Now that your kids have made their own dreidels, it's time for them to make their own gelt! (And not because you ate all the chocolate coins you bought last week. Oh, no, that is NOT the reason…)
The lovely Carolyn, who shares simple play ideas (including stellar ways to play with LEGO) at The Pleasantest Thing is here today to share the perfect idea for parents who want to get creative with their kids but are quite busy -- what with Thanksgiving and Hanukkah coinciding this year!
I am so excited to be posting over here at What Do We Do All Day! This site is my first stop when I am looking for new books to try out. My boys have also discovered some of their favorite board games here.
This time of year, one of our favorite games to play is spinning the dreidel, to compete for a pile of Hanukkah coins, or gelt. Of course, my kids look forward to receiving foil-wrapped chocolate gelt. But they also enjoy making our own paper coins. It's a way for them to be creative, and, of course, way less sugar! We've made our own coins together and used it as an activity at Hanukkah parties.
Making paper gelt is an easy activity, but always a hit. We cut out circles from yellow paper, in various sizes to make the coins. Then the kids decorate the coins with markers, crayons, colored pencils- really anything that they want to use! We also like to cut foil and glue it onto the paper coins. My kindergartner was very excited to add numbers to the coins this year.
We then divide the coins up an use them to play the dreidel game. Let me tell you, trying to win large piles of these paper coins can be pretty compelling!
The coins are also a fun touch to add to Hanukkah cards. I just set out the paper coins with glue and paper, and the kids have a simple Hanukkah card for the grandparents! For another fun Hanukkah craft, check out our paper plate and clothespin menorah, an easy, fire-free way for little kids to get in on counting the nights of Hanukkah.
See more super duper easy Hanukkah crafts for kids!
Carolyn is a mom to two active little boys. She writes at The Pleasantest Thing, where she loves to share simple play ideas.
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