Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, is a perfect time for families to create warmth, share stories, and, most importantly, have fun! The holiday, which lasts for eight wonderful nights, offers a built-in schedule for engaging activities that connect children to Jewish tradition through creativity, light, and delicious food.
Here is a guide to crafts, stories, and games that will help spark joy in your home this Hanukkah season.
The Magic of Light: Engaging with the Menorah
The nightly lighting of the Menorah (or Hanukkiah) is the central ritual of the holiday. Children can participate in meaningful ways that build anticipation for the light.
1. The Hanukkah Helper Job Chart
Assigning each child a special role for the eight nights helps them feel responsible and invested in the ritual. Roles can include:
- The Candle/Oil Checker: Verifies that all candles or oil cups are prepared before the sun sets.
- The Blessings Assistant: Holds the prayer sheet or helps prompt the leader (parents/guardians should still handle the fire).
- The Light Keeper: Guards the Menorah and ensures no one touches it while it’s lit (from a safe distance).
- The Song Leader: Leads the family in singing the traditional songs (“Maoz Tzur,” “Dreidel Song”) after the lighting.
2. Safety First: The Battery Menorah
For younger children who want a Menorah in their room or want to practice lighting safely, a battery-operated or LED Menorah is a perfect solution. Let them “light” one candle each night with a push of a button—it’s a great way to reinforce the sequence of the blessings and the count of the nights without any fire risk.
Hands-On Fun: Crafts and Creations
Hanukkah symbols are easy to translate into simple, engaging crafts using everyday household materials.
1. Craft Stick Menorahs
Kids love building! Use nine craft sticks (Popsicle sticks) to create a Menorah.
- Materials: Nine craft sticks, paint (blue, white, silver), glitter, glue, and nine small cotton balls (for “flames”).
- Instructions: Glue eight sticks side-by-side. Glue the ninth stick higher in the center (this is the shamash, or helper candle). Paint and decorate, then glue a cotton ball to the top of each stick. You can attach a small piece of paper to the back of the cotton ball to make the “flame” stand up straight.
2. Paper Plate Dreidels
Turn the classic spinning top into a fun decoration.
- Materials: Small paper plates, blue/white/silver construction paper, glue, and markers.
- Instructions: Cut the construction paper into strips and small squares. Have the kids decorate the paper plates with the four Hebrew letters of the dreidel: Nun (נ), Gimmel (ג), Hay (ה), and Shin (ש). These letters stand for the phrase Nes Gadol Haya Sham (“A great miracle happened there”). Hang the finished plates around the room!
3. Gelt Decorations
Use the shiny chocolate coins for more than just eating!
- Activity: Glue the wrappers from the gold or silver gelt onto heavy paper to create shimmering mosaic pictures of stars, menorahs, or the number eight. This uses up the wrappers and turns waste into art.
Story Time and Song
The Hanukkah story is rich with heroes, history, and miracles. Dedicating time to read and sing together brings the history to life.
1. Essential Hanukkah Reading
Make story time a nightly ritual. Start with the historical account of the Maccabees for older kids, and choose gentler, theme-based books for younger ones.
- The History: Look for books that explain why we celebrate—the fight for freedom and the miracle of the oil.
- Modern Stories: Search for books that focus on themes of light, community, and sharing, such as Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins or contemporary stories about Latkes and family traditions.
2. Singing Out Loud
Teaching the traditional songs is a wonderful way to pass down the culture. Even if they don’t know the Hebrew, kids can learn the tunes and sing the English versions.
- The Blessings: Practice the two required blessings until the children can recite them confidently.
- Fun Songs: “I Have a Little Dreidel” is the classic choice, but don’t forget Maoz Tzur (“Rock of Ages”), the powerful hymn sung after the Menorah is lit.
Game Time and Delicious Treats
Hanukkah wouldn’t be complete without the famous game and the irresistible fried foods.
1. The Dreidel Tournament
The game of dreidel is a perfect way to introduce concepts of chance, sharing, and a bit of friendly competition.
- How to Play: Explain the rules simply: Nun (Nothing), Gimmel (Get it all), Hay (Half), and Shin (Put one in). Use plenty of gelt (chocolate coins) or dried beans as the betting currency.
- The Tournament: Host a tournament with small, non-monetary prizes for the winners—maybe a special sticker or the honor of choosing the applesauce flavor for the next night’s Latkes.
2. Kid-Friendly Kitchen Activities
Involving kids in the cooking process makes the food taste even sweeter (and teaches them valuable skills).
- Latke Grating (Carefully!): Older children can use a hand grater with supervision. For safety, younger kids can help by squeezing the potato liquid out with a clean cloth (the most important step for crispy Latkes!) and stirring the batter.
- Sufganiyot Decorating: Let the kids be in charge of the toppings! After the doughnuts are fried and cooled, set out bowls of powdered sugar, cinnamon sugar, and different colored sprinkles. Give them squirt bottles of jelly to inject the filling for a delicious, colorful, and sticky mess.
By integrating these engaging activities, crafts, and stories, you can turn the eight nights of Hanukkah into a cherished and illuminating family adventure.