Purim with your Preschooler

‫בס“ד‬

Purim 2015 This year, Purim begins Wednesday March 4 through the next day, Thursday March 5, 2015.

Purim is probably the most fun of all Jewish holidays. Its whole theme is joy. And there’s lots of good food!

With this in mind, it is worthwhile to think about how you want to bring the spirit and traditions of Purim to your family in order to create enjoyable, cherished memories of a tradition your children will want to continue. Here are some points to consider:  Don’t overwhelm your child with too much information.

Add some more every year in order to ensure that he understands it and will continue to be stimulated.  Review your own family’s traditions and decide how you will incorporate them. (Here we include some traditions, your own family may have other traditions too.)

Countdown to Purim: Prepare your family for a meaningful Purim It is definitely worthwhile to think about how a preschoolerfriendly Purim experience will be played out. This will take some extra planning, but the rewards and Nachas are worth it!  Prepare your preschooler for all aspects of Purim. Children generally behave and participate better when they are aware of what will be happening. Consider doing a runthrough, so that he is very prepared.  Your child has learned about Purim in school. Talk to him and help bridge the gap between the learning that is

taking place in school to what will be happening on Purim in your family. Your youngster can also help in preparing for Purim, especially in the areas that he has learned about in school.  Children learn best when they ask the questions and then explore the answers together with the teacher or parent.

Set provocations to encourage your children to ask questions. In the days before Purim, set out the Purim costumes, Mishloach Manot foods and packaging to get conversation started. Then, explore the answers together.

Reward your child (with appropriate praise) for questions he asks and the answers he gives.  Start playing and singing Purim music in the days leading up to Purim, so that everyone knows them. Consider making song sheets for everyone.  Create opportunities for your child to show everyone his creations from school. Designate a place for your child to set up his creations that he has made in school.  Build up the excitement to Purim. Every morning or evening, countdown to Purim. Count the number of days using a calendar. Mark off each date.  Together with your child, buy the materials for the Mishloach Manot food gifts and fun packaging. Bake hamantashen together.  Read Purim books together. Look at old family pictures of Purim celebrations.  Try on the costumes to make sure that fit well and are comfortable and that your child is not scared of it.

For more about Purim, visit: www.chabad.org/purim

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Creating your own Purim traditions  Tell of your own Purim memories.

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 Skype or video conference with family as you and your children show off your costumes.

Purim As Your Child Grows  Create a Holiday or Purim memory box. Keep the items that your child has made and look at them together as your child grows up.  Create an album that kids can add to each year. Take pictures or video of your child in her costume. Take pictures of the wonderful things your child has created in school that you cannot keep.

Sharing Purim with others  Go as a family to bring Mishloach Manot (food gifts) to those in senior centers or homes for the underprivileged.

(First check about dietary restrictions and adapt recipes accordingly.) Bring them cheer. Help your children connect with the older generation.  Bake hamantashen with the children and then share with others.  Bring Mishlaoch Manot to a family in the community. Tell them about Purim events in the community.  Invite friends and family to join you at a Purim party.

Mishloach Manos Mania WILL YOU BE A PART OF IT?

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Our holiday foods tell a story: The outside of the hamantash is just plain dough. The true flavor is concealed inside. Beyond the very ordinary veneer is the heart of the hamantash, bursting with sweetness.

This symbolizes the very nature of the Purim miracle. If you read the story of Purim, you notice that it was a string of seeming coincidences that saved the Jewish people from annihilation. There were no open miracles, no seas split, no plagues, just some twists and turns of history that, when viewed as separate events, seemed quite natural. Only at the end of the story was it revealed that a miracle had occurred.

Our lives are much the same. At times it seems that we are being pushed and pulled by accidental forces. Things happen to us that seem haphazard and random; there seems to be no system in place, no direction to this cold and harsh universe. This is not true. There is a system. But it is hidden. Below the surface there is a sweet hand and a warm heart that directs the universe.

Rarely do we get to see this hand. Purim is one day when it was revealed, when a crack opened in the outer shell of nature and we glimpsed what lies beyond. Purim reminds us that all those coincidences are no coincidences, and nothing is random.

We are still in the middle of our story, so it is hard to see the full picture. But in the end we will see that it’s all one big hamantash.

The Recipe

Hamantashen Fillings

The hamantash uses a basic dough.

You can use almost anything for a filling. Traditionally, people used poppy seeds or prune lekvar. There are so many other things you can try!

 Poppy seed filling

Ingredients:

 Chocolate chips

4 eggs 1 cup sugar 1/2 cup oil juice of one lemon rind of 1 lemon, grated 1 tsp. vanilla extract 5 cups flour 2 tsps. baking powder

 Prune lekvar  Strawberry preserves  Apricot perserves  Nutella  Peanut butter

Some Baking Tips  The dough can be made a day in advance.  Have egg white or water prepared to smear over the circles - this acts as the adhesive to help hold the pinches of the hamantash.  Spray the table with a little Pam and you will use just a little flour. (Too much flour makes a dry hamantash.)  Hamantashen freeze well.  Place the hamnatashen on parchment paper to avoid sticking to the pan. (Also easier to wash up later.)

 Brownie mix

To fold a round circle into a triangle Hamantash.

Cut 3 inch circles (with a round cookie cutter), about 1/8 inch thick. Place 1/2 teaspoon of filling in the center of the circle.

Yields: 8 servings  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Grease cookie sheets.  Beat eggs and sugar. Add remaining ingredients, and mix well. Divide into four parts.

To shape into triangle, lift up right and left sides, leaving the bottom down and bring both side to meet at the center above the filling .

 Add filling and assemble. (see illustrations)  Bake for 20 minutes. At 350 degrees.

Bring top flap down to the center to meet the two sides. Pinch edges together.

Baking & Learning with preschoolers

The learning that happens through Food Preparation activities At Chabad Torah Tots we spend lots of time with cooking, baking or making food. There is so much the children learn through these activities. Only some are listed below, there really is so much more. Bring your child into the kitchen, and just watch him learn and grow.

The best thing about cooking with your kids is the quality time you spend together. Cherish spending as much time as you can with your preschoolers because before you know it, they'll be growing up, off to school and you'll be seeing them less and less. 

It may be messy— actually expect a mess— but the hands-on is great experience to reinforce all the learning. Have a sense of humor! And keep a camera nearby.

Besides all the math (counting, measuring, weighing), language (new vocabulary words of the foods and actions), literacy (reading recipes, reading ingredients), culture (foods from other places and for special occasions), science (how foods change when baked, frozen, etc., chemical reactions of mixing foods), your child also gains a lot of skills that are not ‘academic’, and these skills are so integral to her growth and Baking Hamantashen development.  Practice folding circles into hamantashen. Your  Small motor control. Using cooking tools, such as shredders, graters, child can try it first with playdough. grinders, and melon ballers develops fine motor skills and adds to a healthy  Set out lots of fillings and let your child choose self-concept. which ones he wants. He can taste them all.  Acquisition of knowledge: Food preparation helps the child in the (Great way to use up all the almost empty acquisition of knowing his reality. For example, when you show the child a containers of jams and peanut butter, full watermelon, he will see it, touch it, smell it; then cut it and taste it. In chocolate chips.) the end, the child will have a clear concept of what a watermelon is.  Your child can cut out the circles with cookie  Helps a child master his reality: The child has an opportunity to master cutter, or a coffee mug pressed into the dough. his reality. By slicing food, cleaning up when done, and washing dishes,  Your child can dip the hamantashen into etc. the child will become the owner of his body. He will acquire new chocolate and then into sprinkles. Or they can movements and slowly become the master of his body and his reality. drizzle chocolate. For super fancy  Builds self-confidence. Realizing they can take part in and contribute to hamantashen. the adult world, provides great satisfaction for children and develops positive self-esteem.

As food is such an important part of life and holiday celebrations, include your child in the fun.  Your child can pour in the eggs and measure other ingredients into the mixing bowl. Allow him to mix.

 Explain to your child that only an adult can use appliances such as the food processor or blender. You may want to put an X of masking tape on the appliance.

 Reiterate to your child that he cannot come near the stove or oven.

You may want to put masking tape on the floor to mark off a safety zone.

 Your child can wash the dishes after all the prep is done.

 Get your child a kid sized apron for more authentic fun.

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Gifts of Food : Mishloach Manot Purim is a time to celebrate Jewish unity and friendship. We send packages containing at least two different kinds of ready-to-eat foods (e.g. hamantashen and fruit) to at least one friend (men give to men and women give to women). These gifts, Mishloach Manot, are traditionally sent by a friendly messenger.  Together with you child, choose which foods you’d like to send as a food gift. You can discuss that you’ll include mostly healthy and nutritious foods, and one less healthy sweet.  As you pack the Mishloach Manot, you can count how cookies, candies you are including in each package.  Your child can write “Happy Purim” or his name on the accompanying card. You might include a picture of your child in costume on the card. Or his handprint.

Festive Holiday Meal One of the special mitzvahs specific to Purim is a festive and joyous meal or party, bringing family and friends together in honor of the holiday, to celebrate together. (This year, Thursday, March 5, 2015) Traditional foods include soup with kreplach (stuffed dumplings) and hamantashen. The hidden fillings in both foods remind us that G-d’s everpresent involvement in the Purim episode was hidden, and not openly revealed.  Tell your child all the details of the party in advance—who will be there, what will be happening. As appropriate, plan for activities that you know will keep your child engaged. Make sure that there are some (healthy) foods that your child likes.  If the party will go on past your child’s bedtime, try to get him to take a nap earlier in the day. Or plan to leave earlier or send him home to a babysitter.  It’s a Purim party, allow your child to eat some foods that you normally you might not allow.

If you are the one hosting the party  Start the party early if you really want your preschooler to be a part of the festivities.  Assign or ask someone to be responsible to watch your child; don’t expect that he’ll be watched by just ‘everyone and anyone’ at the party.  Include your child in choosing the decorations, party goods and menu.

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Give to the Poor or those in need Giving tzedakah (charity), a year-round obligation, is a particularly special mitzvah on Purim.

Give charity to at least two needy individuals on Purim day, ideally by giving directly to the person. If this is not possible, place at least several coins into different charity boxes.  Children love to put coins in the Tzedakah box, and it’s a great fine-motor activity. Give her several pennies, rather than coins or bills of larger denominations.  As your child puts the money in the Tzedakah box, talk to him about how is putting the money in the box and when it gets full of coins, you will send it someone who needs it, or to people who help people who need it. (And then, when it gets full, empty it together with your child and give it to an organization.)  Keep the Tzedakah box in a prominent place in the kitchen and/ or in the child’s bedroom. Just seeing it around is a visual reminder of being a giving person, and develops empathy and compassion.

Listen to the Megillah On Purim, we listen to the reading of the Megillah—Esther and Mordechai’s firsthand narrative of Haman’s plot to destroy the Jewish people, and how he was miraculously vanquished. Try not to miss a word! This is an interactive event: when Haman’s name is mentioned, we twirl graggers (noisemakers) and stamp our feet to drown out the sound of his evil name.

We listen to the reading twice in the evening and during the day. (This year, Wednesday evening, March 4 and again on Thursday March 5, 2015.)  Find a kids-friendly program for your children to enjoy the Megillah reading on their own level.  Make sure your child is not hungry, so he behaves through the reading of the Megillah.  Bring a child –friendly Purim book for your child to follow along.  Bring crayons and a stack of paper so your child can draw Purim related pictures. Or any pictures.  Bring food to keep your kids busy and quiet during the reading of the Megillah. Feed them one pretzel or raisin or jelly bean at a time.  Create a red light / green light system where your child can make noise or play with his noisemaker when you display the green light and must be quiet when it is red.  Bring a quiet game for your child to play. Like putting stickers on a paper.

Draw a shape and your child can put small round stickers on the outline. www.chabadtorahtots.com~204.339.8737 ext. 210

Lots of Tips and Ideas about your children’s Purim costumes Picking or creating a costume for your child should be a fun and exciting time for you and your child. There are many websites with inexpensive and fun costumes you can make at home. You can discuss costume ideas with your child. Perhaps, show him a few costumes that you would actually consider making for him and talk about each one. 

Keep the costume safe and comfortable A scraped knee or bloody nose can really ruin the fun.

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Comfortable sizing When sizing costumes they should be lightweight and fit properly, yet large enough so that warm clothing can be worn underneath if it's cold outside.

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Avoid tripping Make sure that the costume fits properly to avoid any accidents like tripping over a long dress or cape. Do not include long dangling pieces of costume that could be tripped over.

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Shoes Your child should wear shoes that comfortable and fit well. Clumsy and heavy shoes and Mom's high heels can contribute to sore feet, falls, and tears.

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Make Up Follow manufacturer's instructions for application and removal of facial makeup. Be sure to pre-test any makeup you plan to use by applying a small amount on the arm of the person who will be wearing it for about thirty minutes a couple of days in advance. If a rash, redness, swelling, or any other signs of irritation develop where the makeup was applied, it could be a sign of a possible allergy or adverse reaction.

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Masks If a mask is worn, make sure that the eye holes are big enough to see not only in front but peripherally as well. You may have to cut them open further yourself. If so, use some black or gray grease paint around the eye socket to cover skin. Costume (Instruct children to wear the mask on top of the head when walking and pull it over the face only when they reach the destination. )

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Costume Accessories Swords, magic wands, and other costume props and costume accessories must be harmless and made from cardboard, plastic or other pliable material that will not cause injury if your child tumbles onto them. Never allow children to carry real knives or other sharp objects.

Wigs, beards, whiskers and costume hats should be fastened securely and designed so that they don't get into youngsters' eyes, obscuring vision.

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If you have more than one child, save costumes from year to year to pass down to younger children or exchange them with friends. You can add extra accessories or dress them up a little to make them different from year to year.

Parenting Ideas for Chabad Preschool parents (and others) Check out the cool Purim costumes we pinned on Pinterest http://pinterest.com/chabadparents/purim-costumes/ www.chabadtorahtots.com~204.339.8737 ext. 210