L’DOR V’DOR F A M I LY, E D U C A T I O N A N D S E N I O R L I V I N G
JACKSONVILLE KOLLEL BRINGS HIGH HOLIDAY SPIRIT By Rabbi Mayer Rabinowitz, The Jacksonville Kollel
As we prepared for the high holidays, the Kollel was privileged to bring some holiday spirit to our friends at River Garden and The Coves. COVID-19 didn’t manage to separate us, and we were lucky to have a series of virtual programs. Rabbi Sammy Kahn lead a shofar blowing presentation, while explaining the meaning of the Shofar and the customs we follow during this time of year. Rabbi Yosef Chaim Cohen brought the familiar holiday tunes to life, in a musical
presentation of the high holiday songs and prayers. This was accompanied by an explanation of the special
prayers we recite on Rosh Hashana. It was an amazing experience for us, and we
hope to continue bringing light and joy to all parts of our wonderful community.
THE IMPORTANCE OF EARLY CHILDHOOD SOCIALIZATION By Penny Bolt, Jewish Community Alliance
Socialization is a fundamental part of your child’s development in their early years. It starts when your baby is born and continues into adulthood, shaping each stage of development along the way. Every single interaction your child has, no matter how big or how small, helps them learn language skills, cope with emotions, and work within social norms. Social development is tied
to many other parts of your baby’s overall development, which is why it is important to start socialization with other children at a young age. Social interaction helps young children start to develop their sense of self and start to learn what others expect from them. Sending your child to preschool can give them the social skills and interaction that they need with other children and help them reach other developmental milestones.
Friendship is also vital to a child’s development in the early years. By playing with other children, they learn skills that stay with them their whole life. Sharing, setting boundaries, problem solving, and learning to compromise all come from socializing and interacting. It also helps improve language skills, grow confidence, and develops a positive sense of self. Children learn to have empathy for other people, recognize when their friends are sad, mad, or happy.
Eventually children start to use these skills at home too. What you may see as “just playing” is so much more. It is hard work and is necessary for a child’s development. For parents, it may be hard to let your little one go, but they will love it and will prove to have lifelong benefits. For more than a dozen years, Penny Bolt has educated three-year-old children at the JCA’s Michele Block Gan Yeladim Preschool and Kindergarten.
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