These Hanukkah activities for kids bring the holiday’s traditions into family time through crafts, games, food, music, storytelling, and giving. They suit a range of ages and attention spans, and most can be adapted to use supplies already at home. Choose a few that fit your family’s customs, available time, and comfort with hands-on projects.
1. Make a Paper Hanukkiah Display
Invite children to create a paper Hanukkah menorah, often called a hanukkiah, with a row of candle shapes and a raised shamash, the helper candle used to light the others. Cardstock, crayons, washable markers, glue sticks, and scraps of colored paper are enough; children can add a candle for each night as the holiday progresses. This gives younger kids a way to notice the nightly change and talk about the shamash without handling a flame, while older children can label the parts or decorate the background with patterns from family table linens. Keep paper decorations well away from real candles, and use the craft as a display rather than a substitute for the ritual lighting.
2. Play Dreidel Together
Dreidel is a spinning-top game that turns Hebrew letters into simple instructions for sharing a pot of tokens. In the familiar version played in many communities outside Israel, nun means do nothing, gimel means take the pot, hey means take half, and shin means put one in; in Israel, the final letter is often peh instead of shin. Use buttons, dried beans, or chocolate gelt as counters, and agree on the house rules before starting because details vary between families. Children get practice recognizing Hebrew letters, taking turns, and handling wins and losses, while adults can explain that the letters stand for the phrase “a great miracle happened there.”
3. Create a Dreidel-Inspired Art Project
Make a large paper dreidel from a printable net or by folding and taping sturdy paper into a simple top shape, then have children decorate its sides with Hebrew letters, geometric designs, or colors chosen by the family. If assembling a three-dimensional shape feels frustrating for younger makers, draw a dreidel outline on paper and turn it into a collage with tissue-paper squares, foil scraps, or cutout shapes. This project connects the familiar game object to language and design, and it can be done at a table without small pieces if you adapt the materials for the child. Let the finished dreidels dry flat and display them near the game area, away from any lit candles.
4. Prepare Latkes as a Family
Latkes, crisp potato pancakes, are a familiar Hanukkah food in many Ashkenazi households, and making them together can turn dinner preparation into a holiday activity. Adults should handle sharp graters, knives, and the hot pan or oil; children can rinse potatoes, measure ingredients, stir a cool mixture, set the table, or choose toppings such as applesauce or sour cream. Families have different recipes and traditions, so this is a good chance to share why foods cooked in oil are associated with Hanukkah without suggesting every household serves the same meal. The activity is rewarding because kids can take part in a real family dish, but keep little helpers at a safe distance from the stove and serve the food only when an adult has finished cooking it.
5. Decorate Sufganiyot or Doughnuts
Sufganiyot are jelly-filled doughnuts commonly associated with Hanukkah in Israel, and decorating ready-made doughnuts offers a child-friendly way to explore that tradition without frying dough at home. Set out a small selection of fillings or toppings, such as jam, powdered sugar, or fruit, and let children spoon or sprinkle them onto their own portions; an adult can handle any piping bag or filling step that requires a sharp tip. Talk about how families may serve different holiday foods, including sufganiyot, latkes, or dishes from their own cultural backgrounds. The decorating is easy to scale for a family gathering, and it gives children a tactile kitchen task while keeping hot oil and other cooking steps in adult hands.
6. Set Up a Gelt Search
Hide chocolate gelt or another small treat around a room and give children clues that lead from one safe spot to the next. For younger participants, use picture clues or point out whether a hiding place is near a familiar object; older kids can write rhyming clues or take turns designing a search for the rest of the family. Gelt is often used for Hanukkah games and gifts, and the search can lead into a conversation about how customs differ from home to home. Keep treats away from pets, check that every hiding spot is reachable without climbing, and offer a non-food token if a child has dietary restrictions or would rather not collect candy.
7. Share a Hanukkah Story
Gather for a read-aloud or family retelling about the history and traditions of Hanukkah, making room for questions rather than treating the story as a test of what children should already know. A thoughtful retelling can mention the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem and the traditional account of a small amount of oil lasting for eight days, while explaining that families and communities may emphasize different parts of the holiday. Invite children to draw one scene, make a simple sequence of story moments, or tell the story back in their own words. This activity makes the holiday’s meaning more accessible than decoration alone and gives adults a chance to correct misunderstandings gently, especially when children have heard different versions at school or from relatives.
8. Sing Hanukkah Songs and Make a Rhythm Band
Choose familiar Hanukkah songs from your family or community and let children accompany them with homemade shakers, hand claps, or a steady tap on a tabletop. A sealed container with dry rice or beans can work as a shaker when an adult secures the lid firmly and checks that it cannot open; for toddlers, use an instrument too large to swallow and supervise the activity closely. Children can take turns leading the beat, singing a repeated refrain, or keeping quiet time while someone else sings. Music helps younger participants join in even if they do not know all the words, and asking relatives which songs they remember can make the activity a way to share family traditions across generations.
9. Choose a Tzedakah Project
Use the holiday as a prompt to talk about tzedakah, the Jewish practice of giving and supporting people in need, then choose a modest family project together. Children might help select shelf-stable foods requested by a local pantry, sort clean winter items for a community collection, or set aside part of their gelt for a cause the family has researched. Check the recipient organization’s current guidance before gathering donations, since needs and accepted items vary. The point is not to turn giving into a contest or promise that one small act solves a larger problem; it is to help children connect celebration with responsibility and understand that families can express generosity in different ways.
10. Create a Family Candle-Lighting Reflection
Before or after the family’s candle lighting, invite each person to share something they are grateful for, a kind act they noticed, or a hope for the coming days. Children who prefer not to speak can draw a picture or choose a word for an adult to read aloud, making the reflection welcoming rather than a performance. An adult should manage the candles, match or lighter, and any placement of the hanukkiah; keep flammable decorations, sleeves, and loose paper away from the flames, and never leave burning candles unattended. This quiet activity can give the evening a personal focus and help children connect the familiar light with their own family’s values and memories.
How to Choose
Start with the child’s interests and the kind of energy your gathering has. A child who likes building may enjoy the dreidel art, while someone who wants to help in the kitchen may prefer preparing latkes or decorating doughnuts. If children have different ages or abilities, choose an activity with flexible roles: one person can decorate, another can read clues, and an adult can take care of the steps involving heat, sharp tools, or small parts. A successful activity does not have to involve every child in exactly the same way.
Consider the space, supplies, and cleanup before you begin. A story, song, or gratitude round needs little preparation, while food projects call for ingredients, an adult at the stove, and time to clean up. Check dietary needs and food allergies before serving shared treats, and adapt crafts for children who may mouth small objects or find certain textures uncomfortable. If real candles are part of the evening, make the boundary clear: children can observe and participate in conversation, but an adult handles the flame and keeps decorations at a safe distance.
Finally, let your family’s customs guide the choice. Hanukkah traditions are not identical across households, and no family needs to complete every idea to make the holiday meaningful. A game or craft can be a playful entry point, while storytelling, music, and tzedakah offer ways to discuss history, identity, and generosity. Choose what feels welcoming, leave room for children to ask questions, and adapt an activity rather than forcing a child to join in.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are good Hanukkah activities for preschoolers?
Try coloring a paper hanukkiah, singing with a large, securely made shaker, or joining a simple gelt search with visible hiding places. Keep small pieces, hot surfaces, and candle lighting under adult control.
How can kids play dreidel if they do not know Hebrew?
Explain the four letters and their game directions as you play, or write a simple reminder card for the table. Children can learn the rules through repetition without needing prior Hebrew knowledge.
Do all Jewish families celebrate Hanukkah in the same way?
No. Foods, songs, customs, and the way families explain the holiday can vary by community and household. These ideas are options, not a checklist that every family must follow.
Can we do these activities without lighting candles?
Yes. Crafts, dreidel, cooking, storytelling, music, and giving projects can be enjoyed on their own. If your family does light candles, have an adult manage them and keep children and flammable materials at a safe distance.
What if a child does not want to join a group activity?
Offer a quieter role, such as drawing a story scene, choosing a song, or watching before deciding whether to take part. Letting children opt in at their own pace keeps the celebration more comfortable for everyone.
Final Thoughts
The best Hanukkah activity is one that fits your family, makes room for children to participate, and leaves space for the holiday’s traditions and meaning. Whether you choose a lively dreidel game, a shared meal, a story, or a small act of giving, a simple activity can become a memorable part of the celebration.