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Lotan's Children

Children's Houses and Educational Activities

The number of children born each year on Lotan has risen steadily from an average of one a year in the late '80s to three a year in the early '90s to about seven a year now. But in 1998 thirteen babies were born! Our children have always slept in their parents' homes. From the age of three months, we provide daycare. Currently, our children are cared for and educated in three separate systems: Infants and Toddlers

We care for our preschoolers (ages 2-4) at Lotan, in one building, with two bedrooms, kitchenettes, bathrooms, and central play areas. The bedrooms are designed to hold up to seven small beds. The infants are cared for in a remodeled family house. In 1999, we built an extension, and in the summer of 2000, we completed the play yard using community-based work and alternative building techniques (used tires, garbage and mud.)

The children's days include a brief morning service with morning prayers and songs, breakfast and lunch together, a "tiyul" (walk) around the kibbutz to visit cows, goats, or other branches of community life. The children also have playtime outdoors in their play yards and other educational and creative activities as are age appropriate.

Kindergarten and Pre-Kindergarten

Lotan's 4-5 year olds attend the kindergarten at neighboring Kibbutz Yahel, located seven miles north of Lotan. As both kibbutzim belong to the Reform Movement, the educational match is natural.

School

Our school children attend the regional school, Ma'aleh Shacharut, located at Kibbutz Yotvata which serves all ten kibbutzim in the Southern Arava. School in the lower grades is held six days a week, from 8:00 to 12:30. High School kids are in school for five days a week (longer days) and work one day a week on the kibbutz. Lotan's children then attend after-school activities in one of three centers:

After-School Study and Play Centers

Since September 1997, there are enough school-age children on Lotan to provide after-school activities here. Answering a request that came from the children themselves, we have begun afternoon activities for all the school age kids, in renovated apartments and a bomb shelter. Today there are three groups: 1st through 3rd graders, 4th through 7th graders, and 8th - 12th graders. These groups engage in age-appropriate programming aimed at building positive Reform Zionist identity and increasing their feeling of connection and pride in their community.

Childcare and education form one of the hallmarks of kibbutz. The "on-site" daycare saves parents the strain of balancing the demands of children and career, and encourages both parents to be active in educating their children. The small size and homogeneity of the community allow parents to take an active role in deciding how their children are educated. The supportive community of the kibbutz allows children to experiment in "real life" at an early age. Our children take an active part in the cultural and religious life of the kibbutz, helping to prepare holiday celebrations for the entire community. The older children create their own "children's community," creating their own rules and norms, integrating younger children into the activities. Until now, we did not have enough children to develop a vibrant children's community. Finally we have almost all that we need -- more children every year, trained adults enthusiastic about working with them, and a long list of ideas.

To view more pictures of children at Lotan

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Kibbutz Lotan, D.N. Hevel Eilot 88855 Israel; Tel: +972 8 6356888; Fax +972 8 6356927