http://www.jewfaq.org/barmitz.htm

Bar Mitzvah and Bat Mitzvah are ceremonies celebrated for Jewish boys and 
girls. The word  'Bar' means 'Son' in Aramaic. 'Mitzvah' means Commandment. 
'Bat' means daughter in the Hebrew and Aramaic.  Jewish never forced their 
children to observe this ceremony but they are encouraged by their parents to do so as to learn their responsibilities when they are adults. Bar Mitzvah marks the time a boy needs to take part in the religious services (pray three times a day for worship). When the child reach the age of 13, a boy received this ceremony. A girl when she is  12 years old for  Bat Mitzvah. Since religious services do not require girls, Jewish usually have a little party as done for the boys. A girl had responsibility as a mature person since she has reach her maturity. She is old enough to take responsibilities and can make her own decision as well. 
 
 
 
 

http://www.templebethel.net/ceremoniesforchildren
circumcisiontoconfirmation/

Jewish daily responsibilities are observed in the home from family daily life, and in the Synagogues. Judaism marks a hard time in a person’s life as a Jew. Jewish children are required to start adult responsibilities when 
they turn 13. They must take a role as a religious person. A boy would be called Tomb for an Aliyah, and talks  about a Torah portion in the Bible. 
Moreover, he participates in leading prayers of the Liturgy. Boys and girls are honored by having similar ceremonies in the Synagogues. A child is 
called to the Torah for reading the weekly Torah and Haftarah portion. Torah is the first five books of the Bible. The Ceremony marks the transition from childhood to adulthood for more responsibilities in aspects of life. A completion of one stage and the beginning of another. 
 

www.Jewish.com/askarabbi/ask669.htm

Is Bar /Bat Mitzvah an education for children? 

Bar Mitzvah is not a goal for Jewish education or graduation ceremony. It is an obligation to study the torah although their lives. Confirmation is a group of ceremonies that begins 200 years ago. It was started by reform Jews in Germany. This occasion takes place at the end of the child 10th grade when he/she is about 15-16 years old. Conformation services can be festivals that involve both boys and girls in writing and reading services. 
 

www.shj.org/switches.htm
 

Confirmation is the spiritual exploration; ethnical that reflects the part of young people who are approaching adulthood. Confirmation takes place on the   ‘Shavuot’ at the end of spring. It is a group of ceremonies at the completion of Sunday school. Confirmation shows that the child has intellectual and emotional skills as he/she enters adulthood. He/she can know how to present research paper on subject about Jewish history or ethnic background. 
 
 
 

http://www.jhu.edu/~dlc/holidays.html

Other Ceremonies celebrated by the Jews 

Yom Ha/Atzmant is an Independence Day celebrated by Jews in Israel. A day 
before the Yom, the state of Israel gather to pray at the cemeteries for those who had died defending the state of Israel.Yom Hashooah, is a day to 
remembered the Holocaust during the Nazi in 1933-45. Yom Kippur is a day the Jews take to reflect, pray and formally repent from their sins. The Passover is also a holiday that the Jews remembered the Exodus from Egypt over 3000 
years ago. It is a time of redemption and it centered on special services called Sedar. The Jews eat Leaven and Matzvah, which is the unleavened bread throughout this holiday.