This is my favorite time of year. You can smell fall in the air. The temperature starts to lower (and yes; that means below 100 degrees in AZ and it feels good) and my favorite holidays come.
Recently we celebrated Rosh Hashanah. I love this holiday cause it feels like a clean start. One gets to reflect on the past year and declare that they are going to do better.
Things to do with young children for Rosh Hashanah:
1. Taste new foods
2. Look at pictures with them of all the things they have done in the past year and how much they have changed
3. Make round challah
4. Taste sweet food (especially apples and honey)
5. Before bed talk about your favorite part of the day and also what you might want to do better
Yom Kippur is an the next holiday. It is another reflective and meaningful holiday. This is a day we think and talk about all the things we have done wrong and ask for forgiveness. You can do this with children as well. They can talk about things did wrong like; not listen, hurt a friend, jumped on the bed, colored on the wall, etc. They can ask for forgiveness or help them feel better. As a parent you can also tell you children what you have done wrong. You might even tell them that you are sorry and will do better. This shows them that you are human too and make mistakes. This action can make them feel more comfortable in doing the same thing.
Sukkot is another nice holiday and a great one to be with family. This holiday is about the harvesting. Here are a few things you can do with your family.
1. Eat outside
2. Go on a star hunt at night
3. Go to a farm or a pumpkin patch
4. Build a Sukkah out of a box
5. Invite company over for dinner or a meal
I hope that you enjoy this time of year as much as I do. I wish you are your family a happy and healthy new year.
