visually on each one. Instead of “help, I need to clean my room” they can think of it as one item at a time. You can create a planner for them, or hand them pages as they need it.

Kid-friendly tools

Another trick in my book is the one that many parents take when it comes to things like snow removal: get special tools for the kids!

Whether it’s a fun spray bottle, or a cleaning set like this that I got for my own kids, getting tools that are fun really make a big difference.

For older kids, it’s less kid-size tools and more… gadgety ones. I’m not gonna lie, those can get pricey. But if you have room in the budget for some cleaning aids, it can really help rope in the kids. PLUS it helps with my cleaning too…

Some examples of tools that have gotten the big kids (again, responsible enough to handle these) into helping:

• Floor steam cleaner
• General household steamer
• Green Machine
• Spin Brush – if you get one, this is the one I’d go for based on our own consumption.

You catch my drift. If it plugs in and makes noise, they’ll want to use it. Teach them how to use it properly and they can be a real help.

For some kids even rubber gloves can help!

Ways to motivate kids to clean for Pesach

Sometimes we just need a little motivation… That’s how we operate. Think about how efficiently we clean the house when guests are on the way, right? That’s our motivation right there. Personally, I’m super motivated Pesach time, both by the deadline, and because I absolutely LOVE that feeling that once-a-year when I know in my bones that the house is truly deep-down clean.

For kids, different things will motivate. Let’s explore some of them…

Share the benefit to THEM – but in a non-preachy way

You CAN try to transfer some of your excitement and enthusiasm to them. Think about how awesome that clean car is. Or how thrilling it is that their room is SO CLEAN. This obviously works better with older kids.

Showcase it. After an area is clean, show them your own joy, show them how fun it is. I also like to highlight how much easier it is to find what they want to play with, how much easier post-play cleanup is when the area started out clean.

Daily Prizes and Rewards

Personally, I lean heavily on the whole prize thing… We give the kids each a prize and an edible treat for each day that they clean. In addition, they get a bigger new toy, a book, etc at the end.

Our parents hooked us up with personal chocolate stashes to thank us for our help back in the day. I’m talking good chocolate, a few bars, just for us, to last us through the holiday. It was the ultimate treat. And they did it in a tasteful way: they snuck an extra bar to those of us who helped more (or maybe they privately told each of us that, who knows?!)

Here are some more ideas for rewards, snuck from the Pesach cleaning tips post:

Prizes are usually small tchachkes (as close to a dollar each as I can get it, besides for a few exceptions that are really worth it). They live in prize boxes (one for the younger kids, one for the older). Kids can choose – and they LOVE going through it and choosing. It’s part of the prize. Bigger cleaning days do often get slightly bigger prizes (small toys more than actual prizes).

• Beanie Bouncers
• Stationery and other fun school supplies: tool theme pens, infinity pencils, erasable pens, gel pens, Minecraft erasers (or other favorite themes)
• Fun fidgets and squishies
• Wigglits
• Enamel pins
• Shashibo (big prize for a more intense cleaning day)

• Cool keychains: Keyboard keychains, screw robots, wristlet keychains
• Water bottle straps
• Mini brick builds
• Collector cards (Pokemon, topps…)
• Button lights
• Adhesive patches
• Coin purses, pencil pouches, journal pen holders, and other small accessories
• For my 5 year old daughter we also added collectibles/blind boxes
• Also for my daughter we added Barbie outfits and accessories
• Another for my daughter: scrunchies
• Crazy Aaron’s Thinking Putty

And ideas for the bigger/end-of-clean toys for Pesach:

• Keva planks – good for a huge range of age groups. This is what we gave them last year. It’s a timeless, “keep for the grandkids” quality toy.
• New LEGO sets (some people don’t use LEGO on Shabbat and holidays, so ask your Rabbi. We do, so this is a great choice for us).
• Plus Plus is another fun, open-ended building toy

• Clixo is a Jewish-owned magnetic building toy that my kids love
• New games. Some recent (non-muktzah) favorites include Tummple, Floats McGoats, Smart Games single-player puzzle games, and Quirkle
• An experience: gift them a super cool Chol Hamo’ed trip as a reward! This only works if you’re not doing the same for Sukkot
• We usually also give the kids a couple of new Jewish books as a reward for their help.

Outings, parent/kid dates, and similar incentives have even more value, if they are truly helpful and you can swing it.

Special Pesach Incentives for those who help make it happen

Beyond toys, there are small (and not-so-small) ways to make the holiday extra special for those who helped bring it in.

I’m thinking new jewelry (yes, it can be cheap and fake but still pretty), new clothing or shoes for the holiday, a new tie, or anything for direct holiday use. It’s great for those who like to give incentives with intention, in a way that feels more like a direct result of the action.

For kids who care more, giving them leeway with how the table is set, choosing table decor, or in general providing a table decorating budget can be a great way to reward them for being an active part of making Pesach happen. This works best for the kids who ask to help decorate the table – let it be a natural extension of their help cleaning. That is, if you help with the chores of keeping house, you get to be part of the fun parts too.

Do certain tasks before receiving certain privileges

On an everyday basis, my kids know that they have to complete all obligations before screen time. If there’s homework, chores, or even cleaning the toy they were playing with, that must be done first. If they need a little break, that’s fine, but screen time waits until they’ve done what they need to.

Beyond that, Pesach time is ripe with opportunity for more privileges – and again, it’ll depend on age, which privileges they get regardless of earning it, and what feels special. Some more ideas:

• Grocery shopping with parents past bedtime
• Getting to help choose Pesach treats (combined with the above)
• Staying up later than usual in general
• Staying up for full meals if they’d normally only stay for Kiddush and Matzah (great incentive for younger kids)
• Choosing menu items or desserts

Again, the idea is: they’re helping with the grown-up things, so they get to participate in some of the grown stuff.

More tips to encourage kids to help clean for Pesach

Here are a few more tips and tricks for roping in the kids- without adding to your own stress levels.

Be cognizant of their energy levels

It’s something that I noticed – not all kids have the high energy that they’re reputed to have. Having a bit of a mental list of low-energy jobs can help your lower energy kids help more, without adding stress.

Include them in the planning process

Edit and print out this big Pesach cleaning checklist to use as a family. Let kids check off the checklist, choose items from the checklist, and in general take part in the planning angle of Pesach cleaning, and not just be told to do things.

Make it fun

Here’s a trick that works for adults too: make it fun. Turn on that music. Play cleaning games. In fact, I have a free printable I Spy Pesach Cleaning game here, and a Bingo game as well. The idea is that when kids do an action/find a Chametz item/ clean an item they color it in. It can be a little competition, a glorified reward chart, or a self-motivating factor.

Race through bins in the playroom, have a “who can find the most chametz” challenge… get creative!

Do it Together

And a final note: almost all of the help my kids give is alongside me, and often my husband as well. The big exceptions: while I’m cooking they sometimes will clean the dining chairs in the next room, and their backpacks are their own challenges.

I’m not telling them to clean things themselves for the most part. We’re working together. And that helps to make it an actual enjoyable together-time that they sometimes even look forward to.

Got any other tips for how to encourage kids to help clean for Pesach? Comment below!

The post How to Encourage Kids to Help Clean for Pesach appeared first on Jewish Moms & Crafters.

If you’re reading this Chanukah gift post the day before Chanukah (or maybe even on Chanukah?) I bet you could probably use a great last-minute idea that doesn’t require any extra errands. Maybe even one that won’t cost you any money if you don’t want it to, but is still fun to open and enjoy.

This Hanukkah coupon jar is perfect for you!

Why the Hankkah Coupon Jar is a fun solution!

Let’s talk for a minute about Chanukah gifts. It seems like that’s what everyone’s talking about anyway. On one hand, who doesn’t love getting gifts? What a fun way to show your love and spread the joy of Judaism and our survival, right?

On the other hand, sometimes I worry. All this gifting can get expensive – especially if your kids are hoping for another treat on each of the 8 nights! And do I really want my kids to associate a religious holiday with THAT much consumerism? And clutter my home with stuff?

If you’re looking for a budget-friendly, holiday-spirited, wholesome way to fill your Chanukah gifting needs, read on – because the Hanukkah coupon jar is the solution you need.

The way it works is that each night, each family member gets to pick one thing to unwrap – but instead of being material gifts, each one is a coupon for a different type of treat. Some may lead to a gift or gelt, while others could be privileges or maybe even pranks! I’ll share some ideas below to get you started.

This is a fabulous idea for teachers too.

For a fun Chanukah spin (see what I did there?) we’ll fold the coupons into dreidel shapes before tossing them into the jar. If you’re really, really short on time, you don’t HAVE to do this, but it’s not hard at all once you get into a rhythm and it makes the “gifts” exponentially more exciting to open up.

You can, of course, also decorate the jar with stickers (or DIY decals if you have a Cricut).

I can see this becoming a beloved family tradition that we’ll enjoy every year. I wonder if my kids will even continue it with their kids someday! It’s simple, sweet, festive, and fun – really, everything you need in a Chanukah gift.

Ideas for Hanukkah coupon jar rewards

Here are some ideas to include in your coupon jar just to get you started! You can create your own spinoffs of these ideas, make multiples of some – and just have fun with it.

The ones that I did include:

• No chores for you tomorrow! – or pick a day
• Ice cream for breakfast
• Doubles of dessert
• Date with mom/dad (can be separate coupons or a choice)
• Different (modest) amounts of “gelt” (they trade the coupon to you for $1, $5, whatever the coupon says)
• Stay up ½ hour past bedtime
• Movie night
• Game night
• Craft night
• Favorite dinner (kids’ choice)
• Sleep in/go to school late
• An outing/trip
• Specific gifts

You can also mix in some Chanukah-themed treats:

• You get the first latke out of the pan!
• Get an extra free spin when it’s your turn in dreidel
• Amount of gelt = how many candles were lit tonight

Or if you’re a teacher:

• Eat in class
• Free homework
• Help with homework
• Extra credit in varying amounts

How to make a Hanukkah coupon jar

Supplies

• Origami paper (or other lightweight paper)
• Jar – get a cute one or clean a food jar well
• Ultra fine tip permanent marker

Steps

1. Cut your paper into squares. I cut sheets of origami paper into fourths and the size felt just right.

2. Write a “prize” on each one. The key is to mix in different types of prizes because the fun is in the variety and surprise. Prizes can include things you were planning to do anyway (e.g. doughnuts for everyone), and this makes it feel like even more of a treat. See my list above for more inspiration and make sure to watch the tutorial video.

3. Follow my origami dreidel tutorial to fold each coupon into a dreidel shape (use the flat version).

4. Toss all the dreidels into a spacious jar.

5. Shake it up and have each family member pick a dreidel to open up after menorah lighting each night! Or just do this on one or two nights where you want a filler.

Got any other ideas for a Hanukkah coupon jar? Comment below with your favorite coupons!

The post Hanukkah Coupon Jars – Last Minute Gift! appeared first on Jewish Moms & Crafters.

When it comes to finding the perfect Afikoman gifts for kids, traditions very greatly.

For some families, there is a small budget and the kids choose.

For some families, parents use it as an opportunity to invest in quality “lifetime” toys that are played with for many years. Many will even purchase it in advance of the holiday so that kids can actually play with it then!

Some parents gift those trend-based toys that “everyone has” and use it as an incentive for all the Pesach cleaning help.

And some try to double dip with things that’ll keep the kids busy on the long holiday afternoons and on chol hamo’ed – the interim days. This is especially common where one parent needs to work and family trips aren’t an option.

I tried to pinpoint these different needs and traditions and put together this list of trend-based gadgets, forever toys, and highly entertaining options that make fabulous Afikoman gift ideas.

I also tried to include a good assortment of budgets for every family needs.

Keep in mind that some things, while pricier, serve as “family gifts” that cover all your kids, and so they may actually be more cost-effective than single-child gifts.

Forever Toy Afikoman Gift Ideas

One of my favorite Afikoman gift ideas is to purchase a gift in advance of Passover and to tell kids to return the Afikoman in exchange for something specific instead of something they dream up then. It saves a LOT of time.

And my favorite thing to offer is a “forever” toy – you know those toys that kids just don’t ougrow for a very long time, and when they do, it gets played with enough that you’re probably going to save it for the grandkids? Here are a few ideas!

Connetix

Magnetic building tiles are a top toy now for every playroom, because of their open-ended play value that appeals to multiple age groups. They are easy to use and encourage STEM exploration, with a satisfying magnetic click that makes building fun.

Connetix are magnetic building tiles that are absolutely gorgeous. They are a well-made safe magnetic tile so you can let your kids play stress free.

My favorite feature is the beveled surface, which reflects the light and makes for gorgeous designs.

The Rainbow Motion Pack is a classic car-building pack, with two smooth-running interconnecting car pieces and an additional 22 pieces. It’s the perfect size for staring a magnetic tile collection or for adding to an existing one.

Little Partners Learn ‘N Balance Set

Getting kids to be active indoors is a challenge, and for those kids who need a little extra help meeting milestones, it’s so important. A did a lot of balance practice while she was getting PT, however, she no longer needs. it We still like to practice those skills to keep her “on her toes…”

Little Partners makes wood play equipment that work as “forever toys”. They are built to last. Their Learn ‘N Balance set is the perfect toy for encouraging developmentally stimulating play in active kids. It’s a solid balance beam that’s made from layered birch and poplar. It looks great in our home, while still retaining a kid-friendly playfulness.

We don’t have a lot of space in our house, and I appreciate that this is something we can set up and pack away, as it stores quite small.

The balance beam comes in four interconnecting sections, and it includes four stepping stones – round wooden non-slip discs. She’s been begging for an indoor “climbing” toy, and this is the perfect safe alternative for her to build those skills.

Green Toys Parking Garage

When it comes to plastic toys, choosing the right ones makes all the difference in how long they last. The Green Toys parking garage is one of those toys we always pull out when there are guests – in fact, my kids have been playing with it since they are quite small and it’s still going strong.

It’s made of sturdy recycled plastic, and stores quite small. Both my boys and A all love playing with it.

Gadget Afikoman Gift Ideas

Nothing appeals to kids quite like beeping, noise-making, screen-containing gadgets – but what if you’re DONE with screens?

These fun finds actually take the place of screen time to a degree, and while some are better than others in productive play and imagination encouragement, they are all WINS with my own kids.

Naki Radio

The Naki Radio is a streaming radio that allows only approved sites and podcasts through their own network. That means that kids can access it freely and play it on their own. Its content is ALL Orthodox Jewish content, so make sure that’s what you’re looking for before buying it.

My boys absolutely love it! They spend hours listening to it. They also have a premium subscription, which your kids WILL beg you for, and if it’s in the budget you may want to add that in. However, we don’t have that, and my kids still listen to it a lot. They have a couple of favorite free things to listen to and there is a free “story of the day” from the premium collection too.

It includes Jewish music stations, kids’ story stations, and also adult (as in, grown-up) Torah stations. It’s a fabulous family gifts for those with younger kids who care about providing their kids with Torah-teaching content.

Electronic Pop-its

Okay, this is a craze, but it’s THE craze right now. These electronic versions of the popular pop-bubble fidgets remind me a bit of Simon. They basically light up some of the bubbles and kids have to race to pop it. There is also a memory version – in fact, there are three modes.

And yes, to answer your question, it is among the noisier toys.

VTech PrintCam

While I’ve previously shared this as a big sibling gift, it’s also a super fun afikoman gift idea! Little kids will love taking their own photos, and yes, it has games. While it does induce some “screen time” vibes, it’s not as crazy as actual devices.

And kids can edit and add stickers to their photos, making it fabulous for encouraging a bit of creativity. It prints directly from the camera on thermal paper, costing pennies per print.

Chol Hamo’ed Activities to Give as Afikoman Gifts

My husband typically has to work on Chol Hamo’ed (the interim days of Passover when Sabbath laws aren’t observed) and so we don’t go on family trips like many people do. I always try to have some fresh activities that feel like a trip-at-home. I even budget for some new things.

For Passover, double dipping activities with Afikoman gifts is a fabulous strategy, and one that really keeps me sane on those long days at home (with kids whose friends are ALL going away…)

The idea is to keep things really new and fresh for this – with things they haven’t done before.

StickiCubes

Part sensory toy, part building toy, StickiKubes are mini (about a cm) sticky cubes (like the name…) that kids can use to build all sorts of 2D and 3D creations.

They are washable – in fact, the container comes with a strainer lid. They are a compact toy that’s easy to store, with a high entertainment factor, and a broad age appeal.

Highlights Big Book of Activities for Little Kids

I’m not gonna lie, we have a huge stash of activity books, but there’s always room for another, as they provide our family with so much entertainment value!

And this one from Highlights is quite unique. It has over 200 activities designed for ages 3-6. The Big Book of Activities for Little Kids features different sections and categories – crafts, DIY pretend play ideas, movement, experiments, recipes, kindness prompts, songs, and even stories!

It’s the kind of book that’ll give you entertainment ideas for long days at home, but also will be entertaining for the kids in its own right. If you have multiple kids, it’s the perfect way to get older kids involved in playing with the younger set.

And here’s a little mom hack: hand this to your kids with a pad of sticky notes or flags and let them mark the things they want to do… It’ll be a whole activity in itself.

The book itself is an upgraded softbound book, with vivid glossy pages full of photos and playful graphics.

Gel Blasters

We first introduced our kids to Gel Blasters as a Sukkot activity and they had… a blast. (Yes, I had to.)

They shoot out gellets (like mini water beads) that burst on impact and basically dissolve, so you don’t need to collect anything. They have all sorts of accessories to upgrade the play experience but you can have fun with them as-is as well.

I find that this is an affordable toy to restock, and each new gellet package really goes a long way entertainment-wise. It got my bigger kids to enjoy the outdoors a little, which is a stretch most days.

KiwiCo Subscription or Single Box

We are longtime fans of KiwiCo’s entertaining boxes and kits. M loves the Tinker Crate STEM and Doodle Crate craft lines, and Y is a fan of Kiwi Crate (STEM, but for younger kids). A has enjoyed both Panda Crate’s high quality developmentally-appropriate toys and Koala Crate’s activity kits.

And yes, I am absolutely obsessed with their teen and adult craft box – Maker crate. It comes with real-life craft skills, including the tools you need to do it.

In a nutshell, they have a line for every age range, and they are always a hit in entertainment value and quality. You can choose standalone kits, or subscriptions if you want a longer-lasting gift.

Note: some people refrain from skilled work on Chol Hamo’ed. If an adult plans to do it then, you may want to ask your Rabbi if it’s allowed.

Non-toy Afikoman Gift Ideas

Not every gift needs to be a toy – it just needs to have appeal! Here are some suggestions for the “but we have WAAAYY too many toys” crowd.

Jewelry/Watch

Jewelry or watches are fabulous choices that are a bit splurgy for everyday, and an exciting gift for kids!

M has this watch and loves it. You can also give this beautiful kid-friendly necklace a go.

Art Supplies or Kids’ Tools

Years ago, M got this “real” tool set as gift. It’s actual tools, but in a kid-friendly size. It’s a fabulous gift for handy kids.

For kids who love crafting or art, you can gift upgraded materials – Prismacolor colored pencils, brush tip markers (water based for kids, older teens can try alcohol markers), polymer clay tools, etc.

Got any Afikoman gift ideas to add to the list? What is your Afikoman tradition? Comment below!

The post Afikoman Gift Ideas appeared first on Jewish Moms & Crafters.

When asking readers what they wanted as I create Passover resources, the most common answer was: send help!

I can’t send cleaning fairies – I wish I had one myself – and I haven’t even made Pesach enough times to offer thorough advice as to making things better. In fact, I’m in slight panic mode because A, age 2, thinks that “mealtime” means:

• Cup of cereal eaten all over the house. OR
• Peanut butter sandwich in hand, eaten all over house, with crusts left wherever she chooses. OR
• Even pasta needs to be eaten from a cup all over the house.

I obviously clean up after her, but, you know, not the whole house.

My solution: clean last minute. But I’m only one person – or am I?

I recently organized my kids’ “stuff” with them and I was surprised at just how much they can do. My kids also help out a lot with chores on a daily basis.

The biggest challenge with kids getting involved in the Passover cleaning is that it might be new to them. And for kids with executive functioning challenge, the oversight required might make it just not worth your while.

So here, I am, recruiting your kids to help you clean with the help of some printable visual Passover cleaning aids – four of them in fact:

• An I Spy game
• A Bingo game
• A step-by-step visual binder for cleaning kids’ personal spaces (backpack, dresser, etc)
• A step-by-step visual binder for cleaning shared spaces around the home (dining chairs, coat closet, etc)

The I Spy game – is free. It operates as a rewards chart but with a twist. More on that soon.

Yes, you will need to be involved – even heavily – with these aids. And you’ll need to forget about any real organization. But your kids can do a lot and I truly hope this helps!

How to use the Passover cleaning guides as this year’s Cleaning Fairy

As a parent of a child with ADHD, I can tell you that incentives CAN help. So can timers. And visual aids are winners.

Kids need to have the whole shebang mapped out so that they can get what they’re doing. But then they also need it mapped out into tidbits that make sense.

The trick with having an incentive work is that it has to be really appealing. When M took three days to do a chore (cleaning up a few games from the family room) I offered to add music to his MP3 player. Suddenly the room got clean.

For the kid that loves sweets it can be candy.

For the kid that wants one-on-one time, it can be an outing. Think: a one-hour ice cream date – with all the hours you saved, you can now afford it! Plus, you’ll be making memories and creating positive associations with Passover cleaning.

Whatever you do, if you want your kids to help regularly with Passover cleaning, make sure to also incentivize in increments.

When readers asked for visual aids for kids, I wasn’t sure how to make it work for everyone. Each home and each child is different. I’m going to go into further detail for each one, however I’d like to summarize them as follows:

• For the two games (I Spy and Bingo) you can still “win” without getting them all.
• For the binder-style guides (Personal and Home) you can print the pages you need as needed.
• For the two games, anything you clean, use, or do is a score. Any Chametz you find is a score also.
• For the binders, each item that’s cleaned is broken into a very repetitive process of empty, purge, clean, refill. You’ll obviously need to guide the process.
• Bingo, Home binder, and Personal binders all come with parent guides. Personal binder also comes with a kids’ guide to purging.
• The binders can both be used year-round. You get Passover, Pesach, and generic versions of them too.
• I targeted ages 8-12 for these Passover cleaning guides, but it may be good for other ages as well.

Finally, I’d like to point out: Passover cleaning is not Spring cleaning. If you’re short on time, don’t bother with the sorting, purging, organizing process. You’ll still want to toss any trash – why put that back in? But when kids clean their own things independently, it’s very valuable to teach them that skill as they do it.

The Passover Cleaning Visual Guides

ALL of these are printables that you can print multiple copies of as needed for your kids. You may also use them for a single classroom.

The I Spy Game

Every time they do a cleaning action, use a cleaning tool, or find a chametz item, they color it in.

This one is best used as follows:

• Competition between siblings: who can score the most?
• Competition with self: can you beat yesterday’s record?
• You can even send this home with students and have a parent sign each item and send it back in to have a class-wide contest.
• You can print a new chart daily/weekly – whatever works!
• You can incentivize when they hit a certain number.
• You can set daily goals.

Download it for free:

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The Passover Cleaning Bingo Game

The Bingo game serves as a rewards chart with a twist. You get five rearranged charts (there are a few duplicate items on the charts and they vary). Rules are the same as the I Spy – use, do, or find an item and color it in. But this one adds in objects that they can clean to score.

Yes, some chores will be “double dips” (or octuple dips) and that’s fine.

I recommend choosing small incentives for each row, etc. and a larger one if the chart is completed. If you do a full-chart incentive, you may want to exclude anything irrelevant.

This can be played as a competition or as an individual chart, and it comes with a “Guide for Grownups”.

The Kids’ “My Spaces” Visual Guide – Binder

The My Spaces visual aid is for kids to clean their own personal items.

As a personal-safety safeguard, my kids know that certain spaces are theirs. I never clean or purge these without them. This binder is designed to help them really be able to do it on their own. You can give it to them as a binder, or just hand them the page they’re working on. Use it in the way that’ll work best for them.

It comes with guides for parents, and a guide for kids to learn some purging skills. If you don’t agree with what I wrote, just don’t give them that page!

It has a total of seven spaces to clean, and a choice of covers: Passover, Pesach, or generic/year-round use.

The Kids’ “Our Home” Visual Guide – Binder

The home guide is designed for kids to help with assorted tasks around the house – not their own items.

Someone shared with me as I was crowdsourcing for this post that as a child, they were given the coat pockets to clean. Any loose change found was theirs to keep! You can do this or not, but either way, it’s a great chore for kids. And there tends to be loads of Chametz in pockets – especially in homes with kids.

I chose items around the home that kids ages 8-12 can more or less clean independently, and only included the steps that makes sense for them to do. You’ll need to help with any purging, and give guidance along the way.

For example: For something like kitchen cabinets or drawers: print a new page for each one that they clean. As they clean, you can instruct them NOT to put things back into the one or two that you might be using for Passover. Just draw an X over the final “refill” step.

It has a total of seven spaces to clean, and a choice of covers: Passover, Pesach, or generic/year-round use. And it comes with a parent’s guide too.

The Passover Cleaning Bundle

If you can’t decide or want them all, you can get them bundled at a steep discount, along with my full set of no Chometz sign door hangers.

Which of these Passover cleaning aids is your favorite? Got any tips for getting the kids to help out? Comment below!

The post 4 Passover Cleaning Visual Aids for Kids appeared first on Jewish Moms & Crafters.

I love having something for my kids to unwrap every night of Hanukkah. Because it’s less of a structured holiday, it not only lends structure and excitement, it’s something for the kids to anticipate for months!

Note: this post is designed for parents who plan to gift a gift each night. For general ideas for Hanukkah gifts to bring to families, coworkers friends, you’re better off checking out my big list of Hanukkah gift ideas.

While we usually spend some time with family for other chagim, Hanukkah is spent going to school most days and pretty much at home. And while we have Chanukah parties, latke baking sessions, and more, we need to be real: the kids love gifts.

It’s important to remember: gift giving for kids is central to Chanukah in an authentic way. Originally, it was “gelt” – cash prizes – given as an incentive for Torah study, to combat the efforts to get rid of it. Today, kids are more inclined to be incentivized by toys. We avoid “good kid vs. bad kid” references like the plague, but they can be told that their efforts throughout the year are being rewarded.

And while gift giving to everyone else and their third cousin might be adopted from the over commercialization of the holiday season, there’s nothing like sending a little token of gratitude to make another’s day, if you can afford it.

The problem is, when you think about buying your kid a new LEGO set or doll outfit or whatever it is that they’re into these days… it gets to simply be too much! And if you have a larger family, it’s totally prohibitive.

I’ve always been frugal and taken a “spend less, save more” approach. However, having a gift for my kids for each night is very important to me. That’s why I wanted to share a more sensible approach to 8 nights of Hanukkah gifts.

These are examples of things we’ve given, planned out in “8 nights” for you. The point is: your kids can unwrap something every night, without it being eight nights of expensive toys. Overlap with things they actually need – but make it special. Gift treats and consumables. Budget $1 for some nights.

A good strategy is to plan a budget for each child and spread it out over the eight nights.

Of course, shopping sales and bargain stores or bargain sections in stores can help.

For reference, my kids are ages nine, six, and two.

Your tweens and teens may need you to take a different approach. But I figure I’ll share what works for us to have 8 nights of Hanukkah gifts, and you can tweak as needed.

8 Nights of Hanukkah Gifts: What to give each night

First, I start off with a sample plan. If some of these don’t work for your kids, pivot. I have LOADS more ideas below. Swap around the nights to be those that work best for you.

Night One: The biggie. Make it clear to kids that it’s the biggie to set expectations for other nights. It can be a $10 item that’s high on their wishlist (Top Trumps, Pokemon Cards, a new doll outfit) or as big as a new gaming console. The idea is that this is the main gift you’re giving them, according to your own budget.

We’ve switched off doing this on night one and night eight. The advantage of doing it on night eight is that this doesn’t set the expectations too high. However, if your kids know that there’s one Big Gift and the rest are just fun little surprises, they may already be anticipating it and this can be a great way to kick off Chanukah.

For that reason, I do the biggie on the first night.

Shop for this one when all the sales happen – you’ll probably save on average 30-40% if you shop sales!

You can find loads of ideas for the biggie by age in my gift guides I’ve created over the years.

Night Two: Socks. By socks I mean special socks, such as favorite character socks.

Night Three: Treats. Chocolate coins or candy filled dreidels. See “special nights” note below.

Night Four: Pajamas. Cozy or character PJs – especially if you don’t usually buy those are a great gift. And consider that it’s only the extra that they cost that you’re really spending on the gift. Check out Target’s velour pajamas – my kids all love it!

Night Five: Another toy. I do think it’s nice to do another toy night, but maybe a smaller one. Some ideas for this night, depending on your budget: puzzles – Jixelz are cool too, Smart Games, a Dollar Tree item.

Night Six: A book. I usually go for a Jewish book that I really want them to have. For example, one year I got them Let’s Stay Safe.

Night Seven: Gelt. This is based on the ages of kids and what’s appropriate. It can be $1, $5, $100 – depending on your budget. With smaller “gelt” gifts, you can give gift cards, such as to a local ice cream store, where a few dollars goes further.

Night Eight: A family gift. This can be a game, a music CD/new DVD, a building toy, or something else in any budget (it can also be a swingset or a trampoline). If gifting a game or CD, you can follow it up with a family game night or dance party.

Nights that are excluded or get special treatment

Some nights either don’t need a gift or get specific gifts that make sense. Here are some examples.

Friday Night – Gift Shabbat party for the next day, such as a candy-filled dreidel, dreidel jewel pops, dreidel oodles…

The night before school vacation – Gift an activity or craft kit (this can literally be dollar store item/s) to be done the next day.

Party Nights – nights that we have family parties where I know the kids will get gifts I don’t give them something from me. They already know this and expect it. So you can see that we don’t even go through all items on the list above every Chanukah!

A DIY Night – Make one night for gifting something you made. Or, do it as a family gift exchange night. This will work if you’re a creative family, obviously, and isn’t for everyone.

Family gift exchange night – Whether you DIY or buy it, you can give each kid a small budget (max $5) and have them each buy or get supplies to DIY a gift for another sibling (assigned by you or picked out of a bowl.)

More sensible gift ideas that fit every budget

Here are some more ideas that you can swap out with some of the above.

• Fuzzy slippers – bonus points if it has a favorite character
• Clothing: either a licensed t-shirt with their favorite characters, a hoodie of the same, or a cozy one if they’re big fans of cozy…
• Art Supplies – especially a “level up” from their current stash.

Jewelry or hair accessories for girls. Again, this is Dollar Tree-able for very young kids, and at most can cost a few bucks at Target.

A watch – bonus points for analog! If you can get away with it.

• Fun school supplies – especially for kids who are old enough that the teachers don’t pool supplies and aren’t too specific.
• Fun throw pillows for their beds. Totally sensible.
• Or any other piece of bedroom decor, such as a poster, a new desk lamp, an alarm clock…

Second hand! I bought my son a second hand leftie mitt at the thrift store for a few dollars.

More non-toy 8 Nights of Hanukkah Gift Ideas for kids

This list includes non-toy gift ideas that aren’t necessarily cheap but are fabulous for if you want to be more sensible and don’t just want to stock up on toys.

• Hanukkah supplies: a personalized Menorah, a fun dreidel…
• Experiences and trips – this can be gifted as family gift night – even if it’s a vacation you’ll want to take anyway! Double dip!
• A new hobby – either lessons for one, a starter kit, supplies plus a book… however you want to gift it!
• A STEM membership such as KiwiCo or MEL Science.

• Piggy banks or other age-appropriate financial education gifts (bonus: stick some gelt in this!)
• Their own luggage (if you go away a lot) or sleeping bag.
• Ride ons, bikes, sports equipment such as a new mitt. You might call this toys, but since it’s to some degree a “necessity” if the child doesn’t have a stand-in, you can once again double dip, buying something the child needs anyway as a gift.

Do you do 8 nights of Hanukkah gifts? What tips or ideas do you have to make it more doable? Comment below!

The post 8 Nights of Hanukkah Gifts – Sensible Edition appeared first on Jewish Moms & Crafters.

Everyone’s dinnertime looks different. Sometimes, only one parent is home. Sometimes, all the kids come home in intervals and eat at different times. Or you’ve got so many clubs and lessons and occupational therapists to go to that you have picnics in the car.

No one’s doing it the wrong way. We’re all just trying to feed our kids, maybe even healthily, and get through the day.

But if there’s one thing that brings a family together, it’s family dinners. Everyone together, around the table, enjoying food and company. And while it paints a nice, rosy picture, it can be very difficult to make that a reality.

Personally, I would love for it to happen every night, but realistically, it just doesn’t. Life happens. My husband often works late, or my good intentions for cooking a wholesome supper flies out the window.  But without even planning it, at least once a week, (other than Shabbos), we all sit down and enjoy a meal together.  For some, a family dinner may work out only once a week or even once a month. For some, it might work well every night, so you can switch up the ideas below to keep it fun and fresh.

So now, the questions practically begs itself. Making mealtime fun? Is that even possible? And the answer is, sure! You can make mealtime fun and enjoyable by ensuring a few simple things: that you’re relaxed and calm, that everyone is being fed and that the atmosphere is inviting.

Make mealtime fun with these 7 easy tips:

1. Preparation is key

Anything that you may need during the dinner should be on the table before dinner starts. This is so that you will not be constantly getting up to get something. It will actually allow you to eat and enjoy your own dinner too!

This includes things like ketchup, napkins, the water pitcher, salt shaker and the baby’s bib. If you use plastic plates and cutlery, a utensil caddy can be really helpful so you’re not gathering everything together every night.

Don’t forget- the kids can help set the table!

2. Kids eat with their eyes

It’s a known fact that people eat with their eyes. That’s why there’s a high emphasis on beautifully plated dishes in restaurants. But kids also eat with their eyes. You don’t need to plate anything professionally, but bright colors and neat portions make a difference.

If you have the time and head-space for it, by all means, make those funny sandwich faces and flower shaped pepper slices.

What my kids get excited over is their special sectional plates and colorful place-mats. I don’t use them every night, since I’m a big fan of disposable plastic, but when I bring them out, my kids go gaga over them, and they’re more likely to finish everything on their plates.

3. Involve them

When trying to make mealtime fun, it’s a great idea to include your kids. Especially if you’re only doing this every so often, kids will love being involved, and they’ll really look forward to dinner.

You can involve them in different ways, depending on their ages. Older kids can pick out the menu and even partially cook supper. Younger kids can help with peeling the veggies or mixing the salad. Go through your favorite cookbook and let your kids put sticky notes on recipes and pictures that look appealing to them and consider making those recipes for your next family dinner.

4. Don’t wait till they’re hungry

Kids (like most adults) don’t do well on a hungry tummy. Have dinner prepared and ready to eat before they turn into starving creatures that sound like you haven’t fed them in three days. Not only will everyone be calmer by dinnertime, but there’s a good chance no one will overeat.

5. Turn it up

Turn on some music! Be it some soft classical, or a favorite CD, make the ambiance in your home something everyone enjoys.

6. Read to them

I love this tip, especially if you have younger children at home. IIf you are comfortable with either eating a bit quicker than the others, or a little bit after, consider reading a storybook at the table. Once all the kids are settled with their food, read their favorite book! I’d pick a fast one, one that they are already familiar with so there isn’t too much interruption.

For older children, you may want to consider learning something, like a lesson a day, something no longer than three to five minutes.

7. Positive discussions

My children, ages 5 and 6, respond well to this, and it’s really terrific for all ages. Turn your mealtime fun into a mealtime of gratefulness. Have everyone go around the table and mention something that they were grateful for that day, in school or at work. You can also change it up a bit and have everyone mention three things that made them happy that day. The opportunities to springboard discussion and bring the family closer are endless.

What does mealtime look like in your home? Do you have any ideas of your own to make mealtime fun? Comment below!

The post 7 Easy Ways to Make Mealtime Fun appeared first on Jewish Moms & Crafters.

These days, children spend a lot more time than we used to on electronic devices, and tend to be lazier. However, it’s still important for them to clean up after themselves or do chores to help around the house.

When children clean up their toys, or make their beds or do any other form of organizing, tidying and cleaning, it teaches them responsibility and important life-long skills. Children need to contribute to the household they are living in.

Of course, I am not advocating slave labor, and you do need to work with each child according to their abilities. But it is reasonable to expect some help around the house, and for children to pick up after themselves. You (or your household help) should not be picking up after them every single time, especially if they are old enough to do it on their own. And the age that they are “old enough” is younger than you think. Children can start cleaning up after themselves from toddler age. Even one or two blocks into the bin as a young toddler will set a good foundation for cleaning skills as they grow.

Let me set the record straight; I am not a perfect, picturesque homemaker. My house gets messy. My dishes go unwashed, my laundry piles up, and my floor can be sticky. But, like many of you, I enjoy a clean home. I will often neglect taking care of myself in favor of cleaning up.

I had a teacher in high school that never allowed us to have extra items on our desks- only exactly what we needed for his class. He would say something to the effect of “a clean desk makes for a clean mind.” And it’s true! When my home is clean, dishes are washed, and laundry is done (for all of five minutes), my head is so much more clear and I am much more relaxed. And this goes for children as well.

9 Ways to Get your Kids to Clean Up

1. Make it a race

If your kids can handle the pressure (and be graceful losers), have them race against each other to clean up their rooms, the toys or the kitchen table.

Alternatively, race against the clock. Set a timer and get moving! (This is also a great way to teach children the value of time.)

2. Clean up through sorting

Another great way to incorporate a teaching lesson, have your children clean up by color (everything red!) or by shape (everything square!). This is a particularly good method for younger children who will find it overwhelming to clean too much, or for stubborn children not in the mood to clean. Sorting by colors or shapes turns clean up time into a fun game!

3. Reward, reward, reward

There are SO MANY reward charts and methods you can find on Pinterest and the internet. Some children need the extra incentive, and that’s okay! Depending on the age of the child, you can for a big prize once in a while, or smaller ones once a week.

4. Every child according to his strengths

As I mentioned above, every child needs to learn how to clean up according to his capabilities. If one kid loves to do the dishes, let that be his steady chore. If your teenager hates ironing, don’t force her to do it every week. Teach her how to do it correctly, but let her steady chore be something that plays to her strengths. She’ll be a lot more willing to help around the house if she’s good at the chore she’s assigned.

5. Don’t criticize; praise

When a child washes the dishes and leaves some grease residue, don’t criticize. They’ll get better over time, and next time he or she does the dishes you can gently guide them. This time, though, rewash the dishes after they’ve gone to bed.

If your child volunteers to help (it happens sometimes!), praise them! Thank them! Don’t show any annoyance if something they helped with is not up to your standards. It will only set a negative tone for the future.

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6. My rule about spills

My children are preschoolers right now. From when they were toddlers, I instituted a rule about spills in my home. It’s okay for things to spill. It’s normal, it happens (sometimes multiple times in a twenty minute span), and it’s not worth getting stressed over.

So my children know- if something spills: A. Mommy doesn’t get upset. B. Whoever spilled has to help clean it up.

I talk about this rule so often, that even when I’m crazily overwhelmed after a long day, my instinct when something spills has become to smile, instead of getting upset. Both the six year old and five year old know that when something spills, they jump up to get a towel. One, two, three, the spill gets cleaned up and everyone’s happy and calm.

7. They’re watching you

In order for your children to get in the habit of cleaning up after themselves, they need to see you do it as well. These are all minor examples, and you already do it all anyway, but for younger children, all you have to do is verbalize what you are doing. “I’m clearing my plate off the table now.” “I’m throwing my shirt into the hamper.” This subtly teaches them that a person picks up after themselves.

8. Rock out to some music

Putting on some music when it’s clean up time is a great way to make chores a positive thing in your home. Clean to the beat, take a pause to have a dance party when cleaning a big mess, and just have fun! Cleaning up doesn’t have to be boring.

9. Rules that work for you

I only allow two toys out at a time. Of those two toys, they can’t both be multiple piece toys (like LEGO and the complete train set), as this just makes clean up time more overwhelming.

Now, keep in mind that I bend these rules all the time. I have two children, so often it’s two toys per child out. Or my son loves to build parking garages with magnatiles, so I’ll let the magnatiles and all his cars out. The more important aspect of the rule is that before taking out a new toy, the first must be cleaned up.

Do what works for you. When my kids were toddlers, the toys were in a locked closet, so that they couldn’t make a huge mess all at once when my back was turned. Now, they’re on open shelving on their level, but it’s been instilled in them enough that they won’t take out a new toy until the other one’s been cleaned up.

All in all, it’s important to remind yourself that keeping your home clean is not your child’s responsibility. I know, I know, I just spent a whole blog post telling you otherwise. But what I want to clarify is that, yes, it teaches your child responsibility to clean up after themselves.

However, it’s the job of the adults in the home to actually shoulder the brunt of the work. Don’t expect more of your child than you would expect of yourself. Don’t get upset if your child is too overwhelmed to do their chores sometimes. After all, they’re just kids.

How do you encourage your children to clean up after themselves? Any tips or tricks we’ve missed? Comment below!

The post 9 Ways to Encourage Kids to Clean Up appeared first on Jewish Moms & Crafters.

As a work-at-home mom, I am ALWAYS at the office. That means that if an important email dings my phone, I am sometimes guilty of running and answering it.

If I have a call with a potential client, it’s always with the kids around. It’s unavoidable.

If you’re working out of the house, you’ll also find that time with the kids is so scarce. You just need to relax for five minutes and eat something, to take care of yourself, because if you don’t, who will? Then dinner needs to be cooked. The toddler dumped Cheerios all over .The preschooler scribbled on the walls of your rental home and your landlord will be sooo annoyed…

And even if you’re a full-time stay-at-home-mom, for some reason the rest of the world assumes  you’re bored and asks for you to help with any number of shul events, PTA tasks. Plus, you can’t afford to hire cleaning help. And you may be at a loss with how to connect with your kids even if you do have the time.

Bedtime, for me, is the solution to all of the above. I’ve been a stay-at-home-mom, a working mom, and a work-at-home mom in the past four years at different stages. I know how each one presents unique challenges when it comes to connecting with the little ones.

I know how easy it is to let childhood slip away.

And I know how bedtime can play a key role in teaching children just how much they mean to their parents.

For me, it’s about the song we sing. My kids are still young, and they don’t care how off-key I sing.

We sing Hamal’ach. But we also sing the English Uncle Moishy version of the song and M would not have it otherwise.

The words go “Because all of his children are special for all of the Mitzvos we do“.

He loves hearing that he’s special. He even tells me “Mommy, I’m special too, right?”. And I tell him “you are – because of the Mitzvos you do”.

I love the chance to teach him that it’s his actions that make him special. I give him specific examples. “Remember how you helped Baby Y reach that toy that he couldn’t? Remember how you told me that you really like the craft that I made? It made me feel so good! When we say nice things, we make people feel good. That makes us special”.

Bedtime is a chance to boost a child’s self-esteem and to teach valuable lessons.

Make bedtime special by making your child feel special at bedtime.

Having such talks with your child at this rare opportunity to really unwind (and I mean both of you…) is a great way to make bedtime special.

You might still have a whole day ahead of you, but since the kids are finally going to sleep, there is a sense of calm that comes.

Singing and having deep conversations might not be your thing, so I put together this little list of ways to make bedtime special. Choose the ones that work for you. Obviously, since my kids are young (four years old and eighteen months, to be exact), these ideas are geared toward that age range, but even if your kids are older, some of these might work for you.

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24 Ways to Make Bedtime Special:

1. Say Shema together.
   
2. Say your own prayer together. It’s a powerful lesson for your child too.
3. Sing a favorite song together.
4. Sing it in a silly way. Try sticking out your tongue while singing, or singing it out of one side of your mouth.
5. Make up your own lullaby.
6. Tell a made up story. Let your child choose the subject.
7. Take turns making up lines for a new story.
8. Bring crayons and paper to bed and illustrate the story as you go along.
9. Talk about the day. Ask your child specific questions.
10. Brush your teeth together. Try singing with the toothpaste in your mouth.
11. Have a tickle party.
12. Swap ridiculous jokes.
13. Play Meatballs and Spaghetti with your kids’ names. Read a book, and swap out any word that starts with the same letter as your child’s name with his or her name.
    
14. Allow your non-reading child to “read” the book to you from the pictures.
15. Invent a new language. Just a few words do the trick!
16. Talk about upcoming events. It can also be a great opportunity to ease your child’s anxiety about these.
17. Give bedtime plenty of time. Allow this to be the phone-free dedicated time your child needs.
18. Create a menu plan for the week together.
19. If only one parent is dealing with bedtime, plan a surprise for the other parent together.
20. Make the room dark and build constellations with glow-in-the-dark stars together. Invent your own.
21. Tell “when you were a baby” stories. With Baby Y now learning new words and mispronouncing them in the cutest ways, M likes to hear how he used to say things as a baby. He especially loves it because he knows we go crazy when Baby Y says something cute, and he feels loved knowing that was him not long ago.
22. Tell “when I was a kid” stories – kids love hearing that their parents were young too!
23. Tell stories about your family history. Avoid things like Holocaust stories with young kids at bedtime – you don’t want to feed their anxiety.
24. Play I Spy with a book or bottle.

The bottom line is, more than any THINGS you can buy your child, your child wants you. But you already have your hands full.

That’s why dedicating the end of your day to your child is a good way to make sure your child gets that basic time with you. There are opportunities throughout the day to bond with your child (for example, you can cook dinner together), but there’s nothing like knowing you’ll get that one-on-one (or two, or three) each night…

Check out the beautiful Shema poster I designed special for this! You can get it printed at your local printer for a few dollars (depending on the size) and it’s a great way to set the mood for a special bedtime!

What are your favorite ways to make bedtime special? Comment below!

The post 24 Easy Ways to Make Bedtime Special appeared first on Jewish Moms & Crafters.

*Edited 5-18-2020 to add FREE PRINTABLE Aleph Bais Show and Tell Ideas list. See end of post to download!

Countless times, I see posted on online forums, Facebook Mommy groups, and asked among my friends “what should I send for show and tell for the letter Samach? For Lamed?” Every time I have the question, I wished there was a list that I could check when I was rushing last minute to send something with my son or daughter to school.

After doing a lot of Google searches and coming up empty, I knew I had to create one on my own.

One of my pet peeves when it comes to show and tell is when children bring in toys that start with the same sound as the Hebrew letter, but in fact are words from the English language. A huge part of learning Ivrit is about the letters, the sounds and how they play out in the Hebrew language.

For young toddlers a toy or item that really has the sound coming from the ABCs isn’t a big deal since they really don’t know the difference. But for preschoolers, it makes a huge difference. Giving them a solid foundation in the Hebrew language will make all the difference for all their schooling in the future.

I’m sure some of you are laughing at me right now, saying “Show and Tell isn’t that big a deal. So what?” It may seem like a silly game that teachers play to pass the time, but as someone who was once a teacher myself, show and tell is another form of reinforcement with the Aleph Bais letters your child is learning. It gets the kids involved and excited and is an all-important part of learning in the classroom.

That’s why this list has all Hebrew or Yiddish words for every letter of the Aleph Bais. Some have more options and some have less, so if you have any suggestions for the words that are lacking, please reach out and let me know!

Show and Tell Ideas for the Aleph Bais

The goal of this list, aside from everything being a word in either Hebrew or Yiddish, was to make it easy for you to find things around the house to send to school, without stress. All the items are either household items, toys or food. When sending food to school, be sure that it is nut-free or allergen friendly in accordance with school policies.

Aleph

• Aryeh (toy lion)
• Aviron (toy airplane)
• Agas (pear)
• Abba & Ima (send in pictures!)
• Esrog (great for when show and tell for the letter Aleph comes out right after Sukkos!)

Beis

• Bubah (doll)
• Bayit (house- send in a drawing of a house, a picture of your house, etc.)
• Bisli or Bamba (beware of allergies!)
• Banana
• Beged (send in doll clothes or real!)
• Barvas (duck- a rubber duckie from the bath is perfect!)
• Bakbuk (bottle- send in a water bottle or a baby bottle, whatever you have on hand!)

Gimmel

• Glidah (ice cream- the fake ice cream that comes in many kitchen sets is great!)
• Gamal (camel- if you have a play animal set at home!)
• Gezer (carrot)
• Garbayim (socks- mismatched and colorful will have all the kids laughing.)
• Gelt (send in some fake money or a few real pennies.)

Daled

• Dov (teddy bear or gummy bears)
• D’vash (honey)
• Duvdavon (cherries or cherry candies would work well)
• Dag (fish- more specifically, jelly fish!)
• Daysah (oatmeal)
• Degel (flag)

Hey

• Havdalah (send in b’samim or a havdalah candle)
• Hatzalah (send in a toy ambulance truck)
• Hamantashen
• Hagaddah

Vav

• Vered (rose)
• Varod (anything pink!)

Zayin

• Zayis (olives)
• Zanav (any animal figurine or stuffed animal with a tail)
• Zeidy (send in a picture of Zeidy)
• Zahav (send in something gold)

Ches

• Halva
• Chumash
• Challah
• Chanukiyah (a.k.a. a menorah)
• Chum (anything brown!)
• Chultzah (shirt)
• Chidah (puzzle)

Tes

• Tallis (this teddy in a tallis is adorable)
• Tichel
• Telephone

Yud

• Yarmulka
• Yerakot (vegetables)
• Yarok (anything green!)
• Yerushalayim (a picture or keepsake from Jerusalem would be beautiful.)

Kof

• Kifafot (gloves)
• Kovah (hat)
• Kaf (spoon)
• Karit (pillow)
• Kesef (money)
• Kador (ball)
• Kos (cup)
• Kachol (something blue)
• Kallah (a picture of a bride or a veil)

Lamed

• Lavan (something white)
• Lulav
• Leveinah (bricks- LEGO or DUPLO or anything similar)

Mem

• Mezonos (crackers, pasta, cookies)
• Mitz (a juice box)
• Melafafon (cucumber)
• Mayim ( a water bottle)
• Matzah
• Melech (salt)
• Mazleg (fork)
• Menorah
• Me’il (coat)

Nun

• Ner (candle)
• Netilas Yadayim (a negel vasser cup)
• Na’alayim (shoes)
• Nachash (toy snake)

Samach

• Siddur
• Sukariyot (candies)
• S’vivon (dreidel)
• Sefer (any sort of book)
• Segol (anything purple)

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Ayin

• Ugiyot (cookies)
• Agvaniah (tomato)
• Anavim (grapes)
• Adashim (lentils)
• Eparon (pencil)
• Et (pen)

Peh

• Parah (cow- also from an animal set. It can be very useful to have toy animals at home.)
• Perach (flowers)
• Parsha book
• Pe’ah (an old wig from the dress up box)

Tzaddi

• Tz’vaim (crayons)
• Tzimukim (raisins)
• Tzadik (a picture of a learned man)
• Tzalachat (a plate)
• Tzatzu’ah (toys)

Kuf

• Katan (something small)
• Kufsah (box)

Reish

• Ra’ash (something noisy, like one of those electronic toys that never shut off)
• Rechev (toy vehicle)

Shin

• Shokolad (chocolate- yes, please!)
• Shachor (anything black)
• Shofar (if you have a toy shofar, this is great for show and tell)
• Sha’on (a clock or watch)

Tuf

• Torah (the classic plush Torah toy)
• Tefillah (prayer- a siddur would work well)
• Tavlinim (spices)

Download your free printable Show and Tell Aleph Bais Ideas List here:

If the form below isn’t loading, click here to go to the download page.

This is a free download – that means that you can enter $0 in the price field to get it for free. Donations do help us keep this blog going as at the time of writing this we still don’t have ads. They are totally optional.

This download is for personal or physical classroom use. Please do not pass on digital copies, even for classroom use. Share this post or the download form if you want to use it in virtual classroom settings.

Show and tell can be a lot of fun for kids, but a bit stress-inducing for Mommies. (Especially when the note is sent home the day before!) Don’t let it stress you out! Just bookmark this page and reference it every week for the new Aleph Bais letter.

What is your favorite go-to to grab for Show and Tell?

The post Show and Tell Ideas for the Aleph Bais appeared first on Jewish Moms & Crafters.

Getting kids to do homework at all can be difficult. Getting them to do it with a smile? I must be joking, right? Well, I have a few tricks up my sleeve that work well (most of the time) and I thought I’d share them with you! Disclaimer: this post contains affiliate links.

Homework is a universal struggle for parents and children. There has been so much debate about the necessity of children having homework. I’m neither for nor against. I definitely know and see the importance of homework. There’s the benefits of both reviewing what was taught in school that day, and it’s a good way for parents to be involved in their child’s learning.

However, after a long school day, it can be exhausting on so many levels for a young child to have to open up their books again. If a child struggles in a certain area, while it is so beneficial to have them review and repeat at home, it can also be so frustrating to have to deal with that pesky math or difficult parshah questions again.

I’ve both taught and tutuored in the past, and I am also a mother to two children that have homework nightly. Getting used to a homework schedule was a bit rough, for both them and myself, but we’ve fallen into a great routine that actually gets them eager to take out their homework folders.

10 ways to get homework done with a smile

1. They need food!

It’s been a long day of school and bus or car ride home. Your kids are HUNGRY. Depending on your kids’ ages, and the time they get home, you may opt to serve them supper right away. My children and I get home relatively early so I make sure to serve them a snack before even talking about homework.

Pick a snack that has both protein and carbs, and pair it with a drink. Don’t rush them through the snack. Just like adults after a long day of work, children need time to unwind and just be.

2. Routine

It’s best if your family settles into a daily after school routine. Many kids thrive on routine, and appreciate knowing exactly what will come next. Some children do very well with transition reminders- “We’re finishing our snack and doing homework in ten minutes.” “We’re saying Al HaMichya and doing homework in five minutes,” etc.

3. Location, location, location

Where your children do their homework is pretty important. A bright, comfortable area is ideal. Where you choose to have homework done will depend on your children’s ages and specific needs. A high school-er will likely need a desk and/or private space of their own. For younger children, or for kids that work well with background noise, the kitchen or dining room table is just fine. In nicer weather, try the patio for some fresh air!

4. Take breaks

A preschooler shouldn’t have more than fifteen minutes worth of homework but for older children, piles of homework can be quite overwhelming. Consider pacing them and taking breaks as necessary. Perhaps between subjects, or when a math problem is getting too sticky.

Dance breaks or any break with some movement to get the brain juices flowing again are best.

5. Limit screen time

I am not one to judge what or how anyone else chooses to allow their children watch! However, too much screen time can cause children to have sleeping issues and get distracted easily. Who wants to focus on a math problem when you’re itching to get back to your show? I try very hard to limit screen time on school days, but if I give in, it’s only after homework is done.

6. Be calm

Children can and will feed off your anxiety. It can be difficult as a mother to remain calm when your child is not focusing or is losing it over a hard subject. You may also be antsy and waiting to get back into the kitchen to finish cooking supper or get your toddler into the bath. You may even have anxiety yourself over the actual homework assignment or last minute science fair project!

However, the best thing you can do for your child is to remain present and calm and be available to help them. Easier said then done, I know. But your kid needs to know that you are there for them and that you are their priority in the moment. It will transform the way homework gets done!

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7. Prepare a homework station

It can be very useful to keep a homework station around. This doesn’t have to be a big project or take up a lot of space. Even a turntable within easy reach is helpful. Keep extra supplies on hands, like pencils, erasers, white out and scissors.

Knowing that anything they might need is available for them will keep your children from getting flustered or stressed out.

I found this list really fun and inspiring for some fun homework station ideas.

8. Reward!

This one is especially helpful for younger children just getting used to homework. Make charts! Reward your children for doing homework with stickers, small prizes or working toward a larger prize. It turns homework into a fun time and sets the tone for the whole year.

9. Change things up

This tip will not work for most people. However, it works for me and my son, and I figured I may as well add it in.

Know yourself and your child. Are you night people? Morning people? My son and I are both morning people and for a while, we had the available time in the morning to get homework done then. It was great! It took half the time when my son was alert and fresh from a full night’s sleep.

10. Consider a tutor

If your child is really struggling with homework, consider getting him or her a tutor. Tutors can be immensely helpful in both lessening the load for yourself, and helping your child do better with some new tricks up their sleeve.

What does homework time look like in your house? Got any tips and ideas we should know about? Comment below!

The post Get Your Kids to do Homework with a Smile appeared first on Jewish Moms & Crafters.