The challenge is how to keep children of all ages busy and not have all the adults busy keeping the kids busy… Get the idea? The solution? Chanukah centers!
(photos: Zahava Pollack Photography)
The best thing about Chanukah parties is getting together with family and friends! It’s always great to see cousins, neighbors, shul friends. It’s great to relax, sip hot chocolate, and… Ooops! That lasts about five minutes before the doughnut-stuffed children start running circles around the place chasing each other!
The challenge is how to keep children of all ages busy and not have all the adults busy keeping the kids busy… Get the idea?
The solution? Chanukah centers!
Make them, place them, and kick back with that hot chocolate! The kids are going to be occupied for a while here!
These magic dreidels won’t spin forever, but they do jump! Children of all ages will delight in the opportunity to test their speed and dexterity, as they attempt to match the most dreidels.
Place all dreidels face up in a random setup on the table. When the round begins, 2-4 players use the magnets to attract the dreidels, trying to get as many matching sets as possible. The round ends when all the dreidels are snatched up. And the winner is, of course, the player with the most magic dreidel sets!
For younger children:
Just using the magnets to pick up the dreidels is so much fun, they don’t need to find the matches.
These latkes are so cute, you’ll wish they were edible. But please don’t eat them! The children need to keep them frying!
Place the covered box as your stove on a table or the floor. Put the 6 numbered frying pans on the stove. Divide the latkes evenly into 2 stacks, and place a spatula beside each stack.
Now it’s time to get flipping!
Two players heat things up! Using the spatula, players try placing each of their numbered latkes into the pan with the matching number using only the spatula. The winner is the one who places all their latkes first. Ready to flip?
For younger children: Allow them to use their hands to place the latkes in the correct pan.
Do you have fond memories of lighting the menorah over the years? The singing, the presents, the smell of oil… This center will create a sort of memory too. These will be short term, though. (I hope!)
Glue one menorah inside each gift box, facing forward. Place 9 colored candles in two of the menorahs, leaving the other two empty.
Place the set-up menorah boxes facing the players on a table. Place the extra candles on the table with the 2 remaining menorahs.
Set the timer for 45 seconds… Ready, set, FUN!
Two players study the setup menorahs for 45 seconds, trying to memorize the colored candle order. Then they flip the box around to hide the menorahs and try to make their menorah match the one they studied. The winner is the one who can correctly recreate his menorah in the least amount of time. It’s taking Chanukah memories to a whole new level!
For younger children: Have them recreate the menorah while looking at it.
We’ve got a problem! It’s the case of the disappearing dreidels! Someone took all our dreidels and buried them!! It’s time for some serious digging.
Fill each container with shredded paper. Add half the dreidels, being sure to divide the colors evenly between the 2 bins. Place one gold or silver one in each bin. Fill in the dreidel chart, assigning a point value to each color.
Place the bins and tongs on the table. Tape a point chart down so players know the value of each color. Set the timer for one minute.
Here goes! Two players compete to dig out the most dreidels, using the tongs to get them out. When the timer rings, they add the point values based on the color of the dreidels they picked up. Any player with a gold or silver dreidel doubles their points! May the best digger win!
For younger children: Just count the number of dreidels instead of assigning points based on color.
(Originally featured in Family First, Issue 469)
