9 Jewish Activities to Try When You’re at Home with Kids

Editor's Note: This piece was originally published in 2020.

Wondering how to keep your kids entertained as holidays and school vacations approach? Check out these suggestions for keeping kids entertained, engaged, and educated.

We’ve rounded up some of our favorite Jewish crafts, recipes, activities, videos, and other ideas to keep you and your family occupied during days spent at home while learning about and embracing Judaism together. 

1. Make Items for Your Shabbat Table

Why not take on a Shabbat-related craft or two? Kids will be so proud to see their own creations – like these challah covers – occupy a place of honor on the Shabbat table!

Create a festive ambiance with decorative glass candleholders or create “illuminating” Shabbat candleholders, which come with prompts for discussing gratitude, reflection, and ritual. If you have or can order the necessary materials, you can even create beeswax candles to go in them!

2. Have a Dance Party with Jewish Music

In Reform Jewish tradition, music is not only an element of worship and holiday observance, but also a way to bring Jewish values and concepts to life. We sing songs after a good meal, in services at synagogue, with friends at Jewish summer camp, and in classrooms at religious school.

Check out “Songs for an Enjoyable Shabbat with Your Family,” a playlist of some of the Shabbat songs popular at camps, schools, and early childhood centers.

3. Bring a Bit of Camp Home

Thinking fondly about time spent outdoors with friends over summer vacation? Pay homage to Jewish summer camp with activities that come directly from Reform Jewish summer camps!

Use this time to make your favorite camp food by downloading the "A Taste of Summer" cookbook or, with close adult supervision, try three fun science experiments from URJ 6 Points Sci-Tech Academy. If you’re willing to get a little messy, you can even learn how to master the art of tie-dye with this tutorial from URJ Crane Lake Camp.

4. Learn About Israel

There’s no time like the present to start teaching kids about Israel, from its rich culture to its diverse communities to its strong ties to Jewish traditions and holidays.

Watch videos from Shalom Sesame to learn about Israel’s past and present, then extend the videos’ lessons with discussion ideas and activities from Jewish educators.

5. Establish Everyday Jewish Rituals

Ritual turns the everyday into the sacred. Why not use this time together to create rituals that will make each day more spiritually fulfilling, more meaningful, and more Jewishly connected – for both you and your children?

Check out these suggestions for establishing morning rituals with kids, or focus on Jewishly inspired bedtime routines, like saying the Sh’maSh'maשֵׁמַע Jewish affirmation of belief in one God. Lit. "Hear/Listen/Understand." The affirmation of God's unity is found in Deuteronomy 6:4.  and Modeh Ani, by creating "prayer tents" to serve as a simple visual reminder next to your child’s bed.

6. Get Cookin’

Jewish cooking expert Tina Wasserman writes, “Cooking with a young child creates lasting memories for both of you, and opens the door to conversations that will reverberate for years.” (Read more in “Connecting Kids with Their Jewish Culinary History.”)

Choose a favorite family recipe to make together, or browse our many Jewish recipes to find something new; you may want to start with "21 Jewish Recipes That Use Ingredients You Have at Home."  You can also try your hand at baking challah together. Kids will love braiding the strands!

7. Talk About Jewish Values with Cute Cartoons

Turn to adorably animated videos from the web series Shaboom! to teach little ones about Jewish values in a kid-friendly age-appropriate way – using magic, comedy, and silly songs! Each video comes with discussion guides to help you extend the lesson.

For example, teach kids about shalom bayit, or peace in the home or about hakarat hatov, being grateful for what they have.

8. Connect With People You Love

Connect with distant loved ones by scheduling a FaceTime call or a Google Hangout. Grandparents can even read favorite books to their grandchildren.

Make a card or an art project and drop it in the mail. Use sidewalk chalk to create a beautiful message for your neighbors or friends. Do something new together, maybe while saying a special prayer of gratitude.

9. Crafts, Crafts, and More Crafts

Look, we get it: While spending a lot of time together at home, it’s understandable for families to get a bit of cabin fever. If you’re just looking for ways to entertain your kids, check out crafts designed for Jewish holidays. They’re fun any time of year!

For example, you can still make recycled paper and have fun with apple printing, even if it isn't Tu BiShvat or Rosh HaShanah You can even build a Lego Jewish scene as a family. This pressed flower platter is pretty all year long, and decorative paper lanterns can hang in your kids’ bedrooms instead of a sukkahsukkahסֻכָּה"Booth" or "hut;" temporary structure associated with the agricultural festival of Sukkot; plural: sukkot. .

For more suggestions for staying busy and having fun, check out these resources from our friends at PJ Library.