8 nights of family-friendly Hanukkah activities
Make your festival of lights fun for everyone
Credit:
Reviewed
Products are chosen independently by our editors. Purchases made through our links may earn us a commission.
Hanukkah might not be the biggest holiday on the Jewish calendar, but it’s one of the most recognized and joyfully celebrated. Marking the rededication of the temple in Jerusalem and the miracle of a single day’s worth of oil lasting for eight, Hanukkah usually falls in late November or December. This year, the festival of lights begins at sundown on December 14 and wraps up on December 22.
Whether you’re a new parent celebrating with your little one for the first time, or a seasoned caregiver looking for fresh ways to make the holiday memorable, we’ve put together 11 fun and meaningful ideas to light up Hanukkah with kids.
1. Read children's books about Hanukkah
They're never too young—or too old—for a great book.
There's nothing like a good, age-appropriate book to get kids excited about a holiday. Jewish families can sign their children up for a free monthly Jewish-themed book subscription through PJ Library. Over the years we've received a number of books that have become family favorites, including Queen of the Hanukkah Dosas and The Ninth Night of Hanukkah.
2. Get a flame-free children's menorah
A wooden menorah enables kids to get in on the fun without any danger.
You can't celebrate Hanukkah without a menorah, but actual fire combined with small kids sounds like a recipe for injury. Get little ones their own wooden menorah that they can safely "light" every night, and keep the adult menorah out of the reach of small fingers. My kids loved putting the wooden candles in the candle holders, and would help sing the prayers when they lit the wooden flames.
3. Make Hanukkah cookies and food
It wouldn't be a Jewish holiday without a selection of delicious food, and Hanukkah is no exception. In addition to the traditional latkes, or potato pancakes, we enjoy making Hanukkah cookies. A set of Hanukkah cookie cutters is a great addition to your baking cabinet, and kids will have fun rolling out and decorating the festive menorah, dreidel, and Star of David shapes.
If your kids are old enough to read independently and know their way around a kitchen—like mine are—they'll love the The Children's Jewish Holiday Kitchen cookbook. It has a plethora of easy and delicious recipes, plus stories from the author's childhood as well as step-by-step illustrations.
4. Get Hanukkah in a box
If you're looking to simplify your life and order a box full of everything your kids need to celebrate Hanukkah, Days United has you covered. Order their Hanukkah box—or opt for a Jewish holidays subscription instead—and your kid will receive a box full of hands-on activities to celebrate the festival of lights.
This year's box includes a plaster cast menorah and a make-your-own dreidel craft, among other goodies. My kids always enjoy the activities that come in the boxes, and I like that they change them up every year so you don't end up with duplicates.
5. Make your own Hanukkah candles
Making your own Hanukkah candles is a fun craft that's usable, too.
This is an easy craft that kids of all ages will enjoy making—plus you'll use the candles for the eight nights! We've been making these beeswax candles for the last five years, and it's a quick activity that yields plenty of (slightly wonky) candles.
6. Play Hanukkah games
Dreidel is the classic Hanukkah game, but younger kids will enjoy Hanukkah bingo.
One of my favorite things to do during Hanukkah is play dreidel. We're big fans of this Hanukkah game because it's family-friendly gambling and a Hebrew lesson all in one.
Traditionally, chocolate coins, or gelt, are used as capital, but you can use pennies or poker chips instead. In our house, we have a rule that whoever takes the pot has to put a portion of their winnings into the Tzedakah box to give to charity.
If your kids are too young to play dreidel, opt for Hanukkah bingo instead. It's cute, colorful, and lots of fun for pre-readers and grandparents alike.
7. Invest in matching Hanukkah pajamas
We love Little Sleepies' buttery-soft pajamas, and the Dancing Dreidel print is festive.
Until recently, Jewish families who wanted to participate in the matching holiday pajama trend didn't have a lot of options. Thankfully, there are now a lot more Hanukkah-themed options available. We are obsessed with our Little Sleepies matching Hanukkah pajamas, because they're soft and comfy, as well as festive.
8. Get yourself a Mensch on a Bench
The Mensch on the Bench will make sure that everyone does good deeds during the festival of lights.
Don't want to miss out on all of the Elf on the Shelf fun, but you don't celebrate Christmas? Get Mensch on a Bench! This little felt Mensch watches over the menorah during the eight nights of Hanukkah and makes sure that everyone in the family does a seasonal good deed. Just like the Elf, he gets moved around each night and loves to make kids laugh, so you'll have to come up with some creative ways to bring the holiday joy.
9. Give gifts
Fun gifts that are also Hanukkah themed are a win-win.
While Hanukkah is not "Jewish Christmas," it's still fun to give gifts—especially if you have little kids. For kids who love to build, you can't go wrong with a classic set of LEGOs, which may even inspire them to create one of these Hanukkah-themed builds.
Got a doll lover instead? Gift them with Rebecca Rubin, the American Girl Doll who is Jewish. Your kiddo will love having a doll who celebrates the same holidays they do, especially if you add on a doll-sized menorah and dreidel set.
10. Share your Hanukkah traditions with friends
Get into the spirit of the holiday season by sharing your family's Hanukkah traditions with friends and neighbors. Whether you host a Hanukkah dinner and let your kids teach their friends how to play dreidel, or deliver boxes of Hanukkah cookies to the local fire station, Hanukkah is about spreading joy and celebrating a miracle, and who doesn't need more of that?
Related content
feature
The product experts at Reviewed have all your shopping needs covered. Follow Reviewed on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, or Flipboard for the latest deals, product reviews, and more.
Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.