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Dear Miriam,
My 3 and 5-year-olds adore attending Tot Shabbat at our synagogue, but it’s about to go on summer break. How can I keep up their enthusiasm (as well as their knowledge) over the summer? I’m not such a DIY or creative person, but I know they’ll miss the songs and stories. Any easy ideas for me?
Signed,
Mom’s Shabbat
Dear Mom,
I can imagine that Tot Shabbat plays several different roles for your family. One might be Jewish knowledge and practice. Another might be socializing for you and for the kids. And yet another may be the routine and predictability of having something to do on Saturday mornings. These different functions may need different solutions, but it’s all manageable without having to put yourself too far outside your comfort zone.
For the Jewish knowledge and practice piece, I hope you’re already getting PJ Library books. If not, you should sign up immediately! But if you already have a stack, go through them and pick out some favorites, especially ones about Shabbat. Decide that you’re going to set aside time Friday afternoon for story time, or build these into your regular bedtime story routine. The book flaps often have activity ideas that you could incorporate as well. TC Jewfolk also is starting its summertime Shabbat In The Park events on June 12 in partnership with PJ Library in Minneapolis and St. Paul. Learn all about the upcoming events!
Baking challah together is a great Shabbat activity, perhaps while you have Jewish songs playing in the background. If challah feels too ambitious, make some other special food or dessert designated for Shabbat. Even simpler, have your kids draw Shabbat pictures to hang around the house. You don’t need your own creative spark to hand them paper and markers! You can also ask them to sing their favorite Shabbat songs for you, which requires no knowledge on your part, just a willingness to engage with your kids.
In terms of socializing, consider setting up playdates with some other Tot Shabbat families this summer. These could be Shabbat dinners or lunches, but they could also be very low-key Saturday morning get-togethers where you simply maintain connection without a formal program. You could rotate homes or meet at a park, and while you might have the host the first couple of these, I bet others will be happy to step in. If you don’t have contact information, the synagogue would likely be happy to help with this.
And speaking of the synagogue, even without a Tot Shabbat program, I’m sure that Shabbat services continue throughout the summer. It won’t be kid-oriented in the same way, but going for even a few minutes could help maintain your Saturday morning routine. If you’re not used to attending the main service, talk to someone at the synagogue about how kids are included, when is a good time to show up with little ones, and what else you should know. Presumably you could also plan to arrive just for kiddush, which is also a lovely and totally valid way to maintain connection and routine during these summer months. There’s no need to put pressure on yourself or your kids for something to be just right. Start off going through the motions, and you might even surprise yourself by coming up with a few creative ideas of your own.
Be well,
Miriam