A Community Engagement Project initiative
Share one children’s service idea. Get 52 back.
We’re collecting 52 great ideas for a shul’s children’s service — one for every week of the year. Add yours, and we’ll send the finished collection to everyone who contributed.
How it works
1 · Share an idea
Tell us one idea for a shul’s children’s service — something that happens in or around the service itself. It takes a couple of minutes.
2 · We collate the best
We review every idea and gather the best 52 into one collection: a week-by-week calendar a shul can follow through the year.
3 · You get all 52
When we reach 52, everyone who contributed (and asked for it) receives the full collection by email, free.
17 ideas so far, target 52
Includes the 17 starter ideas below.
Invite your friends
We’re 35 ideas away from 52. Know someone who runs or helps with a children’s service? Send them this.
Share your idea
Something that happens within or around the synagogue children’s service itself. Hebrew is fine too.
A few starter ideas
To show what a good idea looks like, here’s a starter set from Community Engagement Project. They count towards the 52 — and we’d love yours alongside them.
- Under 5
Parsha puppet show
The leader retells the week's parsha with two or three puppets set out before Shabbat. Each time a puppet says its catchphrase, the children say it back, so even the youngest are part of the story.
- 5–8
The cue-word story
The leader tells the parsha and picks a few cue words, such as a name, an animal and a place, each with its own action: stand up, clap, roar. Every time the children hear one they all do its action. As the story moves on, a new cue word joins in, so the listening gets busier as it goes. No props needed.
- Under 5
Meet the Torah up close
Before the Torah goes back to the ark, the youngest children are taken to see it close up: the cover, the crown, the yad. The leader shares one simple fact, and each child gives it a kiss with their siddur.
- 5–8
Siddur page race
The leader calls out a tefillah such as Modim, Shema or Adon Olam. The children find the page and hold their siddur up. Everyone who finds it wins, and the first one reads the opening line aloud.
- All ages
Child-led Adon Olam
Each week a different child, with a buddy, leads Adon Olam or Ein Keloheinu from the front while the whole children's service sings along. A simple rota means every child gets a turn.
- 9–12
Question of the week
The leader asks one 'what would you do?' question linked to the parsha. Children whisper their answer to a neighbour for thirty seconds, then two or three share with the group.
- 5–8
Mitzvah of the week
Each week the leader highlights one small mitzvah to try at home that Shabbat, like welcoming a guest or saying a berachah. At the next service they ask who managed it, and everyone applauds.
- All ages
Join the Torah procession
When the Torah is carried around the shul, the children's service forms a line behind it, singing a short Torah song they have learned. Walking and singing only; nothing to carry.
- 9–12
Ask the rabbi
Once a month the rabbi spends ten minutes with the older children answering questions they told the leader the week before. Topics can be anything: prayer, Shabbat or the parsha.
- 5–8
Parsha treasure hunt
Before Shabbat the leader hides a handful of toys or picture cards linked to the parsha around the children's room. The children find them one by one and explain how each connects to the story.
- Teens
Teens as madrichim
Teenagers each take a small group of younger children for part of the service, after a short briefing from the leader before Shabbat. Teens gain ownership and the little ones gain role models. Teens will probably need a briefing beforehand.
- Under 5
The Shema moment
The leader and children cover their eyes and say the first line of Shema together, slowly. Then everyone opens their eyes and looks around the circle: 'Look who's here with us.'
- 9–12
Parsha charades
Children act out a moment from the parsha without words while the others guess. The leader finishes by reading the verse it comes from. It always gets laughs and sends everyone back to the text.
- 5–8
Spot the mitzvah
At the start the leader reads a short list of things to notice, for example answering Amen, standing for the Torah or kissing the Torah. At the end the children say which they spotted and which was their favourite.
- 5–8
One line a week
Pick a line of davening, such as a verse from Ein Keloheinu, and learn one phrase of it each week. By the end of the month the children can lead it for the whole shul.
- 9–12
The two-minute story
Invite a grandparent, a newcomer or a visitor to tell the children a two-minute Shabbat memory. The children hear a real voice, and the community connects across generations.
- Under 5
The same Torah song every week
End every children's service with the same short Torah song with simple motions. Even a child who has never been before quickly knows how the morning ends, and feels part of it.
Your privacy
- What we collect: your idea, your email, and anything optional you choose to add (name, community, role).
- Why: to review and collate the ideas and — only if you tick the box — to email you the collection and occasional related updates.
- Who sees it: only Community Engagement Project. Ideas aren’t shown publicly until approved, and your name and community appear only if you ask us to credit you.
- Removal: email josh.levy@levydigitalsigns.com and we’ll delete your details. Emails from us include a way to unsubscribe.
- Your details are stored securely with our database provider.
This is a Community Engagement Project initiative — practical ideas and tools to help communities get more people involved. Back to the main site