Are you looking for some Hanukkah crafts and activities for the kids? From popsicle stick menorahs to acorn dreidels, be inspired with these 20 creative ways to celebrate Hanukkah for kids.
Don’t miss our best content straight to your inbox! Sign up now and get our FREE newsletters packed with fun ideas and things to do with the kids, family-friendly recipes, expert advice, parenting tips and great competitions.
Hanukkah is a Jewish festival, commemorating the rededication of the Holy Temple, that runs over 8 nights and days and starts on 25th day of Kislev, which may occur at anytime from late November to late December.
Festivities include lighting the nine-branch candelabrum (menorah), and playing with dreidel (a four-sided spinning top).
Hanukkah for Kids
#1. Handprint Hanukkah Craft
We love the simplicity of this menorah handprint craft from Mom Endeavors, which is ideal for little hands (pun intended!).
Popsicle Stick Menorah
Stockpile your popsicle sticks and make this cute crafty menorah from Creative Jewish Mom.
You can buy coloured craft sticks or have the kids colour in plain ones with markers. Creative Jewish Mom has a glitter craft stick menorah too that is worth trying.
Hanukkah Suncatcher
We love suncatchers – they’re like a craft that just keeps on giving!
This glue-free suncatcher from kiwi crate is simple to make too, using a sticky contact sheet and coloured tissue paper.
Hanging Menorah Craft
Older kids will enjoy making this hanging menorah from Holidays Helper, using paper plates and construction paper. Get the kids to “light” a candle a night (over hanukkah) by adding their paper flame to an unlit candle – much safer than real candles and matches.
Painted Star of David
We love this toddler-friendly Star of David art project from Melissa & Doug.
Using masking tape, make a Star of David by overlapping 2 tape triangles, and then let the kids loose with the paint. Once you remove the tape, you will be left with a great piece of art!
Simple Cardboard Dreidel
Make your own simple dreidel this year with thee kids, using just cardboard and a pencil, like What We Do All Day. Now how easy is that?!
Paper Plate & Clothes Peg Menorah
Using paper plates and painted clothes pegs, make this kid-friendly menorah from Simple Play Ideas.
Star of David Tin Can Luminaries
Older kids will enjoy making these Star of David tin can candle holders from Chai & Home. Draw your design/pattern on the can and then punch with a hammer and nail.
Dreidel Paper Dolls Garland
The kids will love making and decorating these cute dreidel paper dolls garland from Bringing Chesed Home which you can then hang up.
Hanukkah Candle Holders
Creative Jewish Mom has a great idea for layered tissue paper cut-outs that can be transformed into colourful Hanukkah candle holders.
Popsicle Stick Star of David
Craft a simple Star of David using popsicle sticks glued together, which you then paint and decorate. Take things one step further by creating a Star of David bunting idea like this one from Punktorah.
If you don’t have popsicle sticks, collect some small sticks on a nature walk, and glue together to form your star, then decorate them like Meri Cherry has done.
Acorn Dreidels
Ingenious! Hoard your acorn shells and add some modelling clay to make this simply clever dreidel craft from Growing Up Creative.
Watercolour Dreidels
Cut out some dreidel shapes from cardboard and paint them with watercolours like Creative Jewish Mom. These could be then strung together to form a Hanukkah garland or hung to make a mobile.
Colourful Tape Menorah
Use different coloured sticky tapes (washi, masking, coloured duct tapes, etc) to make this colourful menorah from Creekside Learning.
Cardboard Roll Holder Menorah Craft
I am a big fan of recycled crafts, so it’s always worth stockpiling cardboard roll holders to use for crafting with the kids. Mini Monets & Mommies has this clever menorah craft using roll holders, paint and tissue paper for the “flame”.
Macaroni Menorah
With some everyday kitchen cupboard items like macaroni and lentils, make this quick and easy menorah from She Knows.
Stand-up Popsicle Stick Menorah
Another cute popsicle stick menorah, this time from babycenter.com, is simply made by painting the sticks and numbering them with a glitter pen. Stand them up by glueing them to a covered cardboard container.
LEGO Menorah
This LEGO menorah idea from What We Do All Day is ingenious – there’s even a cute mini-figure with a torch to light each “candle”.
Hanukkah Dreidel Wall Art
Upcycle your kids artwork into a dreidel wall art display like Meri Cherry. If you don’t have any old paintings just get the kids to decorate their dreidel cutouts from new.
Edible Marshmallow Dreidel
This edible craft is too good not to include – chocolate-dipped marshmallow dreidels from Martha Stewart.
Hostess with the Mostess has an alternative recipe for edible marshmallow dreidels, using pretzels instead of skewers, and a Hershey kisses top. Yum!
You May Also Enjoy 15 Entertaining and Fun Indoor Games for Kids of All Ages
Have your say! What are your favourite ways to celebrate Hanukkah for kids? Leave a comment below and let us know – we’d love to hear from you!