Families

Building Connections with Your Early Childhood Program and Temple Family During COVID

Trying to engage our families and congregants during Covid and connect them to your Temple’s family may seem like a struggle. Now more than ever these connections are vital. With careful planning and a team approach, this goal can be easily attainable. 

For many parents, looking for an Early Childhood Education (ECE) Program may be one of the most important decisions they make. Jewish ECE programs are not just entry points into Jewish learning but also a re-entry point back into a synagogue for many families.

With Covid, we have been faced with many new challenges.

• How do we sell our programs to new families who have never seen the inside of our walls?
• How do we engage our existing families in our EC programs?
• How do we share these Jewish experiences with our families?
• How do we connect our clergy and leadership to our families?

Whether in person or in many cases now “virtually”, quality programming, meaningful family experiences, and activities for all ages are key to the Temple’s role in a family’s Jewish journey. 

In addition to committees involving ECE staff, clergy, parents and temple leadership, it is important to have a Covid task force committee consisting of medical personnel to safely implement any new programming to attract new young families through communication, marketing, and outreach. 

Through these committees, our leadership has implemented ways to further connect ECE families with our synagogue life.  Here are just a few!

• Tour beyond your program.  Like many programs, our doors are closed to visitors. Tours can be scheduled virtually or even pre-recorded.  Regardless of how they are done, make sure to show them your Sanctuary and introduce your clergy.  (Parents love seeing the Rabbi’s study!)   Show them your religious school, the public spaces in your Synagogue, and your youth lounge if you have one.  Introduce them to your Religious school Director and/or Youth Director.
• Be inviting!  This year for Rosh Hashanah, our Membership committee was present at our carpool giving out gift baskets along with Siddurs for those watching services virtually.
• Gift of a Lifetime.  Any new ECE family receives a free year of temple membership. 
• Be an Ambassador! An ambassador should not JUST make an initial welcoming phone call. Rather, throughout the YEAR, ambassadors can call and invite new families to family programs whether in person or virtual. Remember, this first year makes a huge difference in whether or not a family will stay connected! 
• Virtual PTO Meetings. Keep your parents connected! Our first PTO meeting consisted of a virtual tour of the school in session. With an Ipad, one can visit every classroom making sure to point out each child of those in the meeting.
• Clergy and Board presence. Any opportunity that arises, making sure Clergy is present is key… have parents make a connection!
  • Have Clergy join a PTO meeting. This goes a long way toward building relationships. 
  • Have clergy present at the carpool line at least once a week. A quick hello is always appreciated.
  • Children love spending time with clergy on a regular basis in the classrooms. Parents love seeing the child-clergy connection – include photos from their time together in ECE and temple newsletters!
• Virtual Programming
  • Include your families in any classroom celebrations. Some of our families send birthday party invitations to extended family along with parents in the classroom.  Zoom has become our parent’s best friend.
  • Shabbat Mystery Reader with Zayde and Bubbee. Each Friday a grandparent signs up to be a mystery reader in their grandchild’s classroom. We have had grandparents from all over the world join us on Zoom.

Stacey Katz
Director
Temple Kol Ami Emanu-El
Plantation,  Florida

October 2021

This time of year is filled with sleepless nights and endless lists for any educator.  The tone we set at the beginning will impact the year ahead.  In early childhood programs, this begins with how we welcome families into our program.  Welcoming needs to be done in an intentional way.  Deliberate planning and implementation will help to create an atmosphere that welcomes families and helps parents to feel a sense of trust and confidence leaving their children in your program.

The following is our plan for welcoming families into our program.  Please note that the * indicates adjustments made for COVID-19

• Beginning at enrollment, families are placed on our email list and invited to all our family programs, including monthly Friday night Shabbat Celebrations, Challah Bake, Ice Cream Social, and others. *Families were invited to participate in our virtual monthly Shabbat blessings and virtual challah bake.
• In the spring, prior to the start of the school year, families are invited to an event during the school day.  In past years, we have held dance parties, Teddy Bear Picnics, music programs, and other events. This gives children and parents the opportunity to meet each other, spend time in the classroom, and meet the teachers. * Only staff and enrolled children were allowed in the classrooms.  We were not able to do this in the spring.
• In June, each new family is matched with a current family.  This one-to-one match allows everyone entering our program to already know another parent and child in the class.
• In the summer, our parent council organizes two popsicle playdates and two parents’ nights out.  The dates are sent out in June and reminders are sent in advance. *These have been well attended and held outside.
• During the week before school starts, families are invited to a welcome back event.   *Held outside. Teachers also do a Zoom or facetime call with each family.  Each teacher also records a story to send home.
• The day before school starts, we hold orientation for students and parents. Teachers review morning routines and answer questions, and children have time to explore their classrooms. *One family visits the classroom, playground, and with teachers individually.  Parents register for a time.  We do this over 2 days.
• During the first week, we host parent coffees.  Parents have a time to socialize as well as feel supported through this transition.  Parents are also given real-time updates on their children. *Held outside.
• Within the first 2 weeks of school, parents are called by their child’s teacher, giving them an opportunity to ask questions and have a snapshot of how their child is adapting.
• During the first month, the Director and executive assistant greet each family every day as well as to check in with families. *This is done every day.
• During the first month, teachers post photos and updates on Remini as well as call or send photos to parents who are concerned about their child’s adjustment to school.
• During the first month, our parent council reaches out to each family personally before our first council meeting of the year and first Shabbat program.

Each year, we reflect and add or adapt our plan.  It is a labor-intensive process, but it is one that creates a sense of community where each family feels connected, valued, and welcomed.

 Heidi Baker
 Director of Early Childhood Education and Engagement
 Temple Beth Avodah
 Newton, MA 

July/August 2021

The Consortium for Applied Studies in Jewish Education (CASJE) examined the possibility that Jewish early care and education is a lever for increased Jewish engagement among Jewish families. 

From this work came an infographic (link below) that presents a multi-faceted, evidence-based definition of Jewish engagement for families with young children.

The infographic can serve as a tool to inform decision-making and spark discussion among program directors, practitioners, lay leaders, families and other stakeholders regarding multiple pathways available to engage Jewish families raising young children.

CASJE Early Childhood Study was funded by Crown Family Philanthropies and led by a research team at Child Trends together with researchers from Brandeis University,

Jewish Engagement Infographic

Arielle Levites
Managing Director
CASJE; ex-officio

Ways Schools Can Be the Pillar of Support During Times of Need

For some families in our communities, the pillars of “built in” support of the extended family no longer exist.  There are times when the world as they know it unravels or changes—the power is suddenly shutoff, the family suffers a loss, or a new baby joyfully enters this world. During these times, it is critical to have a support system.

We know, as Jewish professionals, that the power of synagogue life can offer this much-needed pillar of support.  Our Jewish early childhood centers excel at supporting families and showing them that we appreciate and love their presence and that we are “in this together.”

Here are some examples of how my school supports(ed) families in need, demonstrating how we care for and about each other:  

• Meal trains are sent out when a family has a baby. They are filled up instantly, even by folks who may not know each other.
• When a staffer or family goes through a sad or difficult situation, the schools sends a “Sunshine” gift.
• Recently, a number of our families lost power for a few days. Other families instantly mobilized. Within 24 hours, families contributed pizza lunches, planned communal meals, and offered to help with laundry.
• Another family lost their home to a fire. Almost immediately, the school began to receive donations by the carload.     

Ellen Lefkowitz
Early Childhood Director
Temple Sinai
Oakland, CA 94609

December 2019

Welcoming New Families Begins Long Before School Starts

This time of year is filled with sleepless nights and endless lists for any educator.  The tone we set at the beginning will impact the year ahead.  In early childhood programs, this begins with how we welcome families into our program.  Welcoming needs to be done in an intentional way.  Deliberate planning and implementation will help to create an atmosphere that welcomes families and helps parents to feel a sense of trust and confidence leaving their children in your program. 

The following is our plan for welcoming families into our program

• Beginning at enrollment, families are placed on our email list and invited to all our family programs, including monthly Friday night Shabbat Celebrations, Challah Bake, Ice Cream Social, and others.
• In the spring, prior to the start of the school year, families are invited to an event during the school day.  In past years, we have held dance parties, Teddy Bear Picnics, music programs, and other events. This gives children and parents the opportunity to meet each other, spend time in the classroom, and meet the teachers.
• In June, each new family is matched with a current family.  This one-to-one match allows everyone entering our program to already know another parent and child in the class.
• In the summer, our parent council organizes two popsicle playdates and two parents’ nights out.  The dates are sent out in June and reminders are sent in advance. 
• During the week before school starts, families are invited to a welcome back event.  Teachers greet the children and their families.
• The day before school starts, we hold orientation for students and parents. Teachers review morning routines and answer questions, and children have time to explore their classrooms.
• During the first week, we host parent coffees.  Parents have a time to socialize as well as feel supported through this transition.  Parents are also given real-time updates on their children.
• Within the first 2 weeks of school, parents are called by their child’s teacher, giving them an opportunity to ask questions and have a snapshot of how their child is adapting.
• During the first month, the Director and executive assistant greet each family every day as well as to check in with families.
• During the first month, teachers post photos and updates on Remini as well as call or send photos to parents who are concerned about their child’s adjustment to school.
• During the first month, our parent council reaches out to each family personally before our first council meeting of the year and first Shabbat program.

Each year, we reflect and add or adapt our plan.  It is a labor-intensive process, but it is one that creates a sense of community where each family feels connected, valued, and welcomed.

Heidi Baker
Director of Early Childhood Education and Engagement
Temple Beth Avodah
Newton, MA  

September 2019

Lessons for You from Congregations Without an Early Childhood Center

You’re the director of the early childhood center at your congregation. Young children and their parents and caregivers are in and out of your building (and your office!) all day, every day. It’s wonderful to have so many opportunities to create and nurture relationships, and sometimes even a bit overwhelming.

But not every congregation has families with young children coming to their building every day or several times a week. Some don’t even have a building at all. Congregations without early childhood centers still need to build relationships with the families in their community but they have to approach it in a slightly different way than you might. As part of my position at the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ), I provide resources on engagement of families with young children to a wide range of congregations, many of them without an early childhood center. These include small congregations, remote congregations, and those with a limited number of members who have young children. Through my work with these congregations, I identified some valuable principles that can also apply to yours.

• Work as a team. Engaging families with young children should be a congregation-wide priority, not the responsibility of one person or program. Anyone who may be a point of contact for a family is a part of the team. Frequently one person takes the lead, but they know that it is everyone’s responsibility to build the relationships with parents and their young children that will lead to a thriving community.
• Get out of the building. Many parents of young children are not comfortable in synagogues for a variety of reasons and may be more likely to attend a public space event. It doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. Go out and explore - figure out where parents naturally gather in your community and host an event there.  It could be a park, coffee shop, book store, or playground. Parents need to feel comfortable and welcomed in order to engage.
• Invest in your online presence. Your website and social media are your new front door. All online family-facing media should be (1) up-to-date with accurate dates and times for any upcoming events, (2) visually interesting including pictures where families can see people like themselves, (3) easy to navigate, and (4) focused on connecting people online, not just functioning as a digital bulletin board. It helps if you cultivate some friendly parents who will like, comment, and share your posts. Your congregation’s welcome starts way before someone comes to your building.
• Think outside the box. Experiment! Try something new, and don’t be afraid to fail. Do your clergy attend or officiate at berit milah (ritual circumcisions) or baby namings? Leverage this opportunity to invite parents to engage with you, whether you present them with a 'welcome certificate,' tag them in a social media 'welcome post,' or make a friendly phone call to them.  Ask the local pediatricians or coffee shops to post your promotional materials. Help the parents you already know to engage their friends and neighbors in congregational events and programs. In the end, it is the relationships you create and nurture that will be your true measure of success.

Learn more about principles of family engagement in The Tent, the URJ’s online communications and collaboration platform, by joining the conversation in the Families with Young Children group, and by reading our Engagement Best Principles Guide.

By Jennie Nerenberg
September 2018