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How to Be the Grownups that Creative Kids Need
Being able to nurture your child's creative talents is one of the most exciting and overwhelming aspects of parenting. URJ 6 Points Creative Arts Academy Director Jo-Ellen Unger explains how you can encourage your child's creative growth without over-programming them and their schedules.
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Helping Today's Kids Grow Into Tomorrow's Adults
One of the hardest parts about being a parent is preparing your children for when they leave home. Watch the video below to see Jordanna Flores, director of year-round programs at URJ Camp Newman, explain how sending your kids to camp can prepare them to be resilient and independent adults.
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Social Justice for Parents
Here you'll find videos, activity guides, training programs, and book reviews for teaching your children social justice values, connecting them with the Jewish value of tikkun olam (repairing the world).
Talking to Children About Difficult Subjects
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After Terror: 5 Jewish Ways to Help Kids Deal
Jewish tradition provides wisdom on how to handle these moments – both as parents and as individuals: Don’t be afraid to learn. Take large actions. Embrace small acts. Tell the stories to your children, and know when to let it go.
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How We Can Help our Littlest Learners in the Wake of Tragedy
As a Jewish preschool director just an hour north of Parkland, FL, my office has been a buzz of activity after 17 people were murdered at a local high school.
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Helping Children to Process Acts of Terrorism
When acts of terror occur, we are all filled with sadness and shock; worries about our own security and the security of those we love may become sharply increased in the aftermath of such devastation. Despite feeling confused and vulnerable ourselves, we feel called upon to offer explanation and reassurance to our children.
Shaboom! Videos For Children and Parents
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Teaching Children about Returning Lost Property (Hashavat Aveidah)
While looking for a lost baseball, Ben finds a Legend of Latka action figure and claims it as his own...
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Teaching Children about Donating to Charity (Tzedakah)
The Plony family rallies to make donations for their synagogue’s charity drive, but Gabi and Rafael notice that Mom, Dad and Ben only want to part with broken or worn out items.
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Teaching Children about Reducing Waste (Bal Tashchit)
Yasmin must hold her nose to wade through the garbage piling up outside the Plony house. Though she turns off the faucet and begs Momma Plony not to use extra paper towels, it takes a magical Sparks-inspired flood to sort out the real trash from the recyclables.
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Teaching Children about Respect (Kavod)
Papa Plony is obsessed with beating the Baloney family in the annual relay race. But when Yasmin flakes out on practice, and a new team member shows up with an unexpected physical difference - he panics.
What's New
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Nine Spring-Inspired Hebrew Names
Whether you're planning to welcome a child into your family, are preparing to choose your own Hebrew name, or just enjoy learning about the meanings and stories that names hold, I hope you'll be inspired by one of these nine names inspired by Purim, Passover, and the renewal of spring.
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Your Hanukkah Gift-Giving Guide is Here!
Hanukkah is one of my favorite holidays, partially because it gives me the opportunity to give gifts to my loved ones every night for eight nights! Gift giving with intentionality is one of my favorite ways to express affection while teaching my child about Jewish values and traditions.
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A Temple Has Two Meanings
Earlier this year, on a beautiful spring day, we drove 30 minutes from our home in Philadelphia to a Thai temple and cultural center to celebrate Songkran, Thailand's Lunar New Year.
Find a Jewish Baby Name
Search for names and their meanings
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Find a Mohel
Search this list of Reform mohelim to perform your child's bris or baby naming.
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Shabbat Family Activities
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Three Ways to Bring Shabbat Home
Shabbat is the Jewish holiday that comes each week. Its roots lie in the biblical story of creation when, in order to complete the work of creating the world, God rested on the seventh day
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Teach Your Children the Mitzvot of Shabbat
With your children, generate ideas and family activities that will fulfill these four mitzvot. Here are a few ideas to get you started.
Related Answers to Jewish Questions
- How Are Hebrew Names Formatted?
- I’m a Jew-by-choice. Can we plan to name our baby after a living relative who is not Jewish?
- How do we help children cope with tragedies that occur in our communities and in the news headlines?
- Why do we bless our children on Shabbat?
- My child is going to sleepaway camp. Is there a prayer or blessing that I can say?
- My child is graduating from college. Is there a prayer or blessing I can say?
- How can we help children cope with natural disasters?
Children's Book Reviews
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Noah’s Swim-a-Thon
Noah loves everything about summer camp except swimming. Yet, when he finds out about a camp swim-a-thon that will give other children a chance to attend the camp he loves, Noah leaps at the chance to jump in the water and do his part to help.
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Bagels from Benny
In a retelling of a ancient folk tale, Benny's grandfather runs a bakery with the best bagels in town. When people thank Benny's grandpa for the bagels, he says that God is the one who should be thanked. Benny comes up with a creative way to thank God for the bagels, with a surprising result.