Finding good Hanukkah party games for kids is tough when they quickly get bored with standard holiday activities. I put this list together because most ideas online either require expensive items or just don’t hold their attention long.
If you need hands-on activities to keep everyone engaged while the adults chat, these DIY crafts fix that problem. Expect quick setups using basic materials that are genuinely fun to build and play as you scroll through these options.
1. Chanukah Doughnut Game
Keeping little hands steady is a great way to channel extra holiday energy. This balancing act tests their patience and relies entirely on items you likely already own. It requires building a fragile tower, making every single move feel intense.
Materials needed
- 1 large piece of stiff cardboard
- Brown and pink paint or markers
- 15-20 unsharpened pencils
How to make and play
- Cut the cardboard into a large doughnut ring shape and decorate it with colorful “sprinkles.”
- Stand all the pencils upright in a tight circular cluster on a flat table.
- Carefully rest the cardboard doughnut on top of the pencil tower.
- Players take turns slowly pulling out one pencil at a time until the doughnut falls.
2. Flip the Latke Challenge
When you want some active fun without tearing up the living room, flipping fake food is a winner. This simple craft mimics frying traditional potato pancakes without the hot oil danger. It encourages friendly competition as they try to nail the perfect landing.
Materials needed
- 1 heavy-duty paper plate or small cardboard circle
- Aluminum foil
- Brown construction paper
- Brown ribbon or heavy string
How to make and play
- Wrap the paper plate completely in aluminum foil to create a shiny frying pan.
- Cut a small circle out of brown construction paper to act as your latke.
- Tape one end of a short ribbon to the paper latke and the other to the foil pan.
- Kids hold the pan and flick their wrists, trying to catch the dangling latke back in the center.
3. Swim Noodle Menorah Race
Sometimes you just need a giant, oversized activity to get a group working together. This floor-based puzzle is highly visual and gets kids moving around the room. The large pieces are soft, making it entirely safe for an indoor relay race.
Materials needed
- 2 blue foam pool noodles
- 1 yellow foam pool noodle
- Scissors or a utility knife
How to make and play
- Cut the blue noodles into eight equal short segments for the candles and one slightly longer piece for the shamash.
- Slice the yellow noodle into nine small, pointed “flame” shapes.
- Scatter all the foam pieces at one end of the room.
- Teams race against a timer to grab the pieces, run back, and assemble a giant menorah on the rug.
4. Fishing for Dreidels
Toddlers love any excuse to use a magnet, making this a guaranteed hit for the youngest guests. It develops their hand-eye coordination while keeping them quietly focused. The handmade paper pieces are lightweight and easy for small hands to hook.
Materials needed
- Wooden dowel rods
- Thick yarn or string
- Small craft magnets
- Cardstock paper
- Metal paperclips
How to make and play
- Tie a piece of yarn to the end of a wooden dowel, and glue a magnet to the bottom of the yarn to create a fishing pole.
- Cut small dreidel shapes out of colorful cardstock.
- Slide one metal paperclip onto the top of each paper dreidel.
- Scatter the dreidels on a blue blanket and let the kids “fish” by connecting their magnet to the paperclips.
5. Menorah Ring Toss
If you have a bunch of empty paper towel rolls lying around, you already have half the supplies for this classic carnival setup. It requires a bit of painting, but the final structure is surprisingly sturdy. This is a brilliant way to recycle household items into a competitive target game.
Materials needed
- 9 empty cardboard tubes (toilet paper or paper towel rolls)
- 1 long cardboard box for the base
- Hot glue gun
- Plastic tossing rings or thick rope rings
How to make and play
- Glue the 9 cardboard tubes in a straight line across the top of the long cardboard box.
- Ensure the middle tube is slightly elevated by gluing a small block under it to represent the shamash.
- Paint the entire structure in festive silver or blue colors.
- Set a throwing line on the floor and have kids toss plastic rings, trying to loop them over the tubes.
6. Latke Toss Game
Getting kids to practice their throwing aim gives them a reason to cheer for each other. Soft felt makes these homemade latkes easy to grip and toss without breaking any windows. It is a fantastic low-mess activity that can easily scale up for older kids by moving the target further back.
Materials needed
- Brown craft felt
- Cotton stuffing or batting
- Fabric glue or a needle and thread
- 1 round plastic laundry basket
How to make and play
- Cut out paired circles from the brown felt to make the latke shapes.
- Stuff them lightly with cotton and seal the edges using fabric glue or simple stitches.
- Decorate the laundry basket by taping black paper strips around it to look like a cast-iron skillet.
- Kids stand behind a designated marker and try to sink as many felt latkes into the basket as possible.
7. Squirt the Menorah
Indoor water activities sound risky, but a few drops of water won’t hurt when the target is set up in a safe spot. This game brings a bit of summer carnival magic to the winter holidays. The paper flames fly off instantly when hit, making it highly satisfying for the players.
Materials needed
- Large foam core board
- Blue and white markers
- Yellow tissue paper or light cardstock
- Small plastic squirt bottles
How to make and play
- Draw a large, simple menorah shape onto the foam core board.
- Cut out nine small yellow flames and lightly fold the bottom tabs so they can stand up on top of the drawn candles.
- Lean the board against a tiled wall or a waterproof backdrop.
- Players stand back and use water bottles to precisely squirt and knock down the paper flames.
8. Edible Dreidel Race
Food-based challenges always grab a crowd because the reward is built right into the finish line. This structural building game tests their fine motor skills while handling sticky ingredients. It is perfect for settling everyone down at the table right before dessert.
Materials needed
- Large marshmallows
- Thin pretzel sticks
- Chocolate kisses (unwrapped)
- Edible food-safe markers (optional)
How to make and play
- Give each child a small plate with one marshmallow, one pretzel stick, and one chocolate kiss.
- If you have edible markers, let them quickly draw a Hebrew letter on the side of their marshmallow.
- On “go,” they must push the pretzel stick halfway into the top of the marshmallow.
- Then, they use frosting or peanut butter to stick the chocolate kiss to the bottom, racing to see who finishes a standing dreidel first.
9. Hanukkah Fortune Teller Game
Paper folding takes focus, and it yields a fun little toy they can carry around all evening. This craft revives the classic schoolyard origami game with a holiday twist. It doubles as both an independent craft project and a group activity once the prompts are revealed.
Materials needed
- Square sheets of blue and yellow paper
- Fine-tip markers
- A list of silly holiday prompts
How to make and play
- Fold the square paper into a traditional origami fortune teller (cootie catcher).
- Color the outside flaps with Hanukkah symbols like a menorah, star, gelt, and oil.
- Write silly physical prompts under the inside flaps, like “Spin like a dreidel” or “Sing a holiday song.”
- Kids pair up, choose a symbol, count out the letters, and perform the hidden action they uncover.
10. Dreidel Launcher Challenge
Building something that moves fast is the best way to impress the older siblings at the gathering. This engineering project uses basic tension to create a highly effective spinning top. It requires some careful folding, making it a great guided project for parents and kids.
Materials needed
- Stiff paperboard or empty cereal boxes
- Scissors and tape
- Toothpicks
- Thick rubber bands
How to make and play
- Cut the paperboard into an interlocking cross shape and fold the edges up to form a 3D box top.
- Poke a toothpick straight through the center of the box.
- Loop a rubber band around the top of the toothpick and stretch it to build tension.
- Release the rubber band to launch the paper dreidel across the smooth floor to see whose spins the longest.
11. Pin the Flame on the Menorah
A familiar favorite gets a quick holiday update with just a few pieces of scrap felt. This visual game is hilarious to watch as blindfolded players lose their sense of direction. It provides a great photo opportunity as the flames end up everywhere except on the candles.
Materials needed
- Large sheet of blue poster board
- White paper or paint
- Yellow felt
- Double-sided tape and a blindfold
How to make and play
- Draw or paste a large, beautiful white menorah in the center of the blue poster board and hang it on the wall.
- Cut out nine flame shapes from the yellow felt and place double-sided tape on the back of each.
- Blindfold a player, hand them a felt flame, and spin them around gently three times.
- Guide them toward the wall so they can attempt to stick their flame onto the top of a candle.
12. Gelt Checkerboard Tournament
Setting up a quiet station in the corner gives kids a break from the louder group activities. This project turns basic cardboard into a gorgeous, customized game board. Using fake money pieces adds a thematic touch that feels special for the holiday.
Materials needed
- 1 square piece of thick cardboard
- Blue and white paint
- 24 small cardboard circles
- Gold and silver foil wrap
How to make and play
- Paint an 8×8 grid on the square cardboard, alternating between blue and white squares to make a checkerboard.
- Wrap 12 small cardboard circles in gold foil and the other 12 in silver foil to create your thick playing pieces.
- Set up the board with the gold pieces on one side and silver on the other.
- Teach the kids standard checkers rules and let them run a mini tournament throughout the evening.
13. Hanukkah Memory Match
Brain teasers are excellent for calming things down right before serving dinner. This craft is incredibly easy to prep and allows kids to practice their drawing skills during the setup phase. It scales perfectly depending on the age of the players by just adding more tiles.
Materials needed
- Thick white cardstock paper
- Scissors or a paper trimmer
- Colorful markers
How to make and play
- Cut the cardstock into 20 identical square tiles.
- Draw matching pairs of holiday symbols on the squares, like two dreidels, two oil jugs, and two latkes.
- Shuffle all the cards and lay them facedown in a neat grid on the carpet.
- Kids take turns flipping over two cards at a time, trying to remember the locations to find matching pairs.
14. Penny Spinner Derby
You do not need complicated plastic toys when a simple piece of cardboard spins just as well. This craft focuses on visual design, letting kids create mesmerizing patterns when in motion. It is a fantastic filler activity that uses up leftover cardboard scraps.
Materials needed
- Sturdy cardboard
- A small round cup to trace
- Markers or stickers
- Heavy copper pennies
How to make and play
- Trace the cup onto the cardboard to cut out perfect circles for each child.
- Let the kids color vibrant spiral patterns or apply stickers to their cardboard discs.
- Carefully cut a tiny slit right in the center of the circle and push a penny halfway through.
- Kids pinch the top of the penny and twist sharply to race their custom spinners on a hard table.
15. Hanukkah I Spy Sensory Board
Visual scavenger hunts keep children completely absorbed while they hunt for tiny hidden details. This tactile craft project acts as beautiful temporary art that doubles as an intense puzzle. It requires gathering odd bits and pieces, making the setup just as fun as the game.
Materials needed
- 1 large picture frame (glass removed)
- Blue painted cardboard for the backing
- Assorted holiday miniatures, blue buttons, sequins, and gold coins
- Liquid glue
How to make and play
- Cut the blue painted cardboard to fit perfectly inside the picture frame.
- Glue hundreds of small items randomly across the board, burying specific holiday miniatures within the visual clutter.
- Create a printed checklist of specific items to find, like “3 gold coins, 1 silver star, 4 blue buttons.”
- Give the kids the checklist and a timer to see who can visually locate all the hidden objects first.
16. Hanukkah Story Charades
Getting everyone laughing together is the ultimate goal, and acting out silly prompts does the trick every time. This requires almost no supplies and gets the whole family involved in the performance. Decorating the prompt box gives the kids ownership over the game’s presentation.
Materials needed
- An empty square tissue box
- Wrapping paper or paint
- Slips of paper and pens
How to make and play
- Cover the empty tissue box in festive blue and silver wrapping paper to make it look like a fancy grab-bag.
- Have adults and older kids write down holiday-themed actions on slips of paper, like “frying a hot latke” or “lighting a candle.”
- Fold the slips and stuff them into the decorated box.
- Players take turns pulling a slip and silently acting out the scenario while the group shouts out guesses.
FAQs
What age group are these games best suited for?
Most of these DIY options work perfectly for children aged 4 to 10. The simpler games, like “Fishing for Dreidels,” are great for toddlers, while older kids will enjoy the engineering behind the “Dreidel Launcher Challenge.”
Do I need to buy special craft supplies to make these?
Not at all! The goal is to use items you likely have sitting around your house.
| Supply Type | Typical Household Items Used |
| Cardboard | Empty cereal boxes, paper towel rolls, shipping boxes |
| Decorations | Leftover foil, tissue paper, basic markers |
| Structure | Unsharpened pencils, toothpicks, rubber bands |
How long does it usually take to set up one game?
Most of these projects take between 10 to 15 minutes to craft before they are ready to play. If you involve the kids in the building process, it stretches the entertainment value even further.
Keeping kids happy during family gatherings does not require expensive store-bought toys or digital screens. These quick craft projects offer a fantastic way to bridge the gap between dinner and dessert while creating some hilarious memories.
If you loved these simple ideas, make sure to save this content to your Pinterest account so you have it ready for next year’s celebration. Sharing it with your friends also helps them survive the holiday chaos!