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How do we infuse children with the joy and awe of the holidays
By modeling this mindset ourselves. We mention how Hashem is closer now and this is our chance to bask in His Presence. Obviously, we can come close to Him during the year too, but this time of year is especially made to renew ourselves and the relationship.
We infuse Awe by telling them about His Wonders and Greatness. plus mention how He intervenes personally and daily. Just as two friends see how precious the other is with great middos etc, they try to keep the connetion strong because they don’t want to hurt it and disconnect. So too, we want to want to stay connected to Hashem. Of course, sometimes, we fall, but we can always get back up and try again.
When we see the preciousness of Hashem, we also feel Love. He gives us so much and only wants what’s best for us. He gave us the Torah so we can connect to Him. Even our challenges are for our benefit to help us learn and grow.
And most of all, by giving our kids positive attention like complimenting good behavior etc, they can feel it from Hashem too
Children can be a handful sometimes and frusterating. But we need to be careful and calm before we talk to them. Remember kids need both structure and love. This way they can feel secure coming to us when they need to.
The best way to accomplish this is to be role modeling this relationship 24/7. Then when the Yomim Tovim come around we infuse our children with that EXTRA level of excitement with the stories of the chag and the special simanim and treats that are associated with each chag. If we are lax in our joy and kesher with both Hashem and Yiddishkeit during the year or on chol, and then just get excited about a chag or just try to get the kids excited about it, it can fall flat on deaf ears. Then parents wonder what is wrong with their children but realize or deny the fact that it is not the children that are in the wrong it is they themselves who need to re-evaluate their lives, priorities and commitments.
Ummm. Are we assuming that we have that “awe and joy”?
Should I pretend to have it so my kids can see?
stress how wonderful it is to be a yid and everything that comes along with being a yid will be accepted happily. we seem to be to caught up in, not wanting to be like them, which our kids seem to grasp, but it doesnt tell them why they should be happy being yidden.
I dont think that you can infuse it in your children if you dont have it yourself. You cant behave one way and want your children to behave another. If you are GENUINELY excited about performing mitzvos and Yom Tov it will trickle down into your children.
sm29: That’s a great idea.
popa_bar_abba
Rav Moshe Shmuel Shapiro – The Vilna Gaon’s Overflowing Cups
In the first pasuk of Emor it says twice to tell the Kohanim, Emor and V’Amarta. Rashi quotes the gemara in Yevamos that says the double language is, “L’Hazhir Gedolim Al HaKetanim”, to tell the adults to caution the children. How do Chazal see this from the fact that is says to tell them twice asks Rav Moshe Shmuel Shapiro.
He answers that the Dubno Magid once asked the Vilna Gaon what is the most effective way to influence children. The Vilna Gaon answered with a Mashal. He said to take a large cup and surround it with smaller cups. Then pour into the large cup and keep pouring until it spills over the top right into the little cups. To have children absorb the lessons, you must fill yourself with an overdose of whatever traits you want to teach them. They will become filled from the overflow.
The Kohanim were implored twice, to give them a double measure of Kedushas Kohen. The reason for this is obviously in order for it to spill over to the children.
Taken from Revach.net
Wellinformedyid:
that is some good informed
Rabbi Finkel from Chicago had a beautiful post on another website regarding kiruv and chinuch issues. Here is a portion relevant to this discussion:
Popa and Sm29
You are welcome.
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