The air is getting crisper, the days are shorter, and families around the world are preparing to fill their homes with warmth and light. It is time for Hanukkah! Whether you are a parent, a teacher, or just a kid at heart, there is no better way to celebrate the “Festival of Lights” than with creativity.
This year, Hanukkah is extra special as it coincides with the winter break for many, offering plenty of time for family bonding. In 2025, Hanukkah begins at sundown on Wednesday, December 25, and continues until Thursday, January 2, 2025.
To help you celebrate, we have curated a list of 20 fun, colorful, and easy Hanukkah crafts for kids. From shimmering menorahs to spinning dreidels, these projects are perfect for toddlers, preschoolers, and older children alike.
What is Hanukkah? A Brief Lesson for Kids
Before we dive into the glue and glitter, it is always great to share the why behind the crafts.
Hanukkah (also spelled Chanukah) is an eight-day Jewish festival. It commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem following the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire.
The Story of the Miracle: Legend tells us that when the Jewish people reclaimed the Temple, there was only enough pure olive oil to keep the sacred lamp (the menorah) burning for one single day. However, a miracle occurred! That tiny amount of oil burned brightly for eight full days, giving them enough time to prepare new oil.
This is why we celebrate by lighting the menorah, eating fried foods (like latkes and jelly donuts), playing with dreidels, and giving gifts.
20 DIY Hanukkah Crafts for Kids
Get your blue, white, and silver paints ready! Here are 20 creative ways to bring the Festival of Lights into your home.
1. The Classic Paper Plate Menorah
This is perfect for toddlers and preschoolers who are learning about the holiday traditions.
- What You Need: A paper plate, blue paint, yellow paper, and popsicle sticks.
- How to Make It: Cut a paper plate in half. Paint it blue (this serves as the base of the menorah). Glue nine popsicle sticks onto the curved edge. Cut “flames” out of yellow construction paper and let the kids glue one flame onto a stick for each night of Hanukkah.
2. Watercolor Resist Dreidels
This art project feels like magic to little kids and results in beautiful, framable art.
- What You Need: Watercolor paper, white crayons, and watercolor paints.
- How to Make It: Have your child draw a dreidel shape and the Hebrew letters (Nun, Gimel, Hey, Shin) using a white crayon. It will look invisible! Then, have them paint over the paper with blue and purple watercolors. The wax from the crayon will resist the paint, revealing the hidden design.
3. DIY Pop-Up Menorah Card
Send warm wishes to grandparents or friends with a handmade card that really stands out.
- What You Need: Blue cardstock, yellow paper, scissors, and glue.
- How to Make It: Fold a piece of blue cardstock in half. On the folded edge, make two small parallel cuts in the center. Open the card and push the cut section inward to create a “step” or box. Glue a paper menorah cut-out onto this step. When the recipient opens the card, the menorah pops up!
4. 3D Paper Dreidel
Why just draw a dreidel when you can make one that actually spins?
- What You Need: Cardstock, a pencil (short), and markers.
- How to Make It: You can find a simple cube template online or draw a cross shape on paper. Decorate the four sides with the Hebrew letters. Fold it into a box shape and tape it shut. Poke a hole in the top and bottom, then slide a short pencil through. Spin away!
5. Popsicle Stick Star of David
A simple geometric craft that helps children recognize the six-pointed star.
- What You Need: 6 craft sticks, silver paint, and blue glitter.
- How to Make It: Paint the sticks silver. Glue three sticks together to form a triangle. Make a second triangle. Glue one triangle upside down over the other to form the Star of David. Cover in blue glitter and hang it with a ribbon.
6. Tissue Paper Stained Glass
Brighten up your windows during the winter months with these suncatchers.
- What You Need: Contact paper (sticky back plastic), blue and white tissue paper squares, and black construction paper.
- How to Make It: Cut a frame (like a dreidel or star outline) from black paper. Place it on the sticky side of the contact paper. Let kids fill the inside with pieces of colored tissue paper. Seal with another sheet of contact paper and cut out the shape.
7. Upcycled Toilet Roll Menorah
An eco-friendly craft that creates a sturdy table decoration.
- What You Need: 9 empty toilet paper rolls (or 8 rolls and 1 paper towel roll cut slightly taller), paint, and yellow tissue paper.
- How to Make It: Paint the rolls blue or silver. Glue them together in a line, with the taller roll (the Shamash) in the center. Use scrunched-up yellow tissue paper to act as the “flames” that you can add each night.
8. Clay Pot Dreidels
If you have small terracotta pots for gardening, turn them into festive decor.
- What You Need: Mini terracotta pots, blue paint, wooden beads, and string.
- How to Make It: Turn the pot upside down. Paint it blue and add silver symbols. Glue a wooden bead to the bottom (now the top) to act as the handle. These make adorable place settings for a Hanukkah dinner.
9. Handprint Menorah Keepsake
These are the crafts parents cherish forever.
- What You Need: White paper, blue paint, and yellow paint.
- How to Make It: This requires two hands! Paint your child’s palms and fingers blue. Overlap the thumbs in the middle (this becomes the Shamash helper candle) and press the hands down to form the other eight candles. Dip a fingertip in yellow paint to add the flames at the top.
10. Embossed Tinfoil Gelt (Coins)
Kids love chocolate gelt, but these shiny coins are great for pretend play.
- What You Need: Cardboard circles, glue, and aluminum foil.
- How to Make It: Draw a design (like a star or a number) on the cardboard circle using thick glue. Let it dry until hard. Wrap the cardboard in foil and rub gently. The raised glue design will show through, looking like an embossed coin!
11. Beaded Star Ornaments
Great for older kids working on fine motor skills.
- What You Need: Pipe cleaners (chenille stems) and pony beads.
- How to Make It: Thread blue, white, and silver beads onto pipe cleaners. Bend the pipe cleaners into two triangles and weave them together to form a star. Twist the ends to secure.
12. Macaroni Menorah
A classic pasta craft that adds texture and fun.
- What You Need: Dry pasta (rigid tubes work best), cardstock, and paint.
- How to Make It: Glue the dry pasta onto a piece of sturdy paper in the shape of a menorah. Once the glue is dry, let the kids paint the pasta. It adds a cool 3D effect to a standard drawing.
13. Paper Chain Countdown
Count down the eight days of the festival with excitement.
- What You Need: Blue, white, and silver paper strips.
- How to Make It: Create a standard paper chain with 8 links. Number them 1 through 8. Each day of Hanukkah, let the child rip off one link to signify the passing of another night of lights.
14. Edible Marshmallow Dreidels
A craft you can eat? Yes, please!
- What You Need: Large marshmallows, pretzel sticks, chocolate kisses, and icing.
- How to Make It: Push a pretzel stick into the flat side of a marshmallow (the handle). Use a dab of icing to stick a chocolate kiss to the other flat side (the spinning point). Use blue icing to draw a Hebrew letter on the marshmallow.
15. LEGO Menorah
Encourage STEM skills by building a menorah out of bricks.
- What You Need: Blue, white, and yellow LEGO bricks.
- How to Make It: Challenge your kids to engineer their own menorah. The only rule is that there must be 8 holders at the same height and one (the Shamash) that is higher or different.
16. Glittery “Oil” Slime
Celebrate the miracle of the oil with some sensory play.
- What You Need: Clear glue, baking soda, contact lens solution, and gold glitter.
- How to Make It: Mix your standard slime recipe but use clear glue and loads of gold glitter to represent the precious olive oil that lasted eight days. It’s messy, gooey fun!
17. Menorah Headband
Let the kids be the light!
- What You Need: A strip of paper (measured to head size) and yellow paper.
- How to Make It: Create a crown using the paper strip. Cut out “candle” shapes and glue them sticking up from the headband. It’s a fun accessory for Hanukkah parties.
18. Coffee Filter Tie-Dye Stars
Science meets art in this diffusion experiment.
- What You Need: Coffee filters, washable markers, and a spray bottle with water.
- How to Make It: Cut the coffee filter into a star shape. Color it with blue and purple markers. Spray it lightly with water and watch the colors bleed and blend together. Once dry, hang them in the window.
19. Felt Menorah Board
A safe, fire-free way for toddlers to “light” the candles.
- What You Need: A large piece of blue felt and scraps of yellow and orange felt.
- How to Make It: Cut out a menorah shape and glue it to the blue background. Cut out 9 flame shapes. Felt sticks to felt naturally, so your toddler can add a “flame” to the board each night without needing glue or velcro.
20. Sparkly Dreidel Garland
Decorate the mantlepiece with this easy string craft.
- What You Need: Cardstock, hole punch, ribbon, and glitter glue.
- How to Make It: Cut out several dreidel shapes. Let the kids go wild decorating them with glitter glue, stickers, and markers. Punch two holes in the top of each and thread a ribbon through to create a festive banner.
Tips for a Happy Hanukkah Crafting Session
- Keep it Safe: If you are using scissors or hot glue, always ensure adult supervision.
- Teach as You Go: While painting the Star of David, explain that it is a symbol of protection. While making the dreidel, explain the meaning of the letters: Nes Gadol Haya Sham (A Great Miracle Happened There).
- Display with Pride: Clear a space on the fridge or the mantle to display these masterpieces. It makes the holiday feel even more special for the children.
Conclusion
Hanukkah is a time of joy, family, and reflection. These 20 heartwarming Hanukkah crafts offer a wonderful opportunity to slow down during the busy holiday season and create something beautiful together. Whether you are building a LEGO menorah or painting a paper plate, the most important thing is the memories you are making