Reading Time: 7 minutes Rosh Hashanah for Kids – Activities, Books, Free Games, and More
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Rosh Hashanah is approaching. It’s time to start thinking about Rosh Hashanah activities for kids. There are also great materials to teach your kids about Rosh Hashanah.
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What are the main themes of Rosh Hashanah?
Rosh Hashanah celebrates the creations of the Earth and marks the beginning of the days of awe which culminates with Yom Kippur which is known as the Day of Atonement.
Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are the holiest days of the year.
Rosh Hashanah for Kids – Activities, Books, Free Games, and More – Free List of Activities
- Did you know there’s a Rosh Hashanah seder? The PJ Library lists fun Rosh Hashanah activities you can do with your kids. Learn how to blow a shofar.
- Free Rosh Hashanah coloring pages from Crayola
- Free interactive online coloring page from Torah Tots
- Rosh Hashanah kids crafts, art projects, recipes, stories, videos, cards, and more from the Chabad Rosh Hashanah Page
- How to make your shofar, dried apples, and more with TLC Family Rosh Hashanah crafts
Engaging in Rosh Hashanah: A Fun and Educational Guide for Kids
Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, is a meaningful and joyous holiday filled with traditions that date back centuries.
As we delve into its importance and explore some engaging activities for kids, let’s first understand what this holiday signifies.
Understanding Rosh Hashanah
Rosh Hashanah, meaning “Head of the Year” in Hebrew, marks the beginning of the Jewish High Holy Days.
Celebrated over two days in September or October, it’s a time of introspection, prayer, and celebration.
Jewish people look back on the past year and make resolutions for the coming one.
This holiday is rich in symbolism, from the blowing of the shofar (a ram’s horn) to eating sweet foods like apples dipped in honey, representing hopes for a sweet new year.
But how can we make this holiday fun and exciting for kids?
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Here are some activities that not only entertain but also educate children about the traditions of Rosh Hashanah.
Creating Rosh Hashanah Greeting Cards
Materials: Paper, markers, crayons, stickers
Creating Rosh Hashanah greeting cards is a wonderful way for children to express their creativity while learning about the tradition of wishing loved ones a “sweet” new year.
Kids can decorate the card with symbols associated with the holiday, such as apples, honey pots, or shofars.
They can then write a sweet message or wish for the New Year inside the card. This activity fosters creativity and helps children understand the importance of spreading love and positivity during Rosh Hashanah.
Preparing Traditional Foods
Materials: Apples, honey, round Challah bread recipe and ingredients
Involving kids in the preparation of traditional foods is an engaging way to teach them about the holiday’s culinary customs.
Dipping apple slices in honey, a simple yet symbolic act, can be a fun start. For a more immersive experience, consider baking a round Challah bread together.
The round shape represents the cycle of the year, reinforcing the concept of Rosh Hashanah as the start of a new year.
Related: Best Challah Recipe to Make Bubbie Proud – Shabbat Jewish Braided Sweet Bread
Playing Holiday-Themed Games
Materials: Homemade shofar, apples for apple bobbing
Holiday-themed games add an element of excitement to the celebration.
A “shofar blowing contest” using homemade shofars from paper towel rolls introduces kids to this key symbol of Rosh Hashanah in a playful way.
An apple bobbing game can also be organized, linking back to the tradition of eating apples during the holiday.
Learning and Singing Rosh Hashanah Songs
Materials: Lyrics and music for Rosh Hashanah songs
Music is an enjoyable way for kids to learn and remember new concepts. Find some children’s songs about Rosh Hashanah and have a sing-along session.
This not only makes learning fun but also instills the holiday’s significance in a memorable way.
As you celebrate Rosh Hashanah with these activities, remember to sprinkle in fun facts about the holiday.
This will keep the kids intrigued and deepen their understanding of this important celebration.
Explore the Fruits of the Season
Materials: Various seasonal fruits, paper, and colors
Rosh Hashanah is celebrated in the fall, a season rich with a variety of fruits. Have your kids explore these fruits – apples, pomegranates, figs, and more.
They can feel the textures, smell the aromas, and taste them. They could also draw or paint these fruits, helping them to appreciate the abundance of the season.
Adorn a Family Tree with Hopes for the New Year
Materials: Large piece of paper, markers
Creating a family tree is a wonderful way to bring everyone together. Draw a large tree and let each family member add their own leaves to the branches. On these leaves, they can write or draw their hopes for the new year.
Honey Sensory Bags
Materials: Ziploc bags, honey, tape
This activity is a fun and sticky way for kids to experience the sweetness of the holiday. Fill the Ziploc bags with honey and seal it with tape. Kids can squish and squeeze the bags, observing the slow movement of the honey.
Make a Quiet Confetti Mini-Cannon
Materials: Balloons, cardboard tubes, confetti
For some simple fun, kids can make their own quiet confetti mini-cannons to celebrate the new year. All they need are balloons, cardboard tubes, and confetti.
Start a Growth Chart
Materials: Large piece of paper or fabric, markers
Rosh Hashanah is all about new beginnings. Start a growth chart for your kids and measure their height at the beginning of each new year. It’s a fun way to keep track of their growth and progress.
Honey Tasting
Materials: Different types of honey, small cups or spoons
Just as wine connoisseurs enjoy wine tasting, kids can have a honey tasting. Gather several types of honey and let them taste and compare the flavors.
Remember, the goal of these activities is not just to keep kids entertained, but also to help them understand and appreciate the customs and values of Rosh Hashanah.
Fun Facts About Rosh Hashanah
To keep the learning process engaging, share some interesting facts about Rosh Hashanah with the kids:
- The shofar, an important symbol of Rosh Hashanah, is not just blown randomly. It has different types of sounds, each with its unique significance.
- There’s a special ceremony called Tashlich during Rosh Hashanah. People throw bread crumbs into flowing water to symbolize the casting away of sins.
- It’s customary to eat a new fruit, usually a pomegranate, on the second night of Rosh Hashanah. This symbolizes our hope for fruitful blessings in the coming year.
They’ll not only have fun but also get a deeper understanding of the holiday’s customs and values.
Rosh Hashanah Books for Kids
Here’s a list of the Rosh Hashanah books the PJ Library gives out.
Apples and Honey – Baby and Toddler Rosh Hashanah Book
Happy Birthday World – A Jewish New Year Book for Toddlers
Today is the Birthday of the World – Book about Rosh Hashanah for Babies/Toddlers
Engineer Ari and the Rosh Hashanah Ride – Rosh Hashana for Pre-school and Kindergarteners
It’s Shofar Time – A book for small kids about Rosh Hashanah
Sammy Spider’s First Rosh Hashana – Book for kinder and pre-school aged kids
The Worlds Birthday: A Rosh Hashanah Story – Kinder and pre-school age book
Even Higher
Gershon’s Monster
New Year at the Pier
The Secret Shofar of Barcelona
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Rachel is an Austin blogger, educator, mom, wife, young breast cancer survivor writing about health, saving money, and living a happy life in Austin, Texas.
Rachel has written for HuffPost and Hometalk and has been featured on KXAN, Studio 512, Fox 7 Austin, and CBS Austin.