Let’s face it – keeping kids entertained during Hanukkah can be trickier than spinning a dreidel on a carpet. But here’s the good news: Hanukkah crafts for kids are about to become your secret weapon for eight nights of fun.
From simple Hannukah crafts that’ll keep your preschoolers busy to cool Hanukkah art projects that older kids will actually want to make, we’ve got your back.
These Hanukkah activities aren’t just your usual December crafts – they’re Jewish crafts with a modern twist that’ll make learning about traditions actually fun. Skip the boring stuff and dive into DIY Hanukkah projects that’ll have your kids forgetting all about their screens (at least for a little while).
And if you’re celebrating both Natal and Hanukkah, these crafty ideas will keep the festive spirit going strong all season long.
Fun Hanukkah crafts for kids
Hanukkah Crafts For Kids
Hanukkah Word Search from Happiness is Homemade: Our Hanukkah word search is a fun and educational activity for kids of all ages. Search for 16 Hanukkah-themed words vertically, horizontally, and diagonally. Word searches are terrific for learning new vocabulary and practicing spelling skills!
Hanukkah Garland from Moms and Crafters: This gorgeous Hanukkah garland is such a fun origami project for kids! Alternating the Star of David and the dreidels creates a beautiful banner for the holiday that you’ll definitely want to save and reuse next year.
Star of David Suncatchers from Nurture Store: These Star of David sun catchers are so pretty! Sun catchers are easy enough for toddlers to help make, and older kids enjoy them, too. The star will look beautiful on your window with the light shining through! You’ll need contact paper, tissue paper, and cardstock to complete this simple craft.
Recycled Cardboard Menorah from Hallmark: Recycle cardboard tubes into a cute menorah that can be “lit” each night by inserting the candle’s “flame” attached to a popsicle stick.
Hanukkah Kindness Calendar from Coffee and Carpool: Create your own kindness calendar countdown chain for Hanukkah! This is a terrific way to encourage kids to spread kindness to others during the holiday season with tasks like baking cookies for a neighbor, reading Hanukkah books to a younger sibling, or donating to a local food bank.
Hannukah Slime from Little Bins for Little Hands: Pair this sparkly blue slime with dreidels for a fun Hannukah-themed sensory activity. Make the slime together as a family and read some Hanukkah-themed books to learn more about the holiday.
Easy Paper Plate Menorah from NurtureStore: Create your own flameless menorah using a paper plate, some paint, glue, and the printable candle template. Super cute and easy peasy!
Hanukkah Sensory Bin from Jewish Moms and Crafters: Delve into a fun sensory experience with this colorful and educational sensory bin. It’s filled with blue Pluffle as the base, though you can also dye rice blue and use that for your base instead. Other items to include are dreidels, gold coins, candles, and Hanukkah-themed cookie cutters.
Hanukkah Playdough Mat from Welcome to Mommyhood: This playdough mat is perfect for toddlers and preschoolers to enjoy a bit of sensory play while learning more about Hanukkah. It incorporates counting and math and includes a menorah, a digit, and a ten frame. Make the appropriate number of playdough candles for the menorah to match the number of objects in the ten frame. Easy and fun!
Hannukah Pointillism Art from Coffee and Carpool: Learn a new art technique for the holidays! This pointillism menorah artwork is just gorgeous. Kids will love painting with q-tips to make dots that work into a larger image. It’s a fun and simple art activity for kids of all ages!
Nature-Inspired Menorah from Barley and Birch: Turn twigs, moss, pinecones, and other items from nature into a gorgeous nature-inspired menorah to decorate or play with. It’s such a fun, hands-on way to teach kids about the traditions while providing counting practice and coloring/painting skills.
Printable Menorah Activity from Primary Playground: Let the kids enjoy some chocolate coins as a snack after reading Is it Hanukkah Yet? This printable menorah activity is the perfect follow-up activity. Kids draw candles on the menorah and color in a dreidel, a gift, etc.
Hanukkah Sewing Craft from Coffee and Carpool: Kids who are just learning to sew will love making this dreidel! Use styrofoam trays, blunt sewing needles, and blue yarn to make the dreidel. Use a mechanical pencil to create the template for the kids to push the needle through. This is an excellent activity for working on fine motor skills.
Fingerprint Menorah Keepsake from Moms and Crafters: Make a pretty keepsake ornament to hang in the window or near the menorah where you light your candles! This fingerprint keepsake is such a lovely way to remember your child’s tiny little hands and fingerprints when they’ve grown much older. You’ll love pulling out this decoration year after year.
Hanukkah Writing Sand Trays from Fantastic Fun and Learning: Use colored sand, a stick or “writing” implement, and a dreidel to set up this activity for your preschooler. It’s a fun way to work on writing skills as well as learning about the Hebrew letters.
Start your Hanukkah for kids adventure with a simple dreidel craft – it’s the perfect way to combine crafting with learning about traditional Hanukkah games for kids. Keep the materials basic and the instructions clear.
When planning Hannukah activities, create craft stations where kids can rotate between different projects. This setup works great for Hanukkah preschool settings or home celebrations.
Make your Star of David craft sessions more engaging by turning them into storytelling opportunities. Let kids decorate while you share the meaning behind this important symbol.
For successful Chanukah crafts, prep all materials in advance and organize them in easy-to-grab containers. This prevents chaos and keeps the creative flow going.
Mix up your Hanukkah DIY projects with both quick wins and more detailed activities. Some crafts should take 15 minutes, while others can fill an afternoon.
Turn Hanukkah ideas into learning moments by incorporating Hebrew letters and symbols into your craft projects. Kids absorb information better when they’re having fun.
Keep a “craft emergency kit” ready with basic supplies for impromptu Hanukkah art sessions. Sometimes the best creative moments happen unplanned.
Make clean-up part of the Hanukkah game by turning it into a race or challenge. This teaches responsibility while keeping the fun going.
Document your DIY Hanukkah creations with photos – these make great memories and can become part of next year’s decorations.
Create a special display area for finished Hanukkah crafts where kids can proudly show off their work. This builds confidence and encourages more creativity.
Plan some portable projects that can travel to grandparents’ houses or other holiday gatherings. This keeps kids occupied during visits and shares the joy of crafting.
For multi-day projects, designate a “craft corner” where works in progress can stay undisturbed. This helps kids maintain interest in longer-term Hanukkah activities.
Consider making extra David craft projects to give as gifts. This teaches kids about the joy of giving while creating meaningful presents.
End each crafting session with a mini-celebration or showcase. Let each child present their creation and share what they learned or enjoyed most.