Show & Tell: 7-Year-Old Yalta and Her Multiplying Dolls

Zivar Amrami for Kveller

This is the eleventh post in our portrait series, Show & Tell, which features children ages 4-12 photographed with their favorite object.  Who: Yalta, age 7 What: DDs (Real name is Dina) Why: She received DD from her grandparents when she was a baby. Yalta is very attached to her doll, so she was sad when her mom thought she lost it. Her mom panicked and went online, where she was able to find two more.

Continue reading.

Follow us on   

101 Things to Do When Kids Say "I'm Bored"

School's out and many families are going to be home. How will you occupy the kids short of farming them out every day to a different friend or relative?  Happily, Care.com has some suggestions.

Nix boredom in the bud with this list of fun (and low cost, low stress) activities to keep your kids occupied and happy.

By Kayla Mossien, Contributor

"I'm bored!" If you’re raising or acting as a nanny or babysitter for kids, chances are you're all too familiar with this phrase. But what do you do?

For the best chance of hooking -- and holding -- kids' attention, aim for activities that engage the senses and are at the right level of difficulty (not too easy, not too challenging). And don’t get down on yourself if you're having a hard time brainstorming inventive new ideas.

“I think the most important thing to keep in mind is that kids, even young ones, are perfectly capable of entertaining themselves with a little push,” says Sarah Hamaker, parenting coach and author of "Boredom Busters."

So the next time your little one whines, “I’m bored!,” check out this list of 101 kid-friendly, parent-approved things to do.

Continue reading.

Follow us on   

Show & Tell: 7-Year-Old Maayan and Her ‘Shabbat Siddur’

Zivar Amrami for Kveller

This is the tenth post in Kveller's portrait series, Show & Tell, which features children ages 4-12 photographed with their favorite object.

This is Maayan, age 7 with her Shabbat Siddur (prayer book)

Her favorite thing is her Shabbat siddur, which she received as a reward for passing Book 3 in Kriyah at Lamplighters, where she goes to school in Crown Heights. Maayan loves studying, especially the sense of accomplishment that comes with working hard. Because of this, she is ahead in her class, and enjoys challenges, especially figuring out how to conquer them. For her, the siddur reminds her of this every time she opens it.

Continue reading.

Follow us on   

The Top Jewish Baby Names of 2015 Are Here

Joanna Valente (Editorial Assistant) for Kveller

It seems like Jewish baby names are going strong this year, taking up several slots in the top 25 most popular names of the year, according to Baby Center’s Top 100 list for 2015. Parents just can’t enough biblical and old-fashioned names these days, with Noah making the #5 boy name and Ava earning the #4 girl name.

It seems, however, that Jewish boy names are much more popular than Jewish girl names. We wonder why this may be the case–expectant parents everywhere, get on this. (We’re kind of kidding. Kind of.)

Without further delay, here are the most popular Jewish baby names for 2015:

Continue reading.

Follow us on   

The Chanukah Story: Why Jews Celebrate Miracles

A Chanukah Video from G-dcast.com, explains the story in their delightful way.






 For more great Hanukkah ideas, check out our    page.

For even more great ideas, visit our Hanukkah Holiday Spotlight Kit

 

8 Hanukkah facts for kids

by Nina Spitzer for SheKnows.com

Even though Hanukkah is often included in "Christmas Around the World" celebrations, it's not the "Jewish Christmas." Here are some basic Hannukah facts for kids.

Hanukkah does fall in December, frequently very near the dates of the Christian Christmas celebration, and may involve the exchange of gifts, but that's where the similarity ends. Here are some basic facts about this Jewish holiday that will help children better understand the difference.

1. Hanukkah (The Festival of Lights)
The history of Hannukah predates Christmas. Antiochus, the Greek king of Syria, outlawed Jewish rituals and ordered the Jews to worship Greek gods. Most Jews were angry and decided to fight back. In 165 B.C.E, the Jewish Maccabees managed to drive the Syrian army out of Jerusalem and reclaim their temple. Hanukkah is the celebration of this victory. In history, Hanukkah has been a minor holiday, only gaining in popularity since the late 1800s. In Hebrew, the word "Hanukkah" means "dedication."

Continue reading.

For more great Hanukkah ideas, check out our    page.

For even more great ideas, visit our Hanukkah Holiday Spotlight Kit

Top 10 Interesting Hanukkah Crafts & Activities For Your Kids

From MomJunction

The Hanukkah celebrations are marked with lots of decorations. There is a lot to design and develop to create the best of the Festival of Lights and Feast of Dedication.

It’s even more fun with children, as together you can create beautiful decorations. This will be a great way to educate them about the culture and also engage them in some interesting activities.

What Is Hanukkah Festival?

Hanukkah is a lesser known Jewish festival. It starts from the 25th day of Kislev (in December) and goes on for eight days. The festival commemorates the rededication of the temple in 165 BC by the Maccabees after its ruin by Syrians. Eight lights are successively kindled to mark the same.

Top 10 Hanukkah Crafts And Activities For Kids:

Continue reading.

For more great Hanukkah ideas, check out our    page.

For even more great ideas, visit our Hanukkah Holiday Spotlight Kit