Celebrating Passover Seder with Kids

Passover, or Pesach, begins before sundown on April 12 and ends after nightfall on April 20. Passover Seder includes many prayers and rituals along with the retelling of the Israelites’ exodus from slavery in Egypt—all before dinner is served! Seder is meant to be a relaxed and educational holiday observance, so celebrate with these creative ideas.

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Passover 411

What is Passover?

Passover is the Jewish celebration of freedom that tells the story of how the Jewish people escaped slavery in Egypt.

When is Passover?

This year, Passover begins at sundown on Saturday, April 12 and ends at nightfall on Sunday, April 20. Jewish holidays change from year-to-year on the calendar, since they are celebrated based on the Hebrew calendar that has 13 months.

What do people do during Passover?

People eat special foods, sing songs, tell stories, and participate in at least one seder – a special meal designed to help us remember the journey to freedom. Every seder has specific elements in common; the word “seder” means “order.”

Passover Seders and Celebrations

April 6:

Mitzvah House of Dunwoody, Dunwoody – Kids Pesach Workshop

April 12:

Chabad Intown, Atlanta – Community Passover Seder
Chabad Hall County, Gainesville – Passover Community Seder

April 13:

Congregation Etz Chaim, Marietta – Passover Second Night Seder Dinner
Chabad North Fulton, Alpharetta – Passover Seder
Mitzvah House of Dunwoody – Community Seder
Congregation Bet Haverim, Atlanta – CBH Community Seder
Temple Sinai, Sandy Springs – Passover Second Night Seder
Congregation Dor Tamid, Johns Creek – Second Night Seder
Temple Kol Emeth, Marietta – Second Night Community Seder

Find more events at Atlanta Jewish Connector.

Tips for Tackling Seder with Kids

Feed First

Set aside time for kids to eat a nutritious snack or meal before Seder starts. When tummies aren’t grumbling, they’ll be better able to follow the service and participate.

Go Interactive

Buy inexpensive items to represent the plagues (ping pong balls for hail, sunglasses for darkness) and give a set to each child so they can act them out. Create bingo cards or scavenger hunt sheets and have kids check things off as you go. Let kids draw slips of paper with prayers and readings on them to determine their order, or do the same with Seder guest names to pick who participates next. Play Passover trivia and give stickers or trinkets for correct answers. Haggadot has a coloring book version of the Haggadah. 18Doors has daily activities for a week of fun and learning.

Abbreviate

If you have younger children, a shortened version of the Haggadah (Passover prayer book) can work well. Some are online for free, or sites like 30minute-Seder offer printable booklets for purchase. Chabad offers resources, such as printable Haggadah prayers, recipes, historical stories and more that can help you explain the traditions to the kids.

Try a Theme

Pick a popular TV show, hobby or interest to use as a framework for the Seder. Even Shalom Sesame (a Jewish version of “Sesame Street”) has a great Seder song for a Broadway theme, set to a tune from “Les Misérables.”

Involve Early

MJCCA offers a downloadable Seder camp packet for kids; PJ Library has a Passover for Kids site with podcasts, activities, games, downloads and more. Check out sites like Fun Family Crafts and PopSugar for craft ideas little artists can do, like making placemats, matzah covers or table centerpieces. Get Passover picture books to read and practice holiday songs kids can share during Seder.

Stagger Times

If you don’t think your Seder can work for all ages, stage an early, short service and meal just for kids, picnic-style outside or inside on the floor, using a children’s guide like Sammy the Spider’s First Haggadah. Other Passover books “The Littlest Levine,” “The Little Red Hen and the Passover Matzah” and “It’s Passover, Grover.” After bedtime, move on to an adults-only Seder.

Delicious Food

Order catering from these restaurants for Passover meals. Goldbergs Fine Foods has potato latkes, spinach, mushroom and onion farfel kugel, matzo balls, sides and more. Local Three Kitchen & Bar has Passover carryout meals from April 11-13. Order pickup or delivery from Daily Chew. Whole Foods Market offers Passover meals.

Passover-Friendly Pasta

Passover can make mealtimes tricky, especially with picky eaters who love pasta and bread, which are not allowed during this holiday. If noodles are a staple in your house, make protein-packed, egg-based “noodles” with this recipe that work in soup, with tomato sauce, or topped with cheese and butter. They’re a great way to keep a favorite on the menu while adding extra protein during the holidays (or year-round).

Serves 4

Ingredients:

4 large eggs
4 tablespoons potato starch*
½ cup water
½ teaspoon kosher salt
Oil, for cooking

*Tip: Potato starch is often available right next to the matzah meal and other Passover staples in the kosher section. You can also find it in the baking aisle or buy it in bulk from many online retailers.

Preparation:

In a large bowl, whisk the eggs.
In a medium bowl, combine potato starch, water and salt until smooth.
Add the potato starch mixture to the eggs and whisk to combine.
Heat oil in a nonstick pan over medium heat.
Add ¼ cup of the egg mixture and swirl to coat the pan.
When the top is set (about two minutes), carefully flip to cook the other side for about 30 seconds.
Set aside to cool and repeat with remaining batter.
When all the batter is cooked, roll up into crepes and then slice into noodles.

Find more Passover recipes like this on PJ Library’s online holiday hub at pjlibrary.org/passover.