Afikoman Gift Ideas
Looking for some fabulous Afikoman gift ideas for the kids? These ideas are all tried and tested by my own and are bound to be a hit! This post contains affiliate links and gifted products.
When it comes to finding the perfect Afikoman gifts for kids, traditions very greatly.
For some families, there is a small budget and the kids choose.
For some families, parents use it as an opportunity to invest in quality “lifetime” toys that are played with for many years. Many will even purchase it in advance of the holiday so that kids can actually play with it then!
Some parents gift those trend-based toys that “everyone has” and use it as an incentive for all the Pesach cleaning help.
And some try to double dip with things that’ll keep the kids busy on the long holiday afternoons and on chol hamo’ed – the interim days. This is especially common where one parent needs to work and family trips aren’t an option.
I tried to pinpoint these different needs and traditions and put together this list of trend-based gadgets, forever toys, and highly entertaining options that make fabulous Afikoman gift ideas.
I also tried to include a good assortment of budgets for every family needs.
Keep in mind that some things, while pricier, serve as “family gifts” that cover all your kids, and so they may actually be more cost-effective than single-child gifts.
Forever Toy Afikoman Gift Ideas
One of my favorite Afikoman gift ideas is to purchase a gift in advance of Passover and to tell kids to return the Afikoman in exchange for something specific instead of something they dream up then. It saves a LOT of time.
And my favorite thing to offer is a “forever” toy – you know those toys that kids just don’t ougrow for a very long time, and when they do, it gets played with enough that you’re probably going to save it for the grandkids? Here are a few ideas!
Connetix
Magnetic building tiles are a top toy now for every playroom, because of their open-ended play value that appeals to multiple age groups. They are easy to use and encourage STEM exploration, with a satisfying magnetic click that makes building fun.
Connetix are magnetic building tiles that are absolutely gorgeous. They are a well-made safe magnetic tile so you can let your kids play stress free.
My favorite feature is the beveled surface, which reflects the light and makes for gorgeous designs.
The Rainbow Motion Pack is a classic car-building pack, with two smooth-running interconnecting car pieces and an additional 22 pieces. It’s the perfect size for staring a magnetic tile collection or for adding to an existing one.
Little Partners Learn ‘N Balance Set
Getting kids to be active indoors is a challenge, and for those kids who need a little extra help meeting milestones, it’s so important. A did a lot of balance practice while she was getting PT, however, she no longer needs. it We still like to practice those skills to keep her “on her toes…”
Little Partners makes wood play equipment that work as “forever toys”. They are built to last. Their Learn ‘N Balance set is the perfect toy for encouraging developmentally stimulating play in active kids. It’s a solid balance beam that’s made from layered birch and poplar. It looks great in our home, while still retaining a kid-friendly playfulness.
We don’t have a lot of space in our house, and I appreciate that this is something we can set up and pack away, as it stores quite small.
The balance beam comes in four interconnecting sections, and it includes four stepping stones – round wooden non-slip discs. She’s been begging for an indoor “climbing” toy, and this is the perfect safe alternative for her to build those skills.
Green Toys Parking Garage
When it comes to plastic toys, choosing the right ones makes all the difference in how long they last. The Green Toys parking garage is one of those toys we always pull out when there are guests – in fact, my kids have been playing with it since they are quite small and it’s still going strong.
It’s made of sturdy recycled plastic, and stores quite small. Both my boys and A all love playing with it.
Gadget Afikoman Gift Ideas
Nothing appeals to kids quite like beeping, noise-making, screen-containing gadgets – but what if you’re DONE with screens?
These fun finds actually take the place of screen time to a degree, and while some are better than others in productive play and imagination encouragement, they are all WINS with my own kids.
Naki Radio
The Naki Radio is a streaming radio that allows only approved sites and podcasts through their own network. That means that kids can access it freely and play it on their own. Its content is ALL Orthodox Jewish content, so make sure that’s what you’re looking for before buying it.
My boys absolutely love it! They spend hours listening to it. They also have a premium subscription, which your kids WILL beg you for, and if it’s in the budget you may want to add that in. However, we don’t have that, and my kids still listen to it a lot. They have a couple of favorite free things to listen to and there is a free “story of the day” from the premium collection too.
It includes Jewish music stations, kids’ story stations, and also adult (as in, grown-up) Torah stations. It’s a fabulous family gifts for those with younger kids who care about providing their kids with Torah-teaching content.
Electronic Pop-its
Okay, this is a craze, but it’s THE craze right now. These electronic versions of the popular pop-bubble fidgets remind me a bit of Simon. They basically light up some of the bubbles and kids have to race to pop it. There is also a memory version – in fact, there are three modes.
And yes, to answer your question, it is among the noisier toys.
VTech PrintCam
While I’ve previously shared this as a big sibling gift, it’s also a super fun afikoman gift idea! Little kids will love taking their own photos, and yes, it has games. While it does induce some “screen time” vibes, it’s not as crazy as actual devices.
And kids can edit and add stickers to their photos, making it fabulous for encouraging a bit of creativity. It prints directly from the camera on thermal paper, costing pennies per print.
Chol Hamo’ed Activities to Give as Afikoman Gifts
My husband typically has to work on Chol Hamo’ed (the interim days of Passover when Sabbath laws aren’t observed) and so we don’t go on family trips like many people do. I always try to have some fresh activities that feel like a trip-at-home. I even budget for some new things.
For Passover, double dipping activities with Afikoman gifts is a fabulous strategy, and one that really keeps me sane on those long days at home (with kids whose friends are ALL going away…)
The idea is to keep things really new and fresh for this – with things they haven’t done before.
StickiCubes
Part sensory toy, part building toy, StickiKubes are mini (about a cm) sticky cubes (like the name…) that kids can use to build all sorts of 2D and 3D creations.
They are washable – in fact, the container comes with a strainer lid. They are a compact toy that’s easy to store, with a high entertainment factor, and a broad age appeal.
Highlights Big Book of Activities for Little Kids
I’m not gonna lie, we have a huge stash of activity books, but there’s always room for another, as they provide our family with so much entertainment value!
And this one from Highlights is quite unique. It has over 200 activities designed for ages 3-6. The Big Book of Activities for Little Kids features different sections and categories – crafts, DIY pretend play ideas, movement, experiments, recipes, kindness prompts, songs, and even stories!
It’s the kind of book that’ll give you entertainment ideas for long days at home, but also will be entertaining for the kids in its own right. If you have multiple kids, it’s the perfect way to get older kids involved in playing with the younger set.
And here’s a little mom hack: hand this to your kids with a pad of sticky notes or flags and let them mark the things they want to do… It’ll be a whole activity in itself.
The book itself is an upgraded softbound book, with vivid glossy pages full of photos and playful graphics.
Gel Blasters
We first introduced our kids to Gel Blasters as a Sukkot activity and they had… a blast. (Yes, I had to.)
They shoot out gellets (like mini water beads) that burst on impact and basically dissolve, so you don’t need to collect anything. They have all sorts of accessories to upgrade the play experience but you can have fun with them as-is as well.
I find that this is an affordable toy to restock, and each new gellet package really goes a long way entertainment-wise. It got my bigger kids to enjoy the outdoors a little, which is a stretch most days.
KiwiCo Subscription or Single Box
We are longtime fans of KiwiCo’s entertaining boxes and kits. M loves the Tinker Crate STEM and Doodle Crate craft lines, and Y is a fan of Kiwi Crate (STEM, but for younger kids). A has enjoyed both Panda Crate’s high quality developmentally-appropriate toys and Koala Crate’s activity kits.
And yes, I am absolutely obsessed with their teen and adult craft box – Maker crate. It comes with real-life craft skills, including the tools you need to do it.
In a nutshell, they have a line for every age range, and they are always a hit in entertainment value and quality. You can choose standalone kits, or subscriptions if you want a longer-lasting gift.
Note: some people refrain from skilled work on Chol Hamo’ed. If an adult plans to do it then, you may want to ask your Rabbi if it’s allowed.
Non-toy Afikoman Gift Ideas
Not every gift needs to be a toy – it just needs to have appeal! Here are some suggestions for the “but we have WAAAYY too many toys” crowd.
Jewelry/Watch
Jewelry or watches are fabulous choices that are a bit splurgy for everyday, and an exciting gift for kids!
M has this watch and loves it. You can also give this beautiful kid-friendly necklace a go.
Art Supplies or Kids’ Tools
Years ago, M got this “real” tool set as gift. It’s actual tools, but in a kid-friendly size. It’s a fabulous gift for handy kids.
For kids who love crafting or art, you can gift upgraded materials – Prismacolor colored pencils, brush tip markers (water based for kids, older teens can try alcohol markers), polymer clay tools, etc.
Got any Afikoman gift ideas to add to the list? What is your Afikoman tradition? Comment below!
