7 Kid-Friendly Menorah Crafts You'll Want to Keep Forever

Shell covered DIY Menorah — Photo:
Holly Rizzuto Palker

Looking for a fun way to discuss the Hanukkah story as a family this year? Get out the craft supplies and have kids make their own menorah! Yes, it's true the Maccabees originally lit a wooden menorah, but they can be made from any material—there's a golden one in Jerusalem!—making the DIY options endless.

A few pointers to get you started: All eight candles on the menorah, which represent the eight nights of Hanukkah, should be lined up straight with the "shamash," or helper candle, set off to the side or higher than the rest. Remember that close adult supervision is required if lighting any of these DIY menorahs. Some options are better with artificial flames. Make sure dripless candles are secure inside their cups, opt for LED lights, or use pencils with erasers instead, especially for the younger kids.

The last piece of the puzzle? Putting your kid's creation on display during the Festival of Lights!

01 of 07

Pebble Menorah

Nature walks "get kids thinking," says Stacey Palker, a kindergarten teacher in Greenwich, Connecticut, so this homemade menorah is a win-win. Start by sending your child outside to search for nine similar-shaped smooth pebbles to decorate. Paint the rocks with shiny metallic paint and let them dry overnight. Hot-glue them to a painted wood board and secure candle cups on top.

02 of 07

Shell Menorah

Who can resist collecting seashells at the beach? If you have a stash, pick a few favorites for this DIY menorah. Start by boiling the shells and sorting them by size and color. (This is a fun way to decide on the layout of your design before committing with glue.) Next, glue a smaller wooden stacking block vertically onto a horizontal larger one to create the structure of your menorah masterpiece (see image for reference). Cover the blocks with decoupage glue to secure the shells. Finish by gluing menorah candle cups on top.

03 of 07

Pine Cone Menorah

Inspired by the coziness of the season, this menorah craft involves collecting pine cones, washing them, and baking them in the oven to rid them of sap and critters. Attach the cleaned pinecones to pieces of firewood (you might sand them first to prevent splinters), then add cup holders on top.

04 of 07

Character Menorah

This DIY menorah craft reuses your child's miniature figurines! To copy this project, hot-glue two long wooden blocks together and electric-tape the seam, then cover the whole thing in aluminum foil. Next, hot-glue a smaller stacking block vertically in the center, cover the menorah with gems, and fasten the characters to it. The example uses battery-operated LED votives for safety.

05 of 07

Homemade Lego Menorah

Got a Lego fan in the house? Take inspiration from this DIY menorah project, which uses extra pieces from their collection. Have your child make Lego towers of various heights, and attach them to a flat horiztonal Lego board. Hot-glue two bolts on top of each piece to serve as candle holders and decoupage glue the whole piece so it doesn't fall apart when moved.

06 of 07

Crayon Menorah

This DIY menorah craft doubles as an art project! Raid your crayon collection and find any shades you like (we used blue, purple, yellow, and orange). Then glue the crayons to a canvas and blow-dry them in a downward motion, creating a gorgeous piece of dribble art. You can cut out flames from a sheet of yellow foam paper and secure them with Velcro dots; that way, flames can be removed and added during each night of Hanukkah. To display, prop it up on a plastic easel holder.

07 of 07

Tile Menorah

"Tinkering" with loose parts allows children to figure out how things work. When kindergarten teacher Stacey Palker completes this tactile menorah project with her students, she encourages them to play with the tiles, talk about how they feel, and stack them. She ends the session by concocting a tranquil tile menorah. Here's how: Hot-glue nine loose glass tiles to a large piece of tile or slate, then glue candle cups or use bolts from the hardware store. Let your child select special tiles for and the location of the shamash. Bonus: These menorahs are fire-resistant!

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