How to Buy Hanukkah Gifts for Kids

Picking gifts for an eight-day holiday can be daunting. These guidelines will help.

Step 1: Start out modestly Start out by giving them something they've been asking for that's modestly priced.
Step 2: Be charitable Underscore the spirituality of the season by making a donation in their name to charity.
TIP: A child might like a donation they can picture, like a farm animal for a family in a developing nation, while a teen might enjoy a donation made to their favorite celebrity's cause.
Step 3: Make it educational Make the third gift something educational that is still fun – a toy or game that provides a mental workout.
Step 4: Give them gelt On the fourth night, give them gelt – a Yiddish word for money – in the form of cash, chocolate coins, or both.
Step 5: Reinforce your religion Reinforce Hanukkah's religious nature by giving them a book, game, video, or toy related to Judaism.
Step 6: Be kind to the planet Be kind to the planet by giving them something eco-friendly on the sixth night.
Step 7: Give an experience Give the gift of a shared experience by presenting the entire family with tickets to the theater, a concert, or a sporting event. Or give everyone an IOU for a future outing.
Step 8: Save the best for last End the holiday on a high note by giving the children one extravagance that they'll cherish.
FACT: Giving gelt during Hanukkah became customary in part so poor people had enough money to buy their holiday candles without having to beg.