Happy Purim Tip!

Purim is approaching, bringing with it lots of excitement and challenges. Especially for parents, who mostly fall into two groups: the group of parents who absolutely love the holiday, really love it.

And the group of parents who would prefer to disappear into another atmosphere the moment this holiday shows signs of hamantaschen in the supermarket...

So, which group do you belong to?

It doesn’t really matter.

What really matters is which group your child belongs to.

The children who are just waiting for the moment to arrive and want to dress up at every opportunity. They love to soar on the wings of imagination and play the game under the guise of a mask.

Or the children who don’t want to, aren’t satisfied, feel uncomfortable, it’s too tight, suddenly they’re not in the mood, the makeup itches them... all the answers are correct?!

Let’s remember that Purim is a great holiday.

A holiday of joy and laughter.

And even if it’s sometimes hard, let’s turn lemons into lemonade. And may it pass peacefully, amen!

Choosing a costume

If your child suffers from contact with certain materials (fabrics, buttons, zippers, or anything that bothers them...), try to suggest a "comfortable" costume or invent one together, involve them, you’d be surprised to hear how creative children can be. If your child loves a certain character – it’s possible that tomorrow they won’t anymore... Purchase the costume as close to Purim as possible to ensure there are no last-minute changes...

Try on the costume beforehand, and make sure there’s nothing uncomfortable or bothersome. For young children, it’s advisable to avoid face masks, for fear they won’t see well – they might trip, bump into others, and more...

Safety and security above all. Make sure the costume is made of quality and safe fabric.

Accidents can always happen, so it’s always a good idea to have a change of clothes in the bag – what was amazing in the morning might not be comfortable by the afternoon – the colorful fabrics of the costume and all the accessories can sometimes become burdensome after the excitement fades...

Accessories tend to get lost – to avoid great disappointment and a sea of tears – ending in a sad and disappointing day – write names, mark items, and label the costume’s clothing pieces. It’s unpleasant to pick up a crying child from school or kindergarten because they lost their sword or wand....

Preparation in advance – preparation in advance – preparation in advance!!!!

Try all makeup attempts/hairstyles/strange accessories that are worn on the body and require assistance – with the children in advance. A child who suddenly needs to use the bathroom and discovers they don’t know how to take off the costume – enters a state of stress and frustration, leading to "accidents" and great discomfort.

Prepare the children for any possible scenario, teach them how to put on the costume and how to take it off. On the morning of the celebration, remind them to approach a staff member for help.

Makeup is also very important to try beforehand. So the child understands what the makeup feels like on their face and to ensure there’s no sensitivity or irritation. It’s important for the child to see in the mirror how it looks.

I recommend purchasing high-quality hypoallergenic body makeup approved for use (Tadmor Cohen Adar’s products are excellent – from experience).

And if "I don’t feel like it"?

Yes, there are children who are just not into it! It’s important to probe and check why, where it’s coming from. Is it from a social-emotional place of "what will people say..." "will they laugh at me," what does it mean about me if I dressed up as this or that character? Or is it, as I wrote earlier, a sensory issue. "It’s uncomfortable," "it’s annoying," "it itches"?

Either way, it’s important to respect the child’s choice and prepare them for the fact that if they choose to come to kindergarten without a costume, that’s also an option, but they might feel different. Offer a backup – try to choose with them to put a costume in the bag in case they suddenly decide to dress up after all. If it’s a child who struggles with accessories, discomfort, etc., look together for what might work, offer alternatives – see if they’d still like to find something comfortable. The more you show them you’re with them, the more you reduce the "pressure" around the issue, the greater the chance of cooperation. It’s true that sometimes it’s hard, but give the children responsibility and let them make a decision that doesn’t harm their health or safety. Don’t be disappointed if the children have their own ideas and desires.

Tell the children the story behind the holiday and what it represents, share with them how you celebrated Purim when you were young, and show them pictures. Prepare a Mishloach Manot (Purim gift basket) together for the teacher/kindergarten teacher and one or two for a family in need. Dress up yourselves, play "pretend" with them because it’s okay and important to "let loose a little sometimes."

Happy and joyful Purim!