We love Hanukkah. The message that the rabbis in the Talmud give about the holiday is that we light candles each night in order to increase the holiness in the world. What a beautiful idea… which can be completely lost on children. We don’t expect them to be immune to the culture in which we live, but we want to help them understand that the miracle of Hanukkah is about bringing more light into the world, not filling their rooms with more stuff. So here are some ideas for celebrating Hanukkah with kids that aren’t just about the presents that have worked for our families.
1. Decorate. The mitzvah of Hanukkah is to publicize the miracle, both that the small Jewish army defeated the large Greek army and that the small jar of oil lasted for eight days. Get the message out by decorating your house. Turn it into a family project by making your own decorations.
READ: How Do I Make Hanukkah Fun Without Forgetting the Meaning?
2. Do something for others. The best way to publicize the miracle is to help others see the light in the world. Find a project that you can do as a family that helps others in your community or in the world.
3. Donate your tzedakah. Search your house for those coins that have been hiding in the couch all year or empty your tzedakah Find a cause that your family is passionate about and donate all that loose change. You’d be surprised how much it can add up to. Instead of presents every night, ask your family and friends to make a donation in your child’s honor.
4. Carve out time together. Commit to turning off your phones and being present. Sing as many silly Hanukkah songs as you know, play competitive dreidel, and eat some latkes and jelly donuts.
READ: On Observing Hanukkah Miracles, Big and Small
5. Read Hanukkah books. There are so many fun children’s stories about Hanukkah. Both PJ Library and Amazon are great sources for finding books that will appeal to your child and the whole family.
6. Invite friends over. Bonus points for inviting those friends who have never celebrated Hanukkah before. Make sure you brush up on the story before they come over.
7. Watch lots of Hanukkah parody videos. This is a personal favorite in my family, where we watch videos from groups like the Maccabeats to Six13 to videos people made in their own homes (or offices, like we did). Feeling brave? Make your own.
8. Make a new family tradition. Are there things you always wanted to do in your city? Make a Hanukkah bucket list and do one each night. Or have a latke contest to see who can add the most creative ingredients to the traditional potato pancakes. Add something fun that you can do together as a family and share it with others.
READ: This Year, Hanukkah Is Going to Be Different
And, since we know that kids (and grown-ups!) still love to get presents, you can participate in a “get one, give one” plan so that each time your child is given a toy, they have to choose a gently-used one to donate. Make it even more meaningful by taking your child to deliver his/her donation to a shelter or a hospital.
Happy Hanukkah!
This piece was also written in conjunction with Erin Bouchard, who is the Family Engagement Project Director at Central Synagogue in New York City. When she’s not at work, you can find Erin enjoying the outdoors. Erin, her husband and baby live in Greenwich, CT.
