As many families decide to observe the Biblical Holy Days in order to embrace the Hebrew roots of our faith, we look for ways to include our children so we can pass our faith on through them.
It seems that God had the kids in mind when He gave His people the commands for the Holy Days. Their multi-sensory celebrations serve as tangible reminders of what God has done in the past and will do in the future! Sukkot is a rich time for kids as we build and hang out in an outdoor enclosure – something children love to do any day!
What We Celebrate
Sukkot is a time to:
- Thank God for His provisions – both material and spiritual.
- Celebrate God “tabernacling” (dwelling) with His people.
- Exercise our ability to bless others out of what God provides for us.
- Remember the Israelites living in the desert after God rescued them from Egypt.
For a background on Sukkot in our faith as Christians, check out An Attitude of Gratitude: Sukkot for Christians.
Crafts for Sukkot
Crafts not only provide kids with a hands-on learning experience, and they also make lovely decorations for your sukkah! Here are some creative ways to get all ages involved.
Building an edible sukkah may be my kids’ favorite Sukkot activity. They talk about it all year! We use the instructions at the link above as a base, then get pretty crazy, adding candy, cilantro for the roof, you name it. We even molded furniture out of Starbursts one year!
This idea from PJ Library uses the unique types of decorative gourds plentiful this time of year. Your kids could use googly eyes, paint, yarn, or whatever else you have around the house. The possibilities are endless!
This one from the Chabad’s Kids’ Page is a classic but still ends up being one of our favorites! Combine them with these Sukkah Decoration Cut-outs for a great addition to your sukkah!
And while you’re cutting lots of paper strips for those chains, you may as well make some of these adorable Paper Strip Fruits out of them too!
We enjoy having these decorate our sukkah as well. This site has very simple instructions.
These would be fun sukkah decorations! You could make them into a garland or hang them around your sukkah for a colorful touch. You could also follow these simple instructions from ReformJudaism.org for Free-Form Foil Fruit!
A citron is a citrus fruit used during Sukkot, as mentioned in Leviticus 23:40 and Nehemiah 8:14-15. In Hebrew, it’s called an Etrog (אֶתְרוֹג, pronounced “eht-rōg”).
Books for Sukkot
There are great books for kids about Sukkot, but don’t forget to teach them from the Bible! Here are some verses about Sukkot to read together:
- Exodus 34:22
- Leviticus 23:34-44
- Deuteronomy 16:13-17
- 1 Kings 8:2
- 2 Chronicles 8:13 and 31:3
- Ezra 3:4
- Nehemiah 8:13-18
- Zechariah 14:16-19
- John 1:14-18 and 7:2, 37-38
- Revelation 7:9-10
Sammy is the star in many cute books as he learns about Jewish traditions and holidays. In this one, he learns about Sukkot from the roof of the Shapiro family’s sukkah.
This heartwarming story is one of hope being found (both literally and figuratively!) in the devastating fire in Oakland, California, in 1991.
Educational Resources for Sukkot
This movie is super cute and educational. Made by Bim Bam using Legos, it’s under 5 minutes, fitting for those short attention spans!
Bible Pathway Adventures Activity Book – The Fall Feasts
My children use many of the Bible Pathway Adventures Activity Books. They contain activities for a range of ages (6-12 years is stated, but some activities are suitable for younger ones as well).
YMTOI Parsha Pearls – Sukkot Edition
I’ve used Parsha Pearls for my kids to study the weekly Torah Portions; they’re a great resource! Their Feast Day editions are similar, with both fun and educational activities. Here’s a video of one of their Sukkot crafts, the Sukkah Hand Puppet.
Kid-friendly Sukkot Foods
Stuffed foods are popular at Sukkot as we’re blessed with a “stuffed” sukkah!
You can buy these at your local grocery store or make your own.
Usually served on Rosh Hashanah, Tzimmes is a sweet dish, perfect for the fall season.
No holiday meal is complete without challah bread. And children LOVE to help make it! For a fall twist, try this Pumpkin Challah recipe from Tori Avey. from Tori Avey.
Delicious for breakfast, dessert, or in between, this is one of my favorites. It’s easy enough to make that the kids can help, or older ones could even make it themselves!
Gyros are another of my family’s favorites! Stuff the ingredients into pita bread and top with Tzatziki sauce (recipe included in the Gyro link above).
Whatever you choose to celebrate Sukkot with your children, don’t do what I sometimes do – get wrapped up in the activities and neglect the purpose! The celebration of Sukkot should introduce our children to a God who provides. As He provided for the Hebrew people in the desert, He provides for us, and He provided a Savior so we can be near to God, despite our sin! What a beautiful reason to celebrate! Chag Sameach!
Thank you! I love your blog posts.
Thanks so much, Amara!