5 Ways to Make Pesach Cleaning Fun for Kids

The Jewish holiday cycle is filled with opportunities for educating our kids. Pesach is a prime example, with so much to do to prepare. How do we clean the house for chametz? What areas do we need to spend the most time on? How do we deal with drawers and cabinets, ovens and stovetops, cars and backpacks? What’s considered actual chametz removal, and what’s “spring cleaning”?

So yes, as with any mitzvah, there’s an aspect of teaching kids what to do. But just as important as all the bits of knowledge we impart is the experience we create. There’s no question that preparing for Pesach is a memorable experience for kids. But what kind of memories are we giving them? Will they remember it as a burden or a joy? Is Pesach something we’re teaching kids to dread or to be excited about?

For most things in life, the experiences we want don’t necessarily just “happen” – we need to make a conscious effort to create them. With that in mind, here are a few concrete ideas to help make Pesach cleaning more fun and engaging:

1. Do it together

This can’t be overemphasized. A family “event” is so much more enticing and fun than just being told separately to go clean your room, or some specific area of the house. It’s a family holiday, so set family times for cleaning (between such-and-such hours), especially having all the kids do it at the same time so one has to feel jealous of anyone else. And just as important, everyone finishes at the same time. If you’re done with your space, go help someone else until the time is up or everyone’s finished.

2. Play music

Everything is more fun with a little music. Choose your favorite songs and sing along. Hey, you might even sing a Rebbetzin Tap song or two, like “We’re Free,” our Pesach song! (See below for a link.) Or just make up your own songs – find a song you like and create your own lyrics. Have fun coming up with rhymes for various words and phrases.

3. Make it into a game

Endless games can work their way into cleaning. You can use a timer and see what everyone gets done within 5 minutes – and marvel at each other’s progress. You can become a character, or a detective, dramatize the cleaning, use silly voices. You can hide fun things in places where people are cleaning and wait for everyone to find them – even make it a mini-scavenger hunt. Use your imagination and come up with your own games.

4. Create rewards

Having something to look forward to always helps. It could be a favorite meal or snack at the end of the hour, or maybe a game to play. Charts with stickers for areas completed are good too. Know your crowd – plan breaks at intervals so everyone has energy to continue.

5. Empower them

Instead of making them your little “cleaning drones,” give your kids a sense of responsibility. Let them be in charge of a certain room or area – ask them: What do you think we need to do? You tell us when you think it looks clean… Have them design their own “chametz-free” signs for areas completed. More responsibility equals greater self-empowerment, greater personal investment and engagement, and a deeper sense of accomplishment. Plus, it’s just more fun.

Above all, lead by example. If you want your kids to have fun, start by having fun yourself. Be joyous, not stressed. Dole out compliments, not criticism. Create positive memories for your kids. If you’re overwhelmed by the task at hand, make sure you’re not going overboard, spending too much time and energy on things which go way beyond the actual mitzvah to get rid of chametz.

And keep in mind the idea: “Mitzvah gedolah lihyot besimcha” – making an effort to be happy is also something we might think of as part of the “mitzvah” here. Not only is it fitting and honoring to approach Pesach with joy, as something we truly look forward to, but when we infuse our Jewish experiences with fun and joy, it has the capacity to positively transform ourselves, our relationship with our kids, as well as our kids’ outlook on life and Judaism.