Celebrated on February 12-13, 2025, Tu B’Shvat — the Jewish New Year of the Trees — is a wonderful opportunity to connect with nature and teach kids about sustainability. For families with kids ages 2-11 in the Hamptons, Shine offers creative ways to make this holiday meaningful, hands-on, and fun. Here are some fresh ideas to celebrate Tu B’Shvat with your little ones this year.

1. Create a DIY Edible Seder Plate

The Tu B’Shvat seder is a delightful tradition where families enjoy fruits representing the holiday’s themes. Gather your kids to make a personalized seder plate with their favorite dried fruits, nuts, and fresh produce. Include symbolic items like:

• Fruits with shells (almonds or oranges) to teach about protection and growth.
• Fruits with pits (dates or peaches) to symbolize potential and inner beauty.
• Completely edible fruits (figs or grapes) to represent simplicity and joy.

Let your kids decorate the plate with colorful drawings of trees or flowers to make it even more special.

2. Plant and Decorate Mini Trees

Even in an urban setting, kids can connect to nature by planting mini trees or indoor plants. Consider easy-to-grow varieties like Dracaena, Rubber Tree, ZZ Plant, Peace Lily, and Money Trees—these low-maintenance options thrive in low light and are perfect for kids. Personalize the planters by decorating them with paint, stickers, and natural materials like twigs and leaves. Not only will this activity be fun, but it will also teach responsibility as they care for their plants and watch them grow.

3. Create a Nature Scavenger Hunt

“Though the weather outside is frightful,” you can still celebrate Tu B’Shvat indoors with a nature-themed scavenger hunt. Here’s how to set it up:

• Make a List: Choose nature-related items like houseplants, wooden furniture, pinecones, fruits, or printed pictures of trees.
• Write Clues: Create simple, rhyming clues or riddles that lead kids to each item. For example:
  • “Find something green that sits in the sun” (houseplant)
  • “Look for something round that grows on a tree” (fruit like an apple)
  • “Find a wooden treasure that helps us build” (wooden chair or table)
• Hide Items: Place the items in easy-to-find spots around the house that match your clues.
• Start the Hunt: Give kids the first clue and let them work through the list.

For older kids, add fun facts about the hidden items to make it educational too.

4. Put Together a Tree-Inspired Feast

Turn mealtime into an adventure by preparing dishes inspired by trees. Make a fruit salad featuring five of the seven species associated with Tu B’Shvat with this recipe:

• 1 cup fresh figs, chopped
• 1 cup pomegranate seeds
• 1 cup olives (green or black, pitted)
• 1 cup dates, chopped
• 1 cup grapes, halved
• 1 cup almonds (optional)
• 1 tablespoon honey (optional)

Older kids can help chop and mix, while younger ones can sprinkle almonds and pomegranate seeds or drizzle honey. Let them arrange the fruit slices into tree shapes or fun patterns.

5. Craft a Tu B’Shvat Mural

Here’s a simple craft that celebrates blossoming trees:

Materials:

• Canvas
• Large paintbrush
• 2-3 Q-tips
• Strips of various pink shades
• Printed tree
• Brown cardstock
• Light blue, pink, and white paint
• Scissors
• Pencil or pen
• Glue stick

Instructions:

• Paint the canvas light blue.
• Trace the tree onto brown cardstock and cut it out.
• Glue the tree trunk to the canvas.
• Dip a Q-tip in pink paint and make large dots on the tree and ground; repeat with white paint for smaller dots.
• Roll strips of pink and white paper, glue them onto the tree for blossoms.
• Add clouds with a Q-tip and white paint.

This craft will keep kids engaged while teaching them about the beauty of trees. For a full guide, check out a video from the Jewish Children’s Museum.

Make This Tu B’Shvat Unforgettable

Tu B’Shvat is more than a holiday – it’s an opportunity to teach kids about gratitude for the natural world. Whether you’re planting trees, crafting, or enjoying a festive meal, these activities will help kids connect to nature and celebrate the season. Looking to make your Tu B’Shvat celebration extra special? Contact Shine for personalized party supplies and activities to bring the fun to your home.