Dear Rabbi,
Question:  
I used to visit the Moriah Kindy on Fridays and I want to ask: Why do only the little girls covers their faces when the Imma is lighting the candles for ‘Kabbalat Shabbat’?
Answer:

• Both men and women are obligated to have candles lit in their homes on Shabbat, but the responsibility to light candles is upon women more than on men. Therefore if the woman of the house is home, she takes precedence over her husband in lighting.
• We follow the custom to light before reciting the bracha.
• By covering her eyes with her hands during the recitation she benefits from the light only after the bracha. It is customary for girls in the home to do as the woman of the house does by also covering their eyes.
• In this way she will be allowed to extinguish the flame used to light the candles.
• A man who lives alone must light candles in his home and recite the bracha over the candles.
• Although the woman of the house lights the candles her husband should participate in the mitzvah by preparing them.
• It is proper for the wife to pray for her children after reciting the bracha.
• It is proper to put few coins for tzedaka before lighting the candles.