10 Best Passover Seder Kids DIY Crafts

Celebrations

It's hard to believe it's been a whole year since I wrote the post 2012 Passover Crafts. But it's time again to inspire you with some fun new family friendly DIY ideas to celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Crafts are a wonderful way to enjoy quality time together and connect with kids. Just as meaningful are the heirloom craft projects that your child can create -- many that can be saved and brought out year after year for your Pesach celebration.

Image from ToriAvey.com

Passover DIY Crafts, Seder Activities for Kids

This Colorful Elijah's Cup is a beautiful project that emerges with an inexpensive wine goblet from a dollar store, some colored yarn or jute, a few seqins or faux jewels and some glue. 

Elijah's Cup from Tori Avey, How To

Image from MarthaStewart.com

Here's a new take on a chametz Gingerbread House. Almost completely edible, this kosher for Passover version is made with matza, nuts, dried fruit and assorted chocolate & other Passover certified candies. Fun as decor for the buffet or a kid's table centerpiece.
Matzoh House from Martha Stewart, How To

Image from Not2Shabbey.com

A lovely way to present towels at your sink for the hand washing ritual during the Seder. This easy-to-do craft uses a ready made container, burlap ribbon, clothespins and some cutouts from a Matzo box.
Passover Washing Station from Not 2 Shabbey, How To

Image from MarthaStewart.com

Everyone will know where to sit with these edible name cards at each guest's place made from matzoh that has been inscribed with melted chocolate.
Matzo Place Cards from Martha Stewart, How To

Image from CreativeJewishMom.com

As every kid knows, you can't have a Seder without an afikomen bag that the parents or kids hide in exchange for a prize. This easy project is made with felt, cutouts, beads, miscellaneous trims and beads and glue.
Afikomen Felt Bag, From Creative Jewish Mom, How To

Need a scary Animal Mask? Check this wild beast mask out 
Paper Tiger Mask from Crayola, How To

Image from Creative Jewish Mom.com

A fun way to reenact the 10 Plagues to engage kids during your retelling of the Passover story. Make one representing each of the makot using wood dowels.
10 Plague Placards from Creative Jewish Mom, How To

Image from Crayola.com

Frogs, frogs will be everywhere if you and your child make these for your table. These are fun to make with Crayola Model Magic air drying clay.
Neon Magic Frog from Crayola, How To

Image from JamieGeller.com

Here's an idea that is fun to make, but educational to use. Create this Makot Matching Game by Rivky Koenig with basic supplies and simple step-by-step directions provided.
Makot Matching Game from Jamie Geller, How To

FTC Disclosure: I did not receive any payment or other compensation for this story. Thoughts in this blogpost are my own. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.

Twitter Party Calendar This Week March 24 - March 30 With Prizes

Twitter Parties

Updated 3/29/13  - Sneak Peek at Coming Weeks Too!

Get all the details in this free constantly updated Twitter Party Master Calendar listing tons of family friendly parties including specifics on prizes you can win and links to RSVP and participate. Includes Twitter Parties in the U.S. and Canada. Be sure to check back often every week as new events are added on an ongoing basis -- often with new prize-winning opportunities added several times per day. You'll also get a sneak peek at Twitter parties coming up next week and in the month ahead. Now listing Facebook parties with prizes too.

Be the first to know when the latest Mommy Blog Expert Twitter Party schedule goes live by following MBE on Twitter, Facebook and/or by subscribing to this blog right now.

THIS WEEK

Monday, March 25

How to Get Organized in 24 Hours Twitter Party at Noon ET with @Proverbswife @Pushinglovely. Prizes: SIX (6) copies of How to Get Organized in 24 Hours e-book #Organize24 RSVP

Nutrex-Hawaii Spirulina Twitter Party at 1 pm ET with @cltalbert@supernutrient. Prizes: THREE (3) One Year Supply of Spirulina. TWO (2) $50 Whole Foods gift cards. #Spirulina RSVP

Healthier Spring Twitter Party at 1 pm ET with @walmart @clorox @resourcefulmom @noregretsparent. Prizes: FIVE (5) winners will each receive a Healthier Spring Prize Pack including a $25 giftcard with a total value of $75. #HealthierSpring RSVP

Play-Doh Twitter Party at 3 pm ET with @MomSpark @PlayDoh @MomSparkMedia @Crissy @2Wired2Tired. Prizes: Lots of fun Play-Doh Products. #PlayDohPlus RSVP

Religious Travel Twitter Party at 9 pm ET with @TravelingMoms @KimOrlando @DebMomof3. Prize: TBA. Participate w/ hashtag #TMOM Details

Tuesday, March 26

Delicious Pairings Twitter Party at 1 pm ET with @miscfinds4u @somedayilllearn. Prizes: FIVE (5) $100 Walmart gift cards. #cbias #deliciouspairings RSVP

Libby's Spring Twitter Party at 2 pm ET with @LibbysTable @resourcefulmom. Prizes:  ONE (1) Grand Prize Crate & Barrel Calphalon Pot $150 ARV, THREE (3) winners will get $40 prize pkg that includes Libbys products + Crate & Barrel ceramic platter.  #LibbysSpring RSVP

Weekly Win Chat With @Windows @WindowsBlog at 3 pm ET. Prize: A different device such as a laptop every week. Participate with hashtag #Winchat

Zambezia Twitter Party at 4 pm ET with @5minutesformom @sonypictures. Prizes: TWO (2) $50 Walmart giftcards and ONE (1) $100 Walmart GC. #Zambezia RSVP

Zerona Canada Twitter Party at 8 pm ET with @ZeronaCanada @SoberJulie and others. Prizes: EVERY Participant gets one free treatment. ONE (1) Grand Prize Winner receive 12 Zerona treatments and other services valued together at $3000. Canada residents only. #FatBGoneaThon RSVP

Milk Unleashed Twitter Party at 8 pm ET with @mompoweredmedia @PowerbyMomBlog @MomtoBedby8 @BabyCostCutters @larafield. Prizes: TWO (2) $50 VISA or Mastercard giftcards and FIVE (5) more gift packs.  RSVP

Ridemakerz XtremeCustomz Twitter Party at 8 pm ET with @RideMakerz @ToyInsiderMom @Charchronicles @joeyfortman. Prizes: $200 of XtremeCustomz Car Sets. #XtremeCustomz RSVP

Minimalist Parenting Twitter Party at 9 pm ET with @MinParenting @MomitForward. #gno Prize: ONE (1) Minimalist Parenting book. #MinimalistParenting Details

Book & Beauty CraveBox Twitter Party at 9 pm ET with @Cravebox @Zipporahs @LisaSamples @JKBeamer @RobynsWorld @RachelFerrucci and others. Prizes: CraveBox prizes every 10 minutes. #BNBCraveBox RSVP

Tenderflake Twitter Party at 9 pm ET with @Tenderflakepie @Feistyfrugal @Kidsumers @nugglemama @MBAMamaMusings. Prizes: TWO (2) Artisan KitchenAid Stand Mixers - Canada Only. #Bakeiteasy RSVP

Easter Savings Twitter party at 9 pm ET with @sistersshopping @survivingstores @mommysavesmoney @savings @savingsclasses and others. Prizes: TWO (2) $25 Amazon giftcards, TWO (2) $50 Amazon GCs and ONE (1) $100 American Express GC and FOUR (4) $50 VISA GCs. #EasterSavings RSVP

Happiest Baby on the Block Twitter Party at 10 pm ET with @DrHarveyKarp @HappiestBaby @SavvySassyMoms. Prizes: FOUR (4) prize packs for babies and new moms: BornFree Package $114 ARV, Swaddle Designs Package $86 ARV,  Happy Family Package $50 ARV and The Pump Station $250 ARV. Participate with hashtag #MayPAM Details

Wednesday, March 27

Kettle Madness Twitter Party at 1 pm ET with @cleverhousewife @themommyfiles @cbtweetchat. Prizes: $400 in VISA giftcards. #KettleMadness RSVP

U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance Twitter Party at 1 pm ET with @themotherhood @coopermunroe @emilymckhann @katiepratt4 @USFRA. Prizes: FOUR (4) skillets and ONE (1) cookware set. #FoodID RSVP

StarKist Tuna Pouch Twitter Party at 2 pm ET with @smiley360 and others. Prizes: SEVEN (7) Winners will receive product/salad bowls, product only or a $25 giftcard. #Starkisttunapounch Details

Best of P&G Twitter Party at 3 pm ET with @PGEveryday @TerrenceJ @Zipporahs @StacieinAtlanta and others. Prizes: $1000 in P&G products. ONE (1) Grand Prize is a P&G Products Gift Basket and a $300 VISA giftcard. #PGMostLoved RSVP

Spruce Up for Spring Snap Twitter Party 4 to 4:45 pm ET with @homesdotcom @aptsforrent @snapconf and others. Prizes: THREE (3) $50 Amazon giftcards. #HomeChat RSVP

Love Your Nose Twitter Party at 8 pm ET with @Nozin. Prizes: Nozin Family Packs. #LoveYourNose RSVP

Tot Travel Twitter Party at 8:30 pm ET with @guavafamily @strollerballet @DimSumDebutante. Prizes: TBA. #TotTravel. RSVP

It's the weekly @theonlinemom Twitter Party at 9 pm ET. Prize: TBA. To be eligible to win a prize RSVP & participate in party with hashtag #TheOnlineMoms.

Cook More Twitter Party at 9 pm ET with @Kenmore @MommaCuisine. Prizes: Learn about a new Kenmore recipe website where you can win Kenmore appliances.  #CookMore Details

Thursday, March 28

Fresher Car Twitter Party at Noon ET with @Outnumberedmama @Proverbswife @cbtweetchat. Prizes: THREE (3) $50 Walmart giftcards and ONE (1) $100 Walmart GC #Freshercar RSVP

Ecce Panis Twitter Party at 1 pm ET to chat about Easter meals with @MsMissy62 @turningclockbac @cbtweetchat. Prizes: FIVE (5) $100 Walmart Gift Cards. #EccePanis RSVP

Jergens Natural Glow Twitter Party at 1 pm ET with @Tapinfluence @clueless_mama. Prizes: TEN (10) $25 giftcards. Participate with hashtag #JergensNaturalGlow Details

Lysol Healthing Twitter Party at 2 pm ET with @momcentral @momcentralchat. Prizes: SIX (6) $50 Amazon gift codes. #Healthing RSVP

Pasta Fits Twitter Party at 9 pm ET with @5minutesformom @pastafits @pastafitsRD. Prizes: THREE (3) prize packages that include pasta pot, pasta and sauce; ONE (1) Grand Prize includes pasta post, pasta, sauce and $100 VISA gift card. RSVP

Kissed by the Moon Twitter Party at 9 pm ET with @KimRosas @KBTMDiapers and others. $1600 in prizes to be given away with average prize value of $109 per winner. #KBTM10K RSVP

Friday, March 29

Weekly Verizon Wireless Twitter Party hosted by @theonlinemom @verizoninsider at 3 pm ET this week talking about balancing home and work. Prizes: FitBit One Wireless Activity Tracker or a BlackBerry Z10 smartphone. To be eligible to win participate in chat, use hashtag #VZWBuzz and RSVP


More Twitter Parties constantly to be added for This Week to this list as soon as they're scheduled. So stay tuned for updates as they happen by following this blog.

NEXT WEEK

Sunday, March 31

Raising Generations Today Twitter Party at 11 pm ET with @Generations2Day and others. Lots of Prizes. Participate with hashtag #RGTHope Details 

Monday, April 1

Twitter Party at 1 pm ET with @healthy_choice @cleverhousewife @somedayilllearn @cbtweetchat. Prizes: $500 in Walmart giftcards. #Healthychoices RSVP

Tuesday, April 2

My Marianos Twitter Party at 11 am ET with @cbtweetchat. $500 in prizes. For details soon watch hashtags #MyMarianos and  #cbias

Better Homes & Garden Twitter party at 8 pm ET with @thepapermama. Stay tuned for more details soon.

Pure Natural Diva Botanicals Twitter Party at 9 pm ET with @PureNaturalDiva @Momitforward and others. Prizes: Pure Natural Diva products. #gno #PNDBotanicals RSVP

Bounty Showdown Twitter Party at 10 pm ET with @Bounty @Listen2Lena @FeistyFrugal & others. Prizes: THREE (3) winners will each receive a one year supply of Bounty towels. #BountyShowdown RSVP

Wednesday, April 3

Beauty Scoop Twitter Party at 1 pm ET with @Janetgoingcrazy @lomargie. Prizes: FIVE (5) $100 Walmart GCs. #Beautyscoop RSVP

Walgreens Twitter Party at 8 pm ET with @therebelchick @paulabendfeldt. Prizes: FIVE (5) $100 Walgreens giftcards. #cbias #WalgreensLatino RSVP

Scotch Brand Twitter Party 9 to 9:45 pm ET with @scotchproducts @snapconf @taunitweets @sahans. Prizes: TWO (2) $50 baskets of Scotch branded craft supplies. #ScotchExpressions RSVP

It's the weekly @theonlinemom Twitter Party at 9 pm ET. Prize: TBA. To be eligible to win a prize RSVP & participate in party with hashtag #TheOnlineMoms.

Friday, April 5

Weekly Verizon Wireless Twitter Party hosted by @theonlinemom at 3 pm ET. Prizes: TBA. To be eligible to win participate in chat, use hashtag #VZWBuzz and RSVP


COMING SOON

Monday April 8

Mom Bloggers Club Twitter Party w/ Prizes - Save the date. More details soon.

Monday, April 15

Natural Parents Network Twitter party at 10 pm ET with @NatParNet. Prizes: TBA. Participate with hashtag #NatParNet Details

Monday, April 22

Moms and Brands Earth Day Twitter Party with @MomsandBrands at 7 pm ET. Lots of family eco-friendly and green focused prizes. #MomsandBrands RSVP


About this Weekly Twitter Party List
Compiled by MommyBlogExpert.com Twitter Parties are listed free of charge in this weekly schedule. If you'd like to add an event to the Mommy Blog Expert Twitter Party Calendar email janis at janiselspas dot com with Twitter Party in the subject line including all the details and links in the body of your  message.

Also available, for a nominal fee, to host, co-host or serve as a panelist for your own brand Twitter party. To inquire, please email janis@janiselspas.com for information with Twitter Party Consulting Query in the subject line.

FTC Disclosure: MommyBlogExpert does attend some Twitter parties as a guest and also works as a host, co-host, and panelist on others. However, I did not receive any payment or other compensation associated with this post. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.

Me in a Tree Review Family App Management Interactive Tool Engages Parents and Kids

Technology

In this fast-paced digital world we all live in today, computers and high tech are a natural part of just about every modern child's upbringing. With all that technology is supposed to be doing to help us, though, it seems ironic that the family structure as we know it is still suffering a huge breakdown in family communication. As a mom of four kids -- Triplets plus one more born within a year -- now all teens, I know I've been experiencing that first hand for years now.

If you're a parent of children from toddlers on up, you are likely to be having similar frustrations these days. You might even be aware that there are plenty of apps out there already that are focused on helping us moms and dads manage our kids, busy family lives and homes. The problem is that up until now, there haven't been any apps or sites that get the whole family involved in an active way. 

Finally there's a new interactive online application called Me in a Tree that fills that void and does all the things on to go contemporary families need. Not only does it virtually deliver much of what those mom and dad parenting apps already do, it actually gets parents, other caregivers and children all interacting and talking with each other within a safe private community that your entire family can tap to reconnect and ultimately lead more fulfilling lives.

According to the site founders of MeinaTree.com, this interactive awareness tool is designed to increase the efficiency of communication within the household, family time, and options for activities. The goal is to realize a general overall stronger connection and bond between family members.

Me and my family squeeze in some together time on a ski trip

I've only been experimenting with this new online tool for families for a few weeks and am amazed by how easy it was to set up. It really does so much, too, my own family has only begun to harness the potential of this new site that finally helps kids and parents literally get on the same page. 

Once you sign up, you'll set up a family user name and password. There is also the option for each family member to set up their own user name and password within their family's account. I really like that this gives kids, whether they are preschoolers or in high school a sense of feeling as an important, contributing member of their family team.

Next, to personalize your clan's private intranet you are directed to a profile page where each member of your family gets to create their own avatar to represent them. Older kids that are tech savvy can choose to do this themselves while you can help the little ones to create their online persona that only your family will be able to see. 

However you do it, each of you will piece together your own original characters picking from a color palette, a variety of skin tones, facial features, hair and eye color. New avatar functions that will give you even more options for body type, scenes, and other extras are coming soon. These customized avatars you and your kids create will be used to represent you and interact with the app's built-in communication and organizational tools.

MeinaTree.com screen shot showing my family's avatar profile page

Here you see my family's profile home page which uses pretend names to protect their privacy. When you use this application at home you'll be able to enter your real first names or nicknames because this is a private page for your family only. Each of the avatars created for my family is different reflecting each of our physical attributes and personalities. Since all six of us in my family wear glasses, I just hope Me in a Tree will soon add eyeglasses to accessorize our avatars to make them even more realistic.

After the Avatars were all in place I updated the family calendar with some activities we have planned. Then, I responded to the prompt to start a family huddle which you can designate to last for 30 minutes, 45 minutes or an hour. I set our first huddle to last for a half an hour, but I really wish there was a 15 minute option that I could try, too, as we are all so busy these days and we might do these family online meetings even more often if there was a shorter time commitment involved.

My kids in a tree trunk on one of many family road trips

The huddles are where the fun and communication really begins as everyone in the family is interacting from their own device, laptop or desktop computer in your family-only club meetings in real time. A nice thing about this aspect is that you can designate anyone in the family to be the moderator of a given huddle so it encourages responsibility and helps develop leadership skills of everyone involved. 

It is here in your online family meetings that you'll all be able to discuss things that need to be hashed out as well as look at and talk about what's scheduled on the household calendar together. And, just think, unlike in an old fashioned face-to-face family pow wow in this format no one will be talking over each other and everyone is actually holding their own talking stick at the same time. I know I'm not going to miss all that verbal volleyball that goes on at our kitchen table when we sit down to meet with our kids.

There is also a Things to Do app within this interactive site which I think is very useful that I have only just begun to explore. In this area of Me in a Tree you'll find four options that I every family needs: Family Activities, Volunteering, Parent Date Night and Parenting and Kids Programs. With so much that this offers you will likely see me talking more about this in future MommyBlogExpert blogposts as I have the chance to use these various options more over time.

Watch this brand new YouTube that just went live today to learn more about how Me in a Tree gets the whole family on board.




In summary, what I like best is that Me in a Tree doesn't tell us moms and dads how to parent or force a particular parenting philosophy or style on us. That's a really good thing because no two families operate the same way and we all have unique needs and challenges. Instead, it offers resources, tools, strategies and activities that help parents and children build on their own strengths with the end goal being a family that is synchronized like a beautiful orchestral performance.

Image from Me in a Tree

Families are invited to try Me in a Tree for a free two week trial with no credit card number. After that you have the option of subscribing to service via an annual subscription that costs $5.99 per month. You can also connect with Me in a Tree on Twitter and Facebook, too.

Parent Bloggers Wanted
Me in a Tree is seeking mom and dad bloggers from across North America, including the U.S. and Canada to try and review the Me in a Tree tool and participate in their compensated blogger program.

FTC Disclosure: This is a compensated post. Additionally, I received an annual subscription to Me in a Tree to facilitate this review. Thoughts are my own. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.