Chinuch Archives - AskTheRav

Am I allowed to play Nigunim with music, during Sefira, for my students at nap time to make it easier for them to fall asleep?

I’m assuming you are discussing preschool children. This is permissible for two reasons: Since they are below the age of Chinuch. Since it’s to put them to sleep. Still, it’s…

If my children go to bed before Tzeis, how early can I count Sefiras Haomer with them? Is there a difference between preschool age and elementary age?

The Alter Rebbe writes (Siman 489:12) that it is appropriate to wait until Tzeis Hakochevim to count Sefira, however, he mentions that the Minhag of the average person was…

What do I do with my twelve year old girl who does not want to dress Tznius. She is an extremely difficult child in all aspects. Who can I speak to for guidance?

It can be frustrating when our child does not follow the values and ideals that we strongly believe in. This can be compounded when we believe that 'she is…

I am teaching about Pesach in a Chabad House preschool. Some children are somewhat Frum/modern orthodox. Can I allow the children to taste Matzah from last years Shmura Matzah?

One may eat Matzah till Erev Pesach. Chabad custom is not to eat it thirty days before Pesach, but this custom is not practiced universally. Even according to Chabad…

What age is considered “age of Chinuch”, regarding bringing a child to Shul to hear Megillah?

Age of Chinuch in this context is the age when they are capable of listening to the entire Megillah. The custom is to bring even children younger than the…

If the light is on in a child’s room and its a LED light, and it late (so it would be a challenge to find a goy), can a two year old be directed to turn the light off? [The AR says 334 that to extinguish even under Chinuch one should be Moche, but perhaps in a child’s room one can direct a child to the light.]

Where no other choice exists and it’s needed for the welfare of the child, for example, so that he should be able to sleep at night, he may be asked…

At the age of 9 should one encourage a child to avoid eating after Shkia (candle lighting)? What if the child did it three weeks in a row, does that make it problematic? How strongly should Mitzvos like these that entail not eating be encouraged for children?

1) Children should not be encouraged at all to avoid eating before Kiddush, when it causes them affliction. Even if they were careful three times in a row not…

According to Halacha, at what age does a girl need to dress Tznius, i.e. that uncovered parts are considered Erva?

Three years old. Sources: בחי׳ הרשב״ץ ברכות כה , א ד״ה ולענין, דערות בת ג׳ ה״ה כערוה לענין ק״ש. וכ״כ כמה אחרונים (חיי״א כלל ד ס״א). וגם לענין טפח…

Can young children learn a Brachah part at a time? For example, to say the first couple of lines of Asher Yatzar, repeating after the teacher word by word. Once they’ve mastered this, to add on another line and so forth.

Both from a Halachic perspective, as well as a Chinuch perspective, it would be better to teach the full Brachah, with the teacher saying word by word and the child…

If I am teaching a student a song of Davening such as Shmoneh Esrei, can I teach her the song of the Davening using Hashem’s name? Is the girl allowed to practice the Davening song using Hashem’s name?

If you are teaching a full Brachah of Shemone Esrei, you can teach the song using Hashem's name if it is necessary. However, it is preferred to say Hashem’s name…