Because I Said So, Baby

Practical Solutions for Everyday Momlife

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • Home
  • About Marla
    • Contact Marla
    • Disclosures & Legal
    • Digital Product Shipping Policy
    • Privacy Policy
    • Instagram Links
    • Sponsored
  • Mamahood
    • Pregnancy
    • Baby Mama
    • Breastfeeding
    • How-To
    • Favorite Products
  • Toddlerhood
    • 1 Year Olds
    • 2 Year Olds
    • 3 Year Olds
    • 4 Year Olds
    • Daily Routines
    • Toddler Parenting
    • Preschool Activities
    • How-To
  • Home & DIY
    • Home Management
    • Crafts & DIY
    • Cloth Diapering
    • Holidays & Seasons
  • Meal Ideas
    • Baby-Led Weaning
    • Toddler Meals
    • Toddler Snacks
    • Lunchbox Ideas
    • Holidays & Seasons
  • Shop
    • Store
      • My Account
      • My Cart
      • Checkout
    • My Amazon Store
    • Summer Survival Shopping Guide
    • Favorite Toddler Mealtime Products: Feeding Toddlers Shopping Guide

December 21, 2020 by: Marla

Easy Hanukkah Activities for Toddlers

Email
Pin
Share

Inside: These simple Hanukkah Activities for Toddlers are the perfect way to keep your toddler busy and learning during the holiday season.


For these activities, I partnered up with Jayme from the blog Teach, Talk, Inspire and the popular toddler activity Instagram account @teachtalkinspire.

To see her version of these activities, make sure to hop over to her Instagram account.

hanukkah sensory play toddlers

What are some good Hanukkah Activities to do with toddlers?

Whether you’re doing preschool at home or simply looking for ways to engage your toddler in meaningful play, these activities can help you accomplish just that.

With these activities, your toddler will learn:

  • The traditions of Hanukkah
  • Rules for messy sensory play
  • Fine motor practice
  • Early math skills

Related: Fun Christmas Snack Boards

hanukkah play dough mats

Easy Hanukkah Activities for Toddlers

1. Marshmallow Dreidels

This dreidel activity is *so* easy & you really only need 4 simple things to make it happen. 

Perfect for those long, no-nap afternoons when you really need something to keep that toddler busy & entertained: this is it.

You could even pair said dreidel snack with a hot cup of coffee and I would say just invite me over for that. Sweets + coffee = all day, every day

Here’s what you need: 

✨Big marshmallows (not the mini ones)
✨Pretzel sticks 
✨Hershey’s kisses
✨A little bit of frosting or Nutella (Jayme’s Tip!)

how to make marshmallow dreidels | hanukkah activities

How your toddler can help: 

  • First, read a Hanukkah book and talk about the tradition of playing dreidel. We read “Spin the Dreidel” by Alexandra Cooper. If you have plastic or wooden dreidels to play with, take them out & let your little one explore. 
  • Then, have them push the pretzel sticks into the marshmallows. 
  • It’s probably easiest if you spread some frosting on the Hershey’s kisses and then your toddler can “attach” them to the bottom of the marshmallow. 
hanukkah dreidel activity for toddlers
When you try this activity at home, be sure to tag me @becauseisaidsobaby & Jayme @teachtalkinspire so we can see your creation!

2. Hanukkah Playdough Tray

I LOVE setting up play-dough trays with loose parts as this typically produces A LOT of independent, creative play. Play-dough just has that effect on kids, right?

Plus, since mommy can’t really run around being the “spider monster” at 20 weeks pregnant, sitting and doing play-dough is the perfect way for me to play *with* the girls as well. 

Now, in our house we celebrate *both* holidays as I’m Jewish and my husband is not. Unchecked, that can end up being a whole lot of toys. Last year for Christmas, we decided to give the girls several gifts to share like Duplo sets, art kits and outdoor toys. 

I also made some homemade gifts like play-dough kits which were a HUGE hit.

To turn this Hanukkah-themed play-dough tray into a gift, all you have to do is pack up the contents into a plastic bead box (I get mine at Michael’s) and tie a bow around it. Ta-da! A homemade gift that keeps on giving. 

P.S. – How amazing are these Hanukkah playdough mats? You can get these + Christmas mats & tons of other holiday activities for 2 & 3 year old’s in Teach, Talk, Inspire’s December Learn & Play Pack.

Here’s what’s in my tray:

⭐Play-dough (storebought or homemade)
⭐Rolling pin
⭐Cookie cutters
⭐Hanukkah trinkets (candles, dreidels, gelt, etc.)
⭐Play-dough mats (mine are in sheet protectors & taped to the table)
⭐Plastic tray (mine is from Dollar Tree)

playdough tray for toddlers | hanukkah activities

3. Hanukkah Sensory Bin

Sensory bins are one of my *favorite* tools for play. All you need are a few basic things and then you can sit back and watch the magic unfold.

You can learn how to make a basic, 5 minute sensory bin, here, and a Thanksgiving sensory bin, here.

I like to use a wide, shallow bin, as this is the easiest for them to reach their little hands in.

This type of sensory play promotes fine motor skills, creative play, and problem solving. PLUS it helps teach little ones about the traditions of Hanukkah through play.

Here’s what’s in the bin:

  • White rice & blue dyed rice
  • Mini Menorahs, dreidels, play gelt, candles, & cookie cutters
  • Scoops & funnels

And just a quick tip regarding messy play:

Set the ground rules first. “Everything must stay in the bin.” If they start throwing the rice or dumping it out, put the lid back on and say “The rice needs to stay in the bin. We’re going to put this away and try again later.” And then follow through by putting the lid on the bin and putting the bin away.

4. Menorah Math or Menorah Matching

hanukkah activities for toddlers

This is a great learning activity + a fun holiday activity as well.

My 5 year old is currently working on numbers & adding in her kindergarten class (yeah, I don’t remember kindergarten being that hard, either!!) so this was great practice for her.

Here’s how to set it up:
⭐ Draw a menorah
⭐ Then draw yellow circles for the candles
⭐ Write simple addition problems inside the candle “flames” or just write numbers for toddlers.
⭐ On yellow label stickers, write the answers to the addition problems or just the matching numbers.

The goal is either for them to add up each problem & find the answers, then put the sticker in the right spot OR match the correct numbers.

So there you have it – 4 simple Hanukkah Activities for Toddlers you can easily set up with items you have around the house!

More Holiday Fun for Toddlers:

  • Grinch Movie Breakfast for Kids
  • Best Gifts for Siblings to Share
  • Christmas Cookie Playdough Kit
  • morning basket startup guide
    Morning Basket Startup Guide
  • at-home preschool curriculum for 3-5 year olds
    The Preschool Playbook
  • bento box lunch packing guide for kids
    Ultimate Bento Box Lunch Guide
Easy Hanukkah Activities for ToddlersEasy Hanukkah Activities for Toddlers
Grinch Pancake Breakfast: A Holiday Tradition for Kids
Getting Back into a Routine After the Holidays

Meet Marla

because I said so baby
the ultimate guide to all things play dough

The Ultimate Guide to Play Dough (Recipes, Storage & Activities)

Feeling Overwhelmed?

Daily Routines

my daily winter break routine with 3 kids

My Daily Winter Break Routine with 3 Kids 

Inside: Ready for the kids to be home for 2 weeks? Instead of wondering “how do I keep my kids busy over Winter Break?” I’ll show you how to create a predictable (but festive!) daily winter break … [Read More...]

Toddler Meals

kid-friendly meal ideas

What I Fed My Family This Week (Kid-Friendly Meal Ideas)

Inside: easy, healthy, kid-friendly meal ideas from my family of 5 AKA what I fed my kids this week. If you’re in need of ideas for quick breakfasts, healthy snacks to lunches & weeknight dinners … [Read More...]

HEY THERE!

Welcome to Because I Said So, Baby, where we're sharing practical solutions for everyday momlife. Where you can find everything from simple baby-led weaning recipes to practical toddler parenting tips. So put those kids down for a nap, grab some coffee, and stay awhile!
Read More…

Enroll in the Ultimate SAHM Course

stay at home mom

  • Contact Marla
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclosures & Legal
  • Shop

Copyright © 2025 · Because I Said So, Baby LLC | As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases