Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year, a time of prayer, self-reflection, and repentance.
Here are some age-appropriate activities to help children in early years settings understand and celebrate this holiday:
Apple and Honey Tasting: It’s a tradition to dip apples in honey to symbolize the hope for a sweet new year. You could have a tasting session if dietary restrictions allow, but always check for allergies first.
Shofar Show-and-Tell: A shofar is a horn traditionally blown on Rosh Hashanah. If possible, show the children a real or toy shofar, let them listen to the sound it makes, or even have a try at blowing toy shofars.
Art and Craft: Provide materials for children to create artwork or crafts related to Rosh Hashanah. They might make paper shofars, apple prints, or honey bee crafts.
Always ensure that your activities are respectful and appropriate, providing a simple but accurate representation of the holiday. It’s also important to emphasise that not everyone celebrates the same holidays, and that’s part of what makes our world interesting and diverse.