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Family FuN

5

\ew ideas for getting everybody ready
for a great ho iday — and helping
children stay entertained at the seders.

A parent could draw an image of
a terrible Pharaoh, for example,
INVOLVE CUTTING WITH A KNIFE; standing before a blank space. At
the bottom write, "You are a slave in
SUPERVISE CHILDREN AT ALL
TIMES). Your kids can come up with I Pharaoh's Egypt, and you have just
their own recipe — just provide them I made him terribly angry. What did
I #1) A Pocketful Of Miracles
you do and how do you feel? Draw
with the basics. Here are some
If you're a seamstress, you can
yourself as you stand humbled
ideas:
quickly stitch together a cute bag. If
I before Pharaoh." Or, draw a huge
you're not, you'll have no trouble
frog seemingly hopping off the page
– apples
– raisins
finding an inexpensive tote at your
I and at the bottom write, "You have
– cinnamon
– plums
favorite discount store. Whatever
just seen one of the frogs God sent
– fresh ginger – almonds
you use, the key is to make sure it
I as a plague to the land of Egypt.
– hazelnuts
slices
I has lots of pockets.
I Draw yourself as you watch the frogs
– honey
– coconut
What for?
everywhere.
– freshly
– pecans
You're about to make a Pesach
Are you afraid? Amazed? What
. ground
– candied
1 bag, a wonderful little treasure to
I are you thinking?"
pepper
fruit peel
help keep your young child happy a I #2) A New Tradition
pineapple
– bananas
One of the most popular parts of
the seder. Because while it's impor-
#4) Order In The House
tangerines
–
oranges
–
the seder is eating that delicious
tant to include children in the seder
Here's a quick, fun game you
– wine
– dates
charoset. And no doubt over the
(indeed, their questions and partici-
can make in a matter of minutes
– grape juice
years you've seen plenty of recipes
pation should be key), there are
—
but which your children will
I for charoset from other countries. (Just
going to be times when they are a
enjoy before, during and even
Prepare small bits of each in
I in case you've missed those, check
I bit fidgety. That's when the Pesach
! after the seder.
advance and place in individual
I out this great spot on the Web:
I bag can work wonders.
You will need:
cups.
Then
let
children
experiment
www.koshercooking.com/
Once you have the bag, start col-
• An empty egg carton
until they come up with the perfect
recipes/passover/asso.html.
' lecting little treasures. Some ideas:
• 12 small, holiday-appropriate
charoset. Be sure to have them write
I Here, you'll find directions for mak-
• Finger puppets
objects:
a plastic frog, a piece of
down the recipe so you can fix it
! ing all kinds of charoset, including a
• Paper dolls
matza, a toy goat (for "Chad
again next year.
yummy-looking one that's a mixture of
• Animal figurines
Gadya"),
a wine-bottle cap.
Syrian, Moroccan and Yemenite
• Maze books, with paths for tiny
Place each of the objects in the
#3) You Were There
I .recipes. There also are recipes for
I fingers to trace
egg
carton, and let the child review
On Pesach, we are told to imag-
I new Pesach foods like low-cal zuc-
I • A deck of cards
each item for a few minutes. Then
j ine that we are truly slaves coming
chini quiche, gefilte fish dip and
• Pre-cut felt shapes, with a single
have her close her eyes while a par-
I out of Egypt. One way to help chil-
I mushroom-onion matza kugel.)
piece of black felt to serve as the
. ent empties the egg carton. The child
So what could possibly be new in 1 dren understand this is to create a
background (felt adheres well to felt)
can then try to replace each object
I book in which they place themselves
I the world of charoset? Your own
• Word search, with appropri-
into its proper place. Another way to
into the scene.
family charoset, that's what, made
ate themes

I ELIZABETH APPLEBAUM
AppleTree Editor

• A small book
• A favorite snack
• A bag of colorful buttons (NOT
FOR CHILDREN UNDER 3); these
can be placed together to shape
temporary figures, or make scenes or
fun shapes.
• Next, place the items in each of
the pockets.
Of course, it will be difficult for
children not to immediately open
each surprise. So you might want to
write on each pocket, "Do not open
before 9:30 p.m.," "Do not open
before 10 p.m." etc.

by your older children, age 6 and
above (Note: THIS ACTIVITY CAN

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