[HANASHIR:11879] Tot Shabbat ideas

[Ellen Allard <ellen...>]

Recently, I asked for useful Tot Shabbat service techniques. Here are the
ideas emailed to me by Nell Hirsch, Carol Boyd Leon, and Linda Barton (from
Treasure and Richard Cohen). I've also included some of my own ideas. If
anyone else has good ideas, please email them to me privately. I'd be happy
to add them to this compiled list and resend it to hanashir. Even one or two
ideas are welcome! We all recognize the importance of bringing young
families into our services. The more creatively and educationally sound we
can make our services, the more success we will have. Thanks for your ideas!

Ellen Allard
Worcester, MA

>From Nell Hirsch
Laminated "service" lists the prayers and standard songs. Pass this out at
beginning of service. While waiting for the service to begin, sit on the
floor in front of the bima and sing with the children who are already there.
Count a "minyan" of kids at the beginning of the service to make sure you
can start (kids LOVE being counted). Different families get special honors
each month.  For Friday night service, for example, one family comes up to
light the "candles", which are glittery, sequined felt, with velcro-on felt
"flames."  Another family opens the ark and carries the Torah. To conclude
the service, sing "Bim Bom", and lead everyone out of the sanctuary, still
singing, down to the room where you have the oneg.

>From Carol Boyd Leon
Have "Shabbat helpers". Create enough "jobs" for all the children.  When
they arrive, they pick a laminated 3x5 card out of a basket which has a
picture of the job and describes it in 1 or 2 words.  That way, they've
chosen how they want to help and can remember what they've chosen.  Also,
the cards are color-coded, in order to be able to say, "I'd like my
musicians, the children with the yellow cards, to come up now to help play
the tambourines." Some helpers include Shabbat Symbols Helpers (cards have
pictures of candles, candlesticks, kiddush cup, challah, challah
cover.....set up the real-life objects in advance); Musicians (cards have
pictures of tambourines which they play during the Mi Chamocha); Torah
Helpers help open and close the ark and march with the actual Tot Shabbat
Torah plus you can use stuffed toy torahs for all the kids to march with;
CPO's: Challah Passer-Outers! The card shows challah in a basket. These
helpers walk around with baskets full of presliced challah right before the
motzi so everyone gets a piece.

>From Treasure and Richard Cohen as shared by Linda Barton
Magic letter shin: beautifully decorated and laminated 11 x 14 card with
only the letter shin on it. This is a magic card because when people are
talking, you hold up the card and everyone says ³SH² and quiets down; make a
large card with the hebrew letter³BET² on it. Use it when teaching the word
baruch. Great for letter recognition. Use large motions to express the idea
of blessing by reaching up to G-d and pulling that energy into your body and
then releasing it into the world.

>From Ellen Allard
Design your service for children AND adult/parent participation.
Insist on parents sitting with their children.
Always use same beginning and ending song.
Establish basic structure to service, including regularly included prayers.
Then fill in around this structure.
Birthday month: if child has birthday in that month, special blessing done
for that child(ren) at service.
Be at eye level with your young congregation, rather than up on the bima.
Be prepared to switch gears at the drop of a hat!
Meet with rabbi and/or cantor and/or religious school principal to review
your service.
If you ask a question of the children, try to incorporate all answers.
Incorporate movement into your service.
Silly is good. Use it to your advantage.