How to get through the Seder peacefully with children of all ages

Passover Eve is already here, and the table is set and waiting. We all want a happy and meaningful holiday, but also calm and fun – and especially not to hear "When do we eat already?" every few minutes. 😉

The best way to achieve this is to involve the children and find activities and roles that are just right for their age. When the children feel part of the Seder, they not only avoid getting bored – they also experience the holiday in a much more meaningful way!

Age-appropriate adaptation:

For toddlers (2-4) 👶🎨

At this age, it's important to keep things simple, short, and experiential.

A small suitcase of surprises: Prepare a bag with children's books about Passover, coloring pages, finger puppets (Moses, Pharaoh, slaves, etc.), or a kosher-for-Passover snack.
Sensory games: Let them touch matzah, smell charoset, and even play with dough (clay or Play-Doh) to create mini-matzot or pyramids.
Simple roles: They can help hold up the "Ma Nishtana" items or raise a wine glass together with an adult.

Ages 5-7 – Curious partners 👦📖

At this age, they better understand what’s happening and love getting "roles."

Telling the Haggadah in their own way: Tell them the story of the Exodus in advance and let them present it to the family during the Seder—either as a small play or drawings they prepared.
The afikoman role: They can be the "afikoman discoverers" or guard it until the end!
Singing and games: Songs like "Echad Mi Yodea" or "Chad Gadya" are a great opportunity to involve them in joint singing or even a memory game (Who remembers what happened in each part of the song?).

Ages 8-12 – Little leaders 💬🎤

At this age, children can be active leaders at the Seder table.

Reading the Haggadah: Assign them adaptations of sections of the Haggadah for reading aloud and let them lead small parts.
Experiential quizzes: Prepare a trivia quiz on Passover in advance and let the children ask family members questions like "How many plagues were in Egypt?" or "Which plague do you think was the hardest?"
"Research" tasks about this night: Give them tasks to research and present interesting facts about holiday foods (e.g., why do we eat charoset? Why doesn’t matzah rise?).

Teenagers (13 and older) – Seder leaders 🧑‍🎓🎭

Teens can help elevate the entire Seder!

Technology managers: If you're using a digital Haggadah or videos, teens can take care of presenting the content as needed.
Discussions about personal freedom and meaning: Raise complex questions like "What does freedom mean to me?" or "What habits should I change to feel freer?"
Summary and facilitation team: Let them lead a short session summarizing the meal or share what moved them the most during the evening.

Why is this important?

Involving children in the Seder teaches them values of tradition, family, and belonging—turning these memories into unforgettable ones for them. It's an opportunity for a true family experience, where everyone is independent but also connected as a whole.

And what about you?

How do you keep children engaged during the Seder?

I’d love to hear your ideas and share tips on my blog!

You can find more inspiration on my website: 💡 www.ilanacahana.com

Happy and kosher Passover,Ilana 💖

תודה שקראתם!

אשמח שתצטרפו אליי ברשתות החברתיות ותמשיכו לעקוב אחרי תכנים מעשירים על הורות, חינוך והתפתחות: