1. It [was] a good custom to bring young children to the synagogue to listen to the reading of the Megillah, in order to train them in the mitzvah of publicizing the miracle. This is also the reason why the verses There was a Jewish man (Esther 2:5); Mordechai left the king’s presence (ibid. 8:15);The Jews had light (ibid. 8:16); and, For Mordechai (ibid. 10:3) are read aloud by all – to keep the children from falling asleep.(Shulchan Aruch and Mishnah Berurah 689).
2. However, nowadays the opposite is true: not only do the children not hear the Megillah but they also distract the adults and cause them to not hear the Megillah; their only reason for coming is to make noise when hearing the word “Haman.” The father does not fulfill his obligation ofchinuchat all in this manner. In truth, for the sake ofchinuch, each father is required to keep his children next to him and watch over them so that they listen to the reading. Only when the Reader mentions “Haman” is the child permitted to strike his noisemaker, as is his wont – but not that this should be the main point of bringing the child to the synagogue (Mishnah Berurah ad loc.).
