Yom Kippur, also known as the Day of Atonement, is the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. It is a time of reflection, prayer, and seeking forgiveness. While the ideas behind Yom Kippur are complex, even preschoolers can begin to understand its key messages about saying sorry, making better choices, and starting fresh. This day provides a meaningful opportunity to teach young children the values of kindness, reflection, and being considerate of others.
Yom Kippur takes place ten days after Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, and is considered the most sacred day for Jewish people. It is a time when people think about the past year, ask for forgiveness for any mistakes they have made, and make promises to do better in the coming year. On this day, Jewish families spend time in synagogue for special prayers and reflections, and many adults choose to fast (not eat or drink) as a way of showing their commitment to this important day.
For preschoolers, Yom Kippur can be understood as a time to say sorry, reflect on their actions, and think about how they can be kinder and more helpful in the future.
Yom Kippur has its roots in the Torah, the Jewish holy book. It is believed to be the day when God judges each person based on their actions over the past year, giving people the chance to seek forgiveness and start anew. This process of self-reflection and asking for forgiveness is called atonement, which means making things right with others and with oneself.
Even though the religious aspect of Yom Kippur is deep, preschoolers can grasp its core values—apologizing when they’ve made a mistake, forgiving others, and making a fresh start. These are lessons that help them develop emotional and social skills at an early age.
Jewish families and communities observe Yom Kippur in different ways, but there are a few key practices that are commonly followed:
On Yom Kippur, Jewish people spend a lot of time in prayer and reflection. They think about their actions over the past year and seek to make amends for any wrongs. For preschoolers, this idea can be simplified by encouraging them to think about ways they can be kinder and more thoughtful in their everyday lives.
Lesson for Preschoolers:
Many adults fast on Yom Kippur, meaning they do not eat or drink for the entire day. Fasting is a way of focusing on spiritual reflection rather than physical needs. While young children are not expected to fast, this tradition can help them understand the idea of sacrifice and doing something special to show their commitment to making good choices.
Lesson for Preschoolers:
A central part of Yom Kippur is the practice of apologizing for any mistakes or wrongdoings over the past year. Families may talk together about things they want to improve or forgive each other for. Preschoolers can learn how to apologize for their mistakes—whether it’s saying sorry for taking a toy or not listening—and understand that forgiveness helps everyone feel better.
Lesson for Preschoolers:
Yom Kippur is also about making promises to try harder and do better in the coming year. For young children, this can mean thinking about ways to share more, be kinder, or help their friends and family. It’s a chance for them to learn that every day offers a new opportunity to make good choices.
Lesson for Preschoolers:
Yom Kippur is a perfect opportunity to introduce preschoolers to valuable lessons that can help them grow emotionally and socially. Here are some key lessons they can learn from this important day:
Saying Sorry is Important: Preschoolers can learn that it’s okay to make mistakes, but it’s also important to say “sorry” when we hurt someone or make a bad choice. This teaches them about empathy and the importance of fixing relationships.
Forgiving Helps Us All: Yom Kippur teaches that forgiving others is just as important as asking for forgiveness. Preschoolers can practice forgiveness by learning how to move on after someone apologizes to them.
Fresh Starts Are Powerful: One of the most meaningful lessons of Yom Kippur is that everyone gets a fresh start. Preschoolers can understand that each day offers a new chance to be kind, to help, and to make good choices.
Self-Reflection: Yom Kippur is a time for thinking deeply about how we’ve acted and how we can improve. Preschoolers can practice self-reflection by thinking about their actions and how they can be more thoughtful and considerate toward others.
Even though Yom Kippur is a serious and reflective day, there are simple activities preschoolers can do to help them understand its core values:
Help children practice saying "sorry" with a role-playing game. You can set up simple scenarios where one child accidentally bumps into another or takes a toy, and then guide them through saying "sorry" and making amends.
Encourage preschoolers to think of one thing they can do to be kinder or more helpful. Write down their ideas on a paper, and they can decorate it as their own "kindness pledge." This helps them understand the idea of trying to do better in the future.
Read books that focus on the themes of forgiveness and making things right, like "The Berenstain Bears and the Forgiving Tree" or “Sorry!” by Trudy Ludwig. After reading, discuss the importance of apologizing and forgiving with the children.
Give children paper and crayons and ask them to draw pictures of how they feel when someone says sorry or when they forgive someone. This helps them explore their emotions and understand how forgiveness can make us feel better.
Yom Kippur offers preschoolers an opportunity to learn about the importance of reflection, forgiveness, and making better choices. While the holiday carries deep spiritual meaning for Jewish families, its core messages about saying "sorry," forgiving others, and striving to be kinder are universal lessons that all children can relate to and practice in their everyday lives.
By teaching preschoolers the values of Yom Kippur, we help them build a strong foundation for emotional understanding, empathy, and personal growth. This year, let’s encourage our little ones to think about their actions, be kind to themselves and others, and remember that every day is a chance for a fresh start!