Gan Camarillo Preschool

"Kibbud Av Vaeim",respecting one's parents was the Mitzvah on Treasure Island this week!

Five of the Ten Commandments are between man and man, and five are between man and G-d. Interestingly, the commandment to respect one's parents is considered to be a mitzvah between man and G-d.
The reason for this is to show us that G-d partners with our parents, to bring us into the world. Therefore when one respect's one's parents, by extension, he is respecting G-d.
As a parent and a teacher, it is important to cultivate this sense of respect in our children, imparting the importance of this mitzvah.

Respect for parents, and ultimately all adults, including the elderly, is an important foundation inbeing a mentch.

Appreciating what our parents do

One morning during circle time, we presented various pictures of the things our parents do. From driving us to Gan, to washing our clothes, to feeding us breakfast to brushing our teeth....

We discussed with the children the many things their parents do for them, guiding them in realizing how much we need to appreciate, and of course respect our parents.

It was fun to hear from the mouthes of preschoolers-- the favorite things their parents do for them!

Muffins with Mom

The highlight of our week was preparing and enjoying Muffins with Mom! The children enjoyed painting a canvas, and most importantly naming several of the things they love about Mom, to write down and include on their artwork.

making muffins...

Painting canvas's...and more importantly our noses and fingers too ;-)

Muffins with Mom:

Thank you to all the Moms for taking the time to spend with us on Thursday. It meant a lot to your little ones!

Dad- you are the Key to my Success

The children made special keychains, to remind their Daddies just how much they love them and appreciate them too!
It was fun to decorate Shrinky Dink paper- and watch how the artwork shrunk after it was baked!

Story- Dama Ben Nesina
One of the ways the Torah commands a person to respect their parents is by not waking them up if they are sleeping. The children enjoyed a puppet show story highlighting the importance of this act.

Even though Dama could have made a lot of money by waking up his father, he still did not wake his father to get the key from under his pillow!

Summer Bubble Fun!

Challah Baking/Shabbat Party

Every Friday the children enjoy making Challah dough, baking the Challah, and a musical Shabbat Party.

Last weeks visit to Assisted Living!

Summer Voyage to Treasure Island

With puppets and props, the children enjoyed a "parable story" that teaches us to value the important things in life:

A father once left his impoverished family to travel to a far-away island that was famous for its diamonds, studded all over the floors, trees and roads. Upon arriving at the island, he quickly began filling up his suitcases and pockets with diamonds; they were everywhere! After several hours of collecting them, he got tired and went to the closest hotel to find a place to eat and sleep.

After ordering almost everything on the menu, eating as much as he could- he received the bill to pay. He joyfully pulled out 2 of his precious diamonds to pay for his meal, but to his surprise they threw the diamonds away and laughed! He was told, "You can't pay with diamonds over here- you need to pay with chicken fat!"

It was going to be a few months until the boat would take him back to his family, who so much wanted him to collect diamonds on the island! He figured he will have to get a job, and earn chicken fat if he wants to survive living there, until he returns. During his stay he worked hard, and earned lots of chicken fat! Slowly he forgot the value of the diamonds...and he began to save lots of chicken fat!

It was time to go back to his family, and he proudly loaded all his chicken fat onto the boat. He was excited to share all his earnings with his family who needed it so much.

Upon arriving back home, his family anxiously asked him where all the diamonds were?

Sadly, he forgot why he went to the island in the first place!

The story was a LESSON for us, as to why our Neshama (soul) comes into the world! We come to this world to collect DIAMONDS - which are Mitzvah's! Sometimes we get distracted from what people tell us is important, and might get caught up focusing on CHICKEN FAT (material things).

At Camp this summer, we are gathering DIAMONDS! MITZVAH'S!

Making it relevant- Treasure Island:

Every time we see a friend doing something kind, or a mitzvah, we write it down on a little diamond, and mount it on our bulletin treasure chest!

We also give the child a precious stone, to place in our treasure jar! When the jar is filled we will enjoy a special treat!

Tzedaka Sensory Fun-

The children enjoyed finding hidden pennies in the shaving cream and rice! After finding the coins, they washed them in water, and placed in the tzedaka box!