ב"ה
Saturday, 29 Adar I, 5784
  |  March 9, 2024

Picture of the Day

With some help, 8 year-old Simcha Leah Betesh, a student of Grade 3 in Bais Rivkah in Crown Heights created this dreidel cake for a Chanukah competition in her class. More

Two New Torahs in Golders Green

Next Story »

Five Towns’ Jewish Kids Center

Subscribe
Notify of
40 Comments
oldest
newest most voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Go simcha
October 8, 2013 8:24 pm

she is so talented!

who are we to judge?
December 2, 2010 8:33 pm

guys this is ridiculous how would you feel if you were simcha leah or her mom who worked so hard and of course are getting such nasty comments i think she deserves a great round of applause even though maybe her mother did help she probably thought of it and of course worked hard on it don’t make her regret that she won by posting nasty and to # 30 that was very nasty and not needed as a mother of 3 young children i know that a mother can work hard for her daughter and and even give herself… Read more »

from chana edery
December 1, 2010 8:28 pm

simcha wow it is gorgeous. I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

my mom
November 30, 2010 1:37 pm

my is a martha straut she is sooo creative and she dosent brag and im not braging but with her talent she helps sp many ppl you now how many calls she gets saying ihave to do an arts and crafts and i dont know what to do can you come up wih one and come do it wih us!!!!!!!!

i love my mom

Achdus (Together)
November 30, 2010 1:21 pm

Cal it a ACHDUS competion. It is lovely to see parents and children working on a project together.

PRAISE DONT JUDGE
November 30, 2010 6:58 am

As a little girl i was an avid readaer and prolific writer. When I was in the fifth grade(twenty five years ago), I wrote a poem about Shabbos. When I excitedly showed it to my teacher (hoping for some praise) she made a face, raised her eyebrows, and pointed to some words asking how I could have known such words. I did know those words and until todayI am stung by the hurt of my teacher not appreciating that I could have done it myself. I think we should step back and say kudos to Simcha Leah who probably masterminded… Read more »

Beautiful
November 29, 2010 7:27 pm

but i have a kid in my class who ALWAYS asks her mother for help. Its obvious. Once she made a slideshow and at the end it sais her brothers name!

commenting on collive
November 29, 2010 5:38 pm

Everyone who is posting is under age 15 and so am i but im not posting on motherhood martha stewrts 😉 these kids are just getting their point out by saying things that they really arent.
The only people who should be posting on this topic is people who have kids and know the situation everyone else should be quite because your a kid yourself 😉

I would like to give simcha leah recognition for her beautiful cake work and stay away from the under aged comments.

i am a Martha Stewart too.......
November 29, 2010 5:17 pm

Instead of making it a competiion and having the mothers work hours on their kids projects so they could WIN, why dont the teachers to it together with the whole class and create something beautiful ALL THE KIDS could be proud of and call their own!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This competion thing is making our children crazy and for no good reason!!!!!! and causing way too much jealousy amongst their peers!!!!!!!! Please stop while your ahead!!!!!

To #30
November 29, 2010 4:50 pm

I share the sadness that your child was upset. I commend her for sharing her feelings with you. MOST CHILDREN ARE HURT BY SUCH COMPETITIONS but keep it inside!!!

ENOUGH ALREADY WITH PROJECTS GIVEN FOR PARENTS TO DO!!!

I suggest that for any “suspect” project the student MUST demonstrate how s/he did the project him/herself!!

Just like homework – parents can HELP the child do it, but if a parent DOES the homework for the child, should the homework be awarded???

STOP THE MADNESS!!!!

to 3,4,8,13..........................
November 29, 2010 2:36 pm

my daughter happens to be in this girls class. she was upset when she found out NOT because mine wont look as good as hers, but because the teacher said specifically DO NOT DISCUSS THE PROJECT AMONG YOUR PEERS. This teacher is far from an idiot she knew that things like this will happen. this was supposed to be a CHILDRENS project with a bit of help from the parents NOT the other way around i am sure that this 3rd grader is very tallented and i am even more sure that when she comes home with an A+, her… Read more »

What about students sent on fund-raising projects?
November 29, 2010 11:53 am

My pet peeve is when schools turn our children into “mishulochim”. I know it has been going on since “the days of the mabul” but why must our children be placed under pressure to raise money for tzeddakah causes, year book ads, sponsorship champains etc. Is there chinuch value in training our children to be fundraisers (maybe to prepare them for shlichus life)? And the pressure to collect huge amounts of money (in children’s terms) to “win” a prize – is it worth it?? My kids get exposed to rejection or refusal my numerous people, they come home upset and… Read more »

What about essay or creative writing?
November 29, 2010 11:38 am

Should parents “help” their children write award winning essays or writings?

What about chidushim for yeshiva publications presented as their son’s chidush?

How far is it allowed to go before it must stop?! What are the limits???

This is VERY confusing!!

I am not being negative to this beautiful dreidel or this particular project/competition. I just want to know and would love to hear ideas from experts in chinuch.

i used to be a kid
November 29, 2010 9:50 am

My parents never helped me with my projects although they were fully capable. I never dreamed of asking them either because obviously the teacher gave the project to me, not my parents. They may have given me ideas or advised me but school projects are meant for the children to complete!

To encourage Ahavas Yisrael
November 29, 2010 9:30 am

I think it is wonderful that Simcha Leah (with a little help) was able to prepare such a cake. The school could avoid encouraging jealousy, by making it a project vs. a competition. The winner(s) can then teach/share with their classmates their talent. Everyone will benefit. The school can provide the ingredients and workspace and the kids get a morning of alternative education. Kids are very creative, whether it is in study habits or cake decorating. Many mothers would be happy to help the teacher and their daughters share their talents with the class. If the schools and the parents… Read more »

From a young lady who still gets her Mother's help
November 29, 2010 9:26 am

This is part of our children’s education and vital for the growth of their self esteem. She may get some help now but in the future, and as she gets older, she will know how to do it herself. In addition, she will have the encouragement to try new creative things. This is an art, don’t discourage it! And to all the complainers – maybe this child can one day teach you how to make a dreidel as magnificent as hers! My students (Kitta Aleph) also have a dreidel competition and they are encouraged to get their parents help. This… Read more »

mother of martha stewart
November 29, 2010 8:46 am

and i am the morther of a maartha stewart. when my daughter made a project, entirely on her own, that is way above her peers level, she was ridiculed with comments- your mother must have made it for you. even the school principal came to me and asked how long it took me to make! but she did it entirely on her own!!!
parents need to stop doing kids projects.

Doesnt anyone ever have anything nice to say
November 29, 2010 8:45 am

What is wrong with all of you,we are talking about a 3rd grade project…it amazes me that ever post no matter what its about has negative comments. are all of you so miserable that you have absolutely nothing nice to say…let the girl have her moment….my mother always taught me “if you have nothing nice to say, dont say anything at all”

The issue isn't THIS cake - it's GENERAL school projects!
November 29, 2010 8:26 am

Let me make clear up front that this is a beautiful cake and congrats to the student and yasher koach to the teacher. My issue is generally: My son’s Yeshivas had a Shabbos melacha Fair. The exhibits were so complex that I am sure electrical engineers designed some of them! Other exhibits required purchasing expensive props – not typically found in homes, at great cost! My daughter had an art competition. Some of the masterpieces required high-end art supplies from specialty stores. The “talent” was at art gallery level!! Even a poetry project – some girls presented poems that contained… Read more »

Great Work
November 29, 2010 7:36 am

It looks delicious. Simcha Leah ignore all the other comments their not for you 😉

To all of you
November 29, 2010 2:15 am

I almost never comment, but to all of you who have posted negative comments I think it is you who need to get a life, rather than worrying about posting ridiculous and negative comments to a child and her mother, regardless of how much the mother assisted, I am sure both the mother and child enjoyed quality time together, well done !

Martha Stewart that does NOT do my childrens' projects
November 29, 2010 1:42 am

I am one of those “Martha Stewart” type woman. I am B”H very creative and good with my hands. When my children have projects that need to be done I am there to advise them – not to do it for them. That is the job of the parent. I have a question for the mothers and fathers that do their childrens’ projects: Do you do their homework too? If not, why – this is no different! If you encourage your children to do their best and give them pointers on how to go about doing so, they will succeed!… Read more »

get over it
November 29, 2010 12:59 am

Kids should not have to base their projects on other kids sense of creativity… kids have to know that while its great to be amazing at stuff its okay to not be as great at other things… so “i am no martha stewart” you need to teach your kid some values and get over it

to # 8
November 29, 2010 12:52 am

I think that #4 gave the answer to that: there should be a compotition and parents can defintly be involved but it should be directed to more valuable topics and to mother #7 – when you help your child and put all your effort in that it’s realy a way to prove YOURSELF and others that you being SO good to your kids. but in the other hand – there nothing wrong with the kids being proud of their parents and growing remembering all those beautiful things their parents did it’s just could be in other aspects too. and about… Read more »

talents
November 29, 2010 12:20 am

my how these comments took a tangent elsewhere. Simcha leah, i dont know who you are, but beautiful job! To #3: some kids are lucky and they excel in school, get good grades, have lots of friends and some kids may not get such good grades, but they have a talent, perhaps bc their moms are “martha stewart” they’ve got the talent past down. why should a kid miss out in showcasing her talent. i dont kno simcha leah, and this may or may not be the case, however when i was in school, i didnt do extremely well in… Read more »

agree with #3
November 29, 2010 12:07 am

its a project for the parents not the students

kosher competition should be healthy and fun
November 28, 2010 11:29 pm

Competition such as this is very good for the artistic children to use their talents, but the school could make a rule that it must be the kids work, not the parents or siblings. I have very fond memories of such (artsy-engineering contests) when I was in school. Happy Chanukah!!

#7 Just saying!
November 28, 2010 11:27 pm

It’s important that your children feel good about their mother and all the good things you do for them BUT…if it’s hurting other children who aren’t as lucky as your children then it should try to be avoided. You can give them so many other ways to be able to appreciate YOU in their life. By doing things in the home that are special rather then doing it publicly! Just saying…:)

Simcha Leah's kitta aleph teacher
November 28, 2010 11:23 pm

It says she was helped, and knowing Simcha Leah and her incredible artistic talent, that is all it was, help. Stop complaining and just give the kid some credit. Simcha Leah I dont usually comment but I have to say, I am so proud of you. Keep it up!

They should just call it a parent competition; not a kid's competition
November 28, 2010 11:10 pm

Why bother calling it a kid’s competition? It’s quite obvious the kid had little to do with this

to #7
November 28, 2010 11:02 pm

pleeeeez

very nice
November 28, 2010 10:50 pm
What do mechanchim/mechanochesin think?????
November 28, 2010 10:49 pm

I am confused – is #3 right or is #7 right? Should school encourage parental competitions disguised as children’s work? If so, should we as parents stay up laate at night and exert the effort required to participate? It would help my children’s self esteem if I hired professional help with some of these competitions – but is it worth it? If these are any educators reading this, please provide input on this confusing issue!!!

Martha Stewart
November 28, 2010 10:38 pm

Why shouldn’t my children feel good that their mommy (and sometimes Tatty) made them a beautiful exhibit for the Science Fair or Shabbos Malachos or other school project?

I spent hours baking, sewing, buying unique t’chatches to make it “just right” – just so my kid should feel good that s/he has a dedicated loving mommy!

I am a Martha Stewart, and my kids should feel special because of it!!

to #3
November 28, 2010 10:37 pm

common…………..

WOW
November 28, 2010 10:34 pm

VERY pretty that looks so good 😉

agree with #3
November 28, 2010 10:19 pm

such cakes can be gifts for the class to enjoy. Competitions should be reserved for doing Ahavas Yisroel or Brochas out loud etc. After all what do we want to encourage, showing off or good midos and serving HKBH ?

I am no Martha Stuart
November 28, 2010 10:05 pm

Again my child came home crying, “Mommy, why aren’t you as talented as my classmates mommies?”

These “children’s” projects / competitions are driving me INSANE!!

For crying out loud, don’t call it a children’s competition or a student’s project – it is simply an exhibition of parent’s talent (and way too much spare time). Who are we kidding???

Is it my kid’s fault that her mother is no Martha Stuart?!

Ban these “school” projects once and for all!!!!!

WOW
November 28, 2010 9:54 pm

WOW!!!!!! IM SURE SHE GOT HELP HOW IS THAT DRIEDEL STANDING??????

!!!!!
November 28, 2010 9:51 pm

wowwwowowow its so cool my friend once made a dreidel that size out of wax!!

X