Ask the Expert

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Question: I was so excited for vacation but now that it’s finally here I’m so bored. My parents are busy with work half of my friends are away and I have nothing to do!

Our Expert Advice:

Let’s see what the experts on fun can pull out of their hats to dispel the monotony of too much vacation:

Mrs. Avigael Jaffa

Mrs. Avigael Jaffa is the program director for Bais Yaakov Academy’s after-school program in Brooklyn New York. She is also the coordinator of Yeshiva Torah Temimah’s preschool satellite program and runs a Sunday program for girls.

1. Yom Tov Scavenger Hunt

Make a list of all the Yamim Tovim. Every participant must find a household item that corresponds to each Yom Tov and place them in a bag. Remember not to collect anything dangerous such as matches for Chanukah! Afterwards you can trade bags and have the other participants guess which item corresponds to each Yom Tov. Don’t go for obvious connections like honey for Rosh Hashanah. The more creative you are the more fun the game will be! (For example can you guess which Yom Tov corresponds with shoe polish?)

2. Backyard Obstacle Course

Create an obstacle course in your backyard using whatever equipment you have lying around. Here are some examples:

a. Put a few folding chairs in a row and have the participants alternate climbing over and under them.

b. Set up a basketball hoop. If you don’t have one use an empty garbage can. Each participant must make a certain number of hoops (you decide) before moving to the next obstacle.

c. Hula Hoops. Each participant must keep the hula hoop spinning around her waist for a set amount of time.

d. Collect rocks and use them to write a message.

e. Have the participants ride their bikes to a certain spot and back again.

Use your imagination to come up with other obstacles. Then you can either race through the obstacle course or award points for each obstacle completed.

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