PASSOVER FOR CHILDREN

 

1. GAMES (Nuts and nut games are popular for Passover, for two reasons: firstly, nuts within the shell are available in abundance for little cost and are kosher for Passover; secondly, "nut" in Hebrew has the same numerical value as the word "good" in Hebrew, both are 17.)

 

Nut Ferry

Carry nuts on the blade of a dull knife as relay teams with a time limit.

 

Nut Roll

Make a board lean against a wall and attempt to "win" a nut by tossing against the board and having the tossed nut roll down and hit a target nut.

 

Nut Pick-Up

Using two pencils, determine who can pick up the most nuts in a time limit to be placed in each team's bowl.

 

Nut pitching

Each team attempts to throw nuts into a target basket or pot within time.

 

2. TEXT GAMES

 

Guessing Game

Let a player put nuts under plates for other players out of the room who will return at a signal and indicate which plate they wish. Leader may choose to put different numbers of nuts or the same number under each plate.

 

Scrambled Pesach Story

Cut up the story of Passover and distribute parts without numbering sequence. The leader begins and each participant starts reading when he believes that his portion is appropriate.

 

Questions and Prizes

Plan on asking questions throughout the Seder for which winners receive nuts, and at the end of the Seder then the prizes can be given out to all of the children based upon the number of nuts they have collected – and their appropriate age and needs.

 

 

3. ACTIVE PARTICIPATION IN THE SEDER

 

Costumes are a wonderful way in which children can be kept involved in the Seder. They can dress up as guests and come in through the door for "Ha Lachma Anya" and even be dressed up as Jewish historical guests – but remember to save Elijah the Prophet for opening the door after the meal.

 

Children can distribute symbols of each of the 10 plagues: ping pong balls for everyone to throw at the mention of "hail" or sunglasses to symbolize darkness. While there are commercial "Plague Sacks" which have symbols for each of the plagues, you should consider planning with the kids for their own interpretations.