So the hubsters and I are excited to be more involved in our new community. One of the first things is that I am the new Tot Shabbat teacher. I have never led, nor attended a Tot Shabbat, but since I was willing & able that made me qualified enough I guess! Here's what I envision: a little davening by song, talk about the parsha, some games (maybe or maybe not shabbos/parsha related), then some more shabbos songs. I have no idea what ages will be there beyond my two toddlers and a few of the rabbi's kids. Anyone have any ideas? Anything I'm forgetting? Words of wisdom? They'd be much appreciated!
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Tot Shabbat ideas?
So the hubsters and I are excited to be more involved in our new community. One of the first things is that I am the new Tot Shabbat teacher. I have never led, nor attended a Tot Shabbat, but since I was willing & able that made me qualified enough I guess! Here's what I envision: a little davening by song, talk about the parsha, some games (maybe or maybe not shabbos/parsha related), then some more shabbos songs. I have no idea what ages will be there beyond my two toddlers and a few of the rabbi's kids. Anyone have any ideas? Anything I'm forgetting? Words of wisdom? They'd be much appreciated!
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Your ideas sound good to me!
ReplyDeleteMaybe some snacks too?
Brilliant! I knew I was forgetting something important! I wonder if the shul will provide snacks or if I should. I'll have to ask the rabbi. Thanks!!
ReplyDeleteThanx.
ReplyDeleteYour welcome!!
:-)
Just don't expect the kids to sit for very long (or follow directions, for that matter). Keep it simple and allow some unstructured play. The tot shabbat program @ our shul (which we love) is: 10:15 room opens, toys are out. Whenever the rabbi speaks, the toys get put away (kids help) and there is circle time -- daavening/songs/maybe some parsha if the kids will sit for it. Lastly, snack and periodically a special (cheap) toy or lollipop.
ReplyDeleteIf you do do a snack, make sure you ask any parents when they bring their kids if they have allergies.
Good luck!
At our shul after the program (about 10-15 min long) there is a small kiddush. Every kid gets a little bit of grape juice and a cookie, and we say the brachot together.
ReplyDeleteWe have illustrated siddurim for the kids, and after davening a story or bit about the Parsha or an upcoming holiday or even something about the tfillah, such as when we start davening for rain.
This week after davening we had the kids act out the story of Avraham and the angels. We made a little tent and had someone be Avraham, someone be Sarah, and 3 kids be the angels. Sometimes there is a game related to the Parsha. I remember that at Parshat Korach we discussed the parsha, then there was some kind of cooperation game and afterwards it was explained that every kid had a role and if everyone wanted to be in charge the game wouldn't have worked because all the other jobs wouldn't have gotten done.
There is a rotation, and each week a different family is in charge of leading davening and telling the story/dvar Torah/playing the game, whatever, and another family is in charge of bringing kiddush. (The parents in each family decide whether the mother or father will lead the davening.)
Thanks for the great ideas! We're always looking for new things to do :)
ReplyDeletecheck out the site...challah crumbs. You'll find some ideas. Also google Tot Shabbat and again you will find posts and ideas.
ReplyDelete