Getting your kids to understand and get involved with Passover celebrations is important, but it needs to be done in a way that is both fun and playful. After all, no child wants to be lectured about a holiday. Instead, it’s up to you to help them experience it, and one of the best ways to do this is by tapping into what every kid loves most in the world: treats.
Treats – and food in general – are a staple part of Jewish holidays. Whether it’s matzo balls for Passover or honey cake for Rosh Hashana, a properly celebrated holiday means a house which is full of wonderful scents getting the tummy rumbling. But rather than go to the effort of creating all those scents yourself, it can be a great idea to get the kids involved and help them understand the meaning of the holiday as you go. With this in mind, here are three ideas for some easy-to-make Passover treats.
Chocolate Chip Pancakes
A great recipe to try out with your kids has to be chocolate chip pancakes. Ordinarily, pancakes – or any cakes for that matter – rarely make an appearance during Passover due to the strict kosher rules. But it’s easy enough to find kosher baking soda and create pancakes that are just as light and fluffy as any that you have had before. What’s more, if your kids ask why – because kids always love asking why – you can explain to them what kosher means exactly and what lessons Passover teaches in prohibiting certain ingredients.
Honey Glazed Nougat
This recipe is not only easy, but it’s a great opportunity to get your kids involved in the actual meal itself. For starters, simply make up some nougat with nuts and dried fruit and serve it up as a single dish. Then grab one of your honey dishes – or, if you haven’t got one, look for a nice avi nadav silver judaica dish online – and ask your child to go around the table and spoon some honey over each plate. Every kid loves their own little job during a holiday, and this is a great opportunity to make them a big part of your special Passover meal.
Pyramid Shaped Charoset
Charoset is a common recipe found on many Passover tabletops. It is essentially a sweet, dark-coloured paste which is made of fruits and nuts, enjoyed with matzo or directly out of the bowl. The reason this makes a great parent-child activity is due to the easy malleable nature of the paste, which allows you to present the charoset in different shapes and sizes. Some families actually shape their charoset into a pyramid to explain the story of Passover and to symbolise Egypt, which is where the Israelites were liberated from. If you explain the story of Passover to your kids as you’re shaping the charoset, they’ll be far more inclined to listen and take it all in, especially when they know there’s a delicious treat at the end of it!
