Hanukkah games for toddlers can be incredibly frustrating to plan when most holiday activities online are either way too complicated or easily broken in five minutes. I put this list together because I desperately needed sturdy, hands-on craft projects that actually keep little ones busy without creating a massive mess in the living room.
If you are trying to celebrate the holidays while safely building their fine motor skills, these homemade setups use basic materials you probably already have.
1. Clothespin Menorah Fine Motor Game
Keeping tiny hands occupied during family dinners is always a challenge, so I rely heavily on this simple counting activity. It is a solid way to practice pinching motions while introducing the festival themes.
Supplies You Will Need
You just need a thick piece of cardboard, yellow and blue markers, and nine wooden clothespins. A pair of sharp scissors will help you cut the base shape cleanly.
Quick Assembly Instructions
- Cut your cardboard into a wide, sturdy menorah shape with a flat bottom so it can lean against a wall.
- Color the tips of your clothespins bright yellow so they look like flames.
- Draw nine distinct spots on the cardboard to show where each candle should go.
Playing the Game
Sit them at the table and ask them to “light the candles” by pinching and clipping each clothespin onto the cardboard edge. You can count out loud together as they add each one.
2. Felt Menorah Candle Matching Game
When wall space is your only free area, hanging a soft interactive board saves the day. This felt craft is practically indestructible and takes zero floor space.
Gather These Materials
Grab a large sheet of dark blue felt for the background, a few smaller sheets in yellow and light blue, and sticky-back velcro dots. You will also need some heavy-duty mounting tape to stick it to the wall.
Building the Board
- Cut out a large menorah outline from the light blue felt and stick it to your dark blue background.
- Cut nine long rectangles for the candles and nine small teardrops for the flames.
- Attach the scratchy side of the velcro to the back of the loose pieces and the soft side to the wall board.
How They Interact
Toddlers love the ripping sound of velcro. Let them pull all the candles off and then challenge them to match the flames to the top of each candle once they place them back on the board.
3. Cardboard Tube Dreidel Drop Game
Anything that involves dropping objects into a tube will instantly win over a two-year-old. This gravity-based drop station is usually a massive hit and takes five minutes to build.
Crafting Needs
Save three to four empty paper towel tubes, some painter’s tape, and a handful of small plastic dreidels. If you want to make it look nicer, grab some blue wrapping paper.
Constructing the Drop
- Wrap the cardboard tubes in the blue paper to make them look festive.
- Tape the tubes vertically against a low wall or the side of your refrigerator using safe painter’s tape.
- Place a small basket directly underneath the tubes to catch the falling items.
The Drop Challenge
Hand them a bowl of dreidels and watch them drop the toys down the chutes. We usually call this the “Great Dreidel Drop” because they get so excited watching them crash into the basket.
4. DIY Gelt Coin Slot Box
Fine motor practice does not have to be boring, especially when it involves shiny objects. Posting objects into a narrow slot requires a lot of concentration for tiny fingers.
What to Grab
Find an empty shoe box with a lid, gold foil paper, some thick cardboard scraps, and a box cutter.
Crafting the Box
- Wrap the entire shoe box in plain paper or decorate it with drawn-on Jewish stars.
- Use the box cutter to slice a thin, narrow rectangle into the top lid.
- Cut your cardboard scraps into circles and wrap them tightly in the gold foil to create oversized, safe gelt coins.
Playing the Coin Game
Show them how to line up the gold coin with the slit. Once they hear it drop into the empty box, they will want to repeat the process until the box is completely full.
5. Paper Plate Menorah Ring Toss
Burning off a little indoor energy requires something sturdy, and this toss setup survives aggressive throwing. It gets them moving around safely when it is too cold outside.
Project Materials
You will need two thick paper plates, one long cardboard paper towel tube, hot glue, and several flexible glow necklaces or small plastic tossing rings.
Assembly Steps
- Glue the two paper plates together right sides facing in to create a heavy base.
- Cut small slits at the bottom of the cardboard tube and splay them out so you can hot glue the tube standing straight up on the plates.
- Paint the tube to look like a giant candle.
Ring Toss Rules
Place the base a few feet away and hand them the flexible rings. Tell them to try and “catch the candle” by tossing the rings over the tall tube.
6. Counting Latkes Frying Pan Game
Pretend play naturally holds their attention much longer than standard flashcards. Flipping fake food mimics what you are doing in the kitchen, making them feel involved.
Gather These Items
Buy a sheet of yellow craft foam, a black permanent marker, a small plastic toy frying pan, and a toy spatula.
Crafting the Latkes
- Cut the yellow foam into small, jagged circles so they look like textured potato pancakes.
- Use the black marker to draw clear, large dots on one side of each latke, from one to eight.
- Place all the foam pieces into the toy pan.
Play Setup
Let them use the toy spatula to flip the foam circles. You can ask them to find the latke with three dots or just let them enjoy pretending to cook their own holiday meal.
7. Magnetic Dreidel Shape Puzzle
Traveling to a relative’s house means you need a contained, mess-free activity for the car ride. Magnets are a lifesaver because the pieces will not fall on the floorboards.
Checklist
Find an old baking sheet, a roll of magnetic tape, and some thick blue and white cardstock paper.
Making the Puzzle
- Draw a large dreidel shape on the blue cardstock and cut it out.
- Cut that large shape into four or five chunky, straight-lined puzzle pieces.
- Stick strips of magnetic tape onto the back of every single piece.
Puzzle Play
Give them the baking sheet and the mixed-up pieces. Because it is magnetic, the pieces snap down easily, helping clumsy hands align the edges to form the toy shape.
8. Hanukkah Sensory Discovery Bottle
Finding a completely sealed activity for babies and younger siblings offers incredible peace of mind. It gives them the visual thrill of a sensory bin without the choking hazards.
Materials List
You need a clean, empty plastic water bottle (the thicker the better), clear hair gel or warm water, blue food coloring, glitter, and tiny plastic holiday charms.
Building the Bottle
- Fill the bottle halfway with warm water and add a squirt of clear hair gel to thicken the liquid.
- Drop in a few drops of blue food coloring and a heavy shake of silver glitter.
- Drop in tiny plastic dreidels or plastic coins, then superglue the cap completely shut.
How They Interact
Show them how to shake the bottle vigorously. The thick gel makes the small items slowly float around, creating a calming visual tracker that keeps them staring for ages.
9. Cardboard Box Candle Posting Game
Upcycling those leftover delivery boxes turns trash into a highly focused matching task. Pushing sticks through tight cardboard slots requires excellent hand-eye coordination.
What to Use
Grab a small, sturdy cardboard box, a pack of jumbo wooden popsicle sticks, markers, and a sharp craft knife.
Quick Crafting
- Use the markers to color the tops of the popsicle sticks yellow so they resemble flames. Color the bottom parts blue.
- Take your craft knife and cut nine very thin slits in a straight row across the top of the cardboard box.
- Make sure the slits are tight enough that the sticks will stand up straight when pushed in.
Playing the Game
They have to carefully align the bottom of the popsicle stick with the thin slit and push down hard. The resistance of the cardboard makes the “pop” highly satisfying for them.
10. Cookie Cutter Playdough Mats
Sometimes you just need an independent station where they can smash and mold safely while you cook. Playdough is forgiving and acts as great heavy work for their hand muscles.
Supply List
You need basic playdough (store-bought or homemade), a small rolling pin, holiday-themed cookie cutters, and a laminated piece of paper or a plastic placemat.
Mat Preparation
- Print out a large picture of a menorah or a Star of David on regular printer paper.
- Slide that paper into a clear plastic sheet protector or laminate it so the dough will not stick to the paper.
- Set the mat down with the dough and the cutters.
Dough Time
Encourage them to roll out the dough directly onto the mat and stamp out shapes. The smooth plastic mat makes cleanup instant, and they can try to match their stamped shapes to the picture underneath.
11. DIY Cardboard Dreidel Puzzle
Store-bought puzzles can be flimsy, so making chunky cardboard versions guarantees they will last all eight nights. The thick edges are much easier for little fingers to grip.
Crafting Needs
Find a large, thick corrugated cardboard box, a marker, blue paint, and heavy-duty scissors.
Making the Puzzle
- Cut out a massive dreidel shape from the thickest part of the cardboard.
- Paint the front of it solid blue and let it dry completely.
- Once dry, cut the massive shape into just three or four large geometric blocks.
Solving It
Because the pieces are so thick, they can actually build this puzzle on carpet. The challenge of fitting the chunky edges together helps them understand spatial awareness.
12. Star of David Popsicle Stick Stacking
Teaching basic shapes sticks better when they have a physical template to build over. This craft acts as a visual guide so they can independently build a complex shape.
Required Supplies
Buy a pack of jumbo craft sticks. You will need six sticks painted blue and a printed outline of a six-pointed star on a piece of paper.
Stacking Setup
- Take a black marker and trace a thick outline of a Star of David onto a piece of white paper.
- Make sure the lines are exactly the same length as your jumbo craft sticks.
- Tape the paper securely to their play table so it will not slide away.
The Goal
Their job is to lay the loose wooden sticks directly over the black lines. It takes patience to build the two overlapping triangles without knocking the first one out of place.
13. Hanukkah Scarf Pull Box
Babies and young toddlers have a natural instinct to empty tissue boxes, so turning that into a festival theme just makes sense. It satisfies their urge to pull and empty safely.
Grab These
You will need an empty square tissue box, wrapping paper, and several lightweight sheer scarves in blue, white, and yellow.
Box Assembly
- Wrap the outside of the tissue box in festive paper, leaving the top plastic slit completely open.
- Take your sheer fabric scarves and tie them together end-to-end in one long chain.
- Stuff the entire fabric chain into the box, leaving just the first tip poking out of the top.
The Pulling Activity
Hand them the box and let them pull. They will be amazed as the “never-ending” colorful fabric keeps pulling out, mimicking the magic of the holiday lights.
14. Pin the Flame on the Menorah
Modifying a classic birthday party game gives you an easy group activity for cousins to play together. It gets everyone moving and laughing without any complicated rules.
Project Materials
Get a large roll of white butcher paper, blue and yellow construction paper, and rolled-up pieces of tape or sticky putty.
Crafting the Setup
- Cut a massive piece of butcher paper and tape it to a bare wall.
- Cut out blue paper strips to build a flat, giant menorah directly onto the wall paper.
- Cut out nine oversized yellow paper flames and put sticky putty on the back of each one.
Rules of the Game
You do not even need a blindfold for young toddlers. Just spin them in a circle once, hand them a yellow flame, and see if they can slap it onto the top of a blue candle.
15. Sensory Bin Symbol Hunt
Sensory bins are basically a guaranteed twenty minutes of quiet time if you set them up correctly. Digging through textures calms their nervous system instantly.
Bin Ingredients
You need a large, shallow plastic storage tub, several bags of dry white rice, blue food coloring (to dye the rice), small wooden scoops, and plastic holiday items.
Building the Bin
- Dye your rice blue by mixing it with food coloring and a splash of vinegar in a bag, then let it dry overnight.
- Pour the dry blue rice into the large plastic tub.
- Bury tiny plastic dreidels, gold coins, and small toy candles deep into the rice.
The Hunt
Hand them a wooden spoon or measuring cup and ask them to dig out the hidden treasures. They will spend more time just pouring the blue rice from cup to cup than actually hunting!
16. DIY Jumbo Penny Spinners
Standard plastic dreidels are often too tricky for clumsy little fingers to twist successfully. Building oversized spinners gives them the satisfaction of a spinning toy without the frustration.
Materials Used
Find thick cardboard, a wooden dowel rod cut into short pieces, markers, and hot glue.
Crafting Steps
- Cut out a perfect, large circle from your thickest cardboard.
- Poke a hole dead center in the circle and push the wooden dowel straight through, leaving a bit poking out the bottom.
- Secure the stick with a heavy ring of hot glue so it stays perfectly rigid.
Spinning Game
Decorate the top of the circle with Hebrew letters or simple dots. Because the cardboard base is so wide and the stick is thick, toddlers can easily grab the top and twist it to watch it spin across the floor.
FAQs
What age group works best for these activities?
Most of these crafts are ideal for ages 18 months to 3 years old. You can always adjust the complexity, like making the slots bigger on the drop boxes for younger babies, or making the puzzles smaller for older toddlers.
How can I store these bulky cardboard crafts?
Cardboard is great because you can simply recycle the larger pieces when the holiday is over. For things you want to keep, like the felt boards or magnetic puzzles, slide them into large ziplock bags and store them flat in your holiday bins.
Are these materials safe if my toddler still mouths objects?
You have to supervise closely. If you have a heavy chewer, skip the small plastic pieces and stick to the large cardboard puzzles, the sealed sensory bottle, and the soft felt boards to keep things completely safe.
| Activity Type | Best Craft Match | Main Skill Developed |
| Fine Motor Drop | Cardboard Box Candle Posting | Hand-eye coordination |
| Gross Motor Active | Paper Plate Menorah Toss | Balance and throwing |
| Mess-Free Sensory | Sealed Discovery Bottle | Visual tracking |
| Tactile Digging | Sensory Bin Symbol Hunt | Pinching and scooping |
I hope these hands-on setups bring a little more peace to your holiday week. Making your own toys takes a bit of effort upfront, but watching them stay focused for longer than a few minutes is always worth the cardboard scraps.
If you want to keep these ideas handy for the holiday season, save this post to your Pinterest board so you can easily pull it up when you need a quick indoor activity!