Yom Tov is not protection by itself.

Even during the holiest of times, Hashem gives us structure to keep us safe. We walked through the midbar surrounded by the Ananei HaKavod. Hashem Himself put boundaries and protections around us, as if to say, “I love you enough to protect you as you move through a place that carries a higher risk of outside elements.”

If we took out the Yom Tov framing and simply described the setup, many of us would hear the concerns right away:

• Children in a house or hotel with lots of people
• Long stretches of unsupervised time
• A false sense of security because everyone is “like us”
• Late nights
• Adults assuming someone else is watching

We sat down with Amudim’s CEO, Zvi Gluck; Rabbi Yakov Horowitz of Bright Beginnings; and Rabbi Avi Landa, Director of Education at Amudim, for an honest and practical discussion about how to approach Pesach with greater safety, sensitivity, and preparation.

A few things that came through clearly in their conversation:

Don’t assume someone is watching the kids.

Make a plan before Pesach – who is watching the kids, and when? It can be helpful to print out a schedule so everyone knows when they are on call and how often they are checking in.

If you have multiple families with children, consider creating a rotation so everyone gets time to rest – and the kids are not left unsupervised for long stretches.

Talk to your children before Yom Tov starts.

When it comes to teaching children about body autonomy and safety, it helps to be both specific and broad.

Getting specific: We can say things like, “No one should touch you on or near your private parts,” or “There is no reason for anyone to touch you in places your underwear or bathing suit covers.”

Staying broad: Because unsafe situations do not always look the same, we also want to help children trust their own internal cues. That can sound like: “If anything feels weird, uncomfortable, or off – come tell us.” “It does not matter who it is.” “You are never in trouble for telling.”

When we teach our children about Loshon Harah, we also need to be clear: when it comes to inappropriate touching, speaking up is l’to’eles – it is the right thing to do.

No matter who it is.

We want our children to know that this rule does not only apply to a stranger, someone we consider “suspicious,” or even someone outside the family.

We want to empower our children to speak up at all times, even if it is a friend, a cousin, an older child, a relative, or someone they respect.

Body autonomy starts here.

A child does not have to hug, kiss, be tickled, or physically engage simply because an adult means well. Experts of prevention guidance emphasize clear family boundaries and respect for children’s privacy and bodily autonomy – even with family, even with people we love.

And yes, that includes Bubby, Zaidy, an uncle, aunt, or cousin.

We do not want our children getting the message that they must be polite no matter what. We want them to know that their body belongs to them, that they are allowed to say no when something does not feel right. They can come to us and we will listen, take them seriously, and have their back.

We know this can bring up uncomfortable conversations, especially with relatives who may be well-meaning and still expect hugs or physical affection. We can try to explain that we are raising our children to know it is okay to say no – and still, some of you may get pushback.

As parents, this is part of our achrayus. Keeping our children safe sometimes looks like setting a boundary or having an uncomfortable conversation ourselves. When we do this, our children learn something deeply important: that it is okay to speak up for themselves, even when it is hard.

Open doors policy.

Bedrooms and side rooms should not become closed-off, unsupervised spaces. There is no reason for anyone to be alone with your child behind a closed door. This should be a house rule, not something aimed at any specific person.

“In this home, doors stay open.”

That kind of clear, concrete boundary is exactly what prevention guidance recommends.

Give your child a way to signal discomfort privately.

Not every child can explain what is happening in the moment. They still need a way out.

• A code word
• A phrase
• A sleeve tug
• A quiet line like, “I’m having one of those stomachaches”

This is about protection, not panic.

These tips are not here to induce panic or make you feel like everyone is a threat. They are meant to do the opposite. When we create open communication with our children and set basic rules that apply to everyone, we leave less room for situations to escalate or become a problem.

Awareness is not paranoia, it’s protection.