FAQs: Children at Altshul
We love having children as part of our community! We want Altshul services to always be a welcoming environment for families, as well as a place for meaningful and beautiful prayer.
We also realize that kids can be disruptive, and that our programs take place in a building shared with many other people and programs. The guidelines below aim to balance the needs of Altshul community members of all ages and to ensure that Altshul is a courteous neighbor to all the other people that make use of the building.
Are KIDS welcome to be In Davening?
Yes! Children are always welcome throughout Altshul services. We do ask that parents keep their children off the bima, and keep noise to a minimum, especially during the d’var torah and the silent amidah. The seating toward the front of the Chapel is historically set aside for families with children, which allows parents to make a quick exit through the doors next to the bima as needed. Children and their parents are welcome to come up to the Amud to help lead Adon Olam.
Can kids explore the CBE building during shul?
NO. We are not allowed to let our kids wander around the shul building without adult supervision — kids must be supervised at all times when in the building.
Where can kids be during Altshul?
Altshul Services! Altshul children are invited to Altshul! We love having kids in services and we totally understand that they can sometimes be a little squeaky or chatty. We do ask that kids try to minimize noise as much as possible, and that parents take their kids out of the chapel if they are making noise during the d’var torah or silent amidah.
Kiddush Room (usually the Social Hall). Altshul almost always has kiddush in the Social Hall, just down the hallway from the chapel. As long as there isn’t a class or special program taking place in that room, kids are allowed to hang out and play there during davening with adult supervision. CBE uses the far end of the Social Hall, behind movable partitions, for storage. Kids are not allowed to play with, move or go behind these partitions.
Kindershul. Each Shabbat that we meet, we offer Kindershul, our program for kids under 6. This musical, engaging activity is led by educators from Tkiya. A parent is expected to accompany each child to this program, and it is a great opportunity for younger kids to take a break from services, sing and move their bodies and hang out with other little ones. After Kindershul we have a special kids kiddush with snacks.
The Lobby. Older kids who can be trusted to hang out quietly without adult supervision may be in the lobby outside the chapel. Because it is so close to the chapel, these older kids are permitted to be there without an adult. This is a good option for older kids who want to take a break from shul to read a book, play a board game with a friend, or chat quietly. This is not a place for running around, sports, or loud play, which will echo and be disruptive to services in the chapel.