Parents and Kids Meeting Notes

Parents and Kids Meeting Notes

5/9/12

Topics Discussed
1. High Holidays/ Lunch and Learn babysitting / Holiday Programming
2. Kid’s Kiddush options
3. Social programs outside of shul for kids (including social action)
4. Additional Support for parents
5. Tot Shabbat
High Holidays/ Lunch and Learn babysitting / Holiday Programming
The discussion began with speaking about the high holidays and ensuring that parents can continue to participate in shul while also providing a meaningful program to the children, more so than the current babysitting situation. At minimum, there was a desire to split the children into age groups so that it wasn’t quite the same madhouse.
There was wide agreement that DCM should consider paying someone to lead groups, particularly on the high holidays, but also possibly in general in the future if the need arose. However, a concern was raised that this may inhibit individuals who would like to lead from volunteering - conversely it was discussed that it would help engage younger DCM members who like leading groups but lead elsewhere because they are paid
There was also a desire to ensure there is programming during other holidays when DCM meets but there is no tot Shabbat. However, with respect to lunch and learns, the status quo was acceptable to everyone.
Action Items

·  Look into having a “tot shabbat” style program for High Holidays & Chagim

o  Possibly pay person(s) to lead this program

·  Ensure that high holiday programs are age separated to prevent overcrowding and general craziness

Kid’s Kiddush options
Parents were happy with the current food options for their kids, but were concerned about kids being stepped on and chasing kids around. Also they wanted to reduce the work for the Kiddush committee in terms of cleaning the lobby. It was suggested that DCM run a trial having a kids table (low table and small chairs) near the front of the room where the ark usually is. This area is often empty during Kiddush – and kids sitting will enhance it for kids and parents, but also for all community members who will have less problems with kids running all over. Furthermore, it was suggested that to free up room, at the end of shul, DCM ask that chairs be put away vs. at the edges, freeing up room. Another suggestion was to put chairs at the edge of the room, but only one stack high so people can sit on them.
Action Items

·  Speak to the Kiddush Committee about creating a trial where there is a kids table in the room. (Need to talk to JCC about getting a table and chairs from upstairs).

·  Speak to Kiddush Committee / SC about putting chairs away vs. pushing them to the side of the room.

Social programs outside of shul for kids (including social action)
There was general agreement that providing an option for events was a good idea, but that events should not exceed one per quarter. Also, some events could be social action related. Suggested ideas included berry picking, Shabbat potluck park/playground picnic for seudah shlishit, DC specific family friendly events, card making, park clean up, kids brunch meet up with clothing/toy swap.
Action Items

·  Parents and Kids coordinator / Committee should create and develop programming.

Additional Support for parents
There was a discussion on how we can better integrate new members with children or long term members with new kids, especially those who don’t know many people with children. Suggestions were made in terms of having a buddy system, creating a parents google group, ensuring parents resources were updated on the website, or small cohorts of parents. Also, ensuring that in the email to new parents all the kid’s resources were included (i.e. babysitting co-op, simchat bat/bris info, etc…).
Action items

·  Work to ensure that parent resources are provided to new parents and new members with kids.

·  Consider creating a parent's google group where parents can share info/ask/giveaway kids stuff.

Tot Shabbat
Davidi reported that his program was going great and Beth said that, from what she understood, Rivka’s Jr. Congregation style program was going well too (though we need some direct feedback from her). Davidi said that he enjoyed that the parents who came participated and parents who wanted to talk didn’t stay at his program, unlike how it was previously.
However, the parents of younger kids expressed concern that the youngest program was no longer as substantive and that the younger kids benefited from being in the room with the older kids. After some discussion, it was agreed that the younger kids who wanted a program should be able to participate with Davidi, and he said that he enjoyed the younger kids too and they didn’t detract, while the younger kids who just wanted to play, sing and dance should have a place to do that. The idea that the parents liked was that Davidi should return upstairs, and the 0-6 kids who want to participate should come. He will do the whole program, but save some of the story aspects that some of the younger kids can’t sit through till the end, when they can leave. For the younger kids who want something less structured and more free-flowing, Classroom 1 can be used as a space for kids to play, sing, dance and read stories. Davidi’s program will be more structured and parents and kids should participate and not distract in from David’s program Davidi. If kids (or their parents!) can’t/don’t want to participate in the program, they are encouraged to go to downstairs.
Related to that discussion was the idea of ensuring that shul is welcoming for parents and kids. It was raised that DCM used to clarify that kids are welcome and normal happy kid noises (i.e. kid saying “torah”) is fine. Perhaps this should be made clear in some way. Additionally, providing for kids shul appropriate toys (toys that don’t make noise or can be used to make noise by banging) and books can be provided to encourage parents to come to shul with their kids prior to torah reading and after torah reading is over.
Action Items

·  Finalize tot Shabbat system – parents seem to want two groups, with one area for playtime

·  Look into getting toys and books for kids (suggested that parents donate them prior to buying), as well as ensuring there is appropriate storage space for it

·  Notify parents that they are welcome at tot Shabbat as participants, but they should be respectful and not have conversations there.

·  Similarly look into making it creating an environment for the community that welcomes kids at shul.