Eid activities for kids at home: 20 ideas and a plan for the day

The best Eid activities for kids at home are an Eidi treasure hunt, decorating Eid biscuits, a photo corner, handmade cards, garden games, an Eid quiz and a giving job such as delivering food to neighbours. Plan a Sunnah activity for the morning, an active game after lunch and something calm for the evening, with an indoor back-up for rain.

What can kids do on Eid at home?

Children can do Sunnah activities in the morning, active games and baking in the afternoon, and quiet activities in the evening. Choose three or four of the twenty below rather than trying to do everything. In the UK, Eid often falls on a school or work day, so a simple plan keeps the day special even when it is short.

What is a good plan for Eid day with kids?

A good Eid day starts with the Sunnah and the prayer, saves visits and games for after lunch, and ends calmly. Here is a sample plan for Eid al-Fitr. Many UK mosques hold more than one Eid prayer, so check your mosque’s times and move the slots to fit.

For traditions to build year after year, such as Eid-eve rituals and keepsakes, see our companion guide on how to make Eid special for kids. This page is about things to do.

Which Eid morning activities follow the Sunnah?

The Eid morning Sunnah suits children well: a bath and best clothes, dates before the Eid al-Fitr prayer, and saying the takbir together.

1. Eid bath and best clothes. Let children lay out their outfit the night before, so the morning runs smoothly.
2. Dates before the prayer (Eid al-Fitr). The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) did not go out on the morning of Eid al-Fitr until he had eaten some dates, and he ate an odd number (Sahih al-Bukhari 953). Let children count out three or five. On Eid al-Adha, he ate after the prayer (Jami‘ at-Tirmidhi 542, graded sahih by al-Albani).
3. Takbir together. Practise “Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, la ilaha illallah, wallahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, wa lillahil hamd” in the car or on the walk. Families use slightly different wordings, and all are fine.
4. Eid breakfast. Children help set a special table: pancakes, sheer khurma, or whatever your family’s tradition is.

How do you set up an Eidi treasure hunt?

Hide six to eight clues around the house, each leading to the next, with the Eidi or a small gift at the end. It takes about 20 minutes to set up and keeps children busy for half an hour.

5. Eidi treasure hunt (ages 2+).
   1. Choose the final hiding place for the Eidi envelope or gift.
   2. Work backwards: pick six to eight places, such as the fridge, a shoe, the bookshelf, under a cushion and the washing basket.
   3. Write a clue for each. Under-fives get a picture or photo of the next place; older children get riddles, for example “I keep the milk cold. Look inside me.”
   4. Number the clues so siblings can take turns reading.
   5. Hide them the night before, and keep a list so you can find any that go missing.
   6. For mixed ages, give each child their own colour of clue so nobody races ahead.

What are good Eid activities for the afternoon?

After lunch, children have the most energy, so this is the time for baking, games and visits.

6. Eid biscuits. Bake simple biscuits with crescent and star cutters, or buy plain ones, and set out icing and sprinkles. Older children can try ma’amoul (date-filled biscuits).
7. Eid photo corner. Hang bunting and an “Eid Mubarak” sign against a wall and take a family photo in the same spot every year. Lined up, the photos show the children growing.
8. Cards for family. Make Eid cards to post or hand to grandparents, neighbours and teachers.
9. Video calls. Children say “Eid Mubarak” to relatives abroad and show their outfits and gifts.
10. Garden games. Sack races in pillowcases, egg-and-spoon (use potatoes for under-fives), tug of war and a lantern relay passing a paper lantern.
11. Eid picnic. If the weather is kind, take leftovers to the park and invite friends.
12. Pass the parcel. Wrap a small gift in layers with a riddle or a kind task in each layer. If your family prefers not to use music, use a recitation or a nasheed, or simply clap.
13. Henna or face painting. Simple henna patterns or a crescent on the hand. Patch-test first, and use only natural henna: never “black henna”, which can contain a hair dye that causes serious skin reactions.
14. An Eid den. Blankets, fairy lights and cushions make a cosy place to open gifts and read new books.

How can children give at Eid?

Giving is part of both Eids, and children can do real jobs: handing over Zakat al-Fitr, packing food and choosing a toy to give away.

15. Zakat al-Fitr. It must be given before the Eid al-Fitr prayer (Sahih al-Bukhari 1503), so many families pay it in the last days of Ramadan. Let children hand it over or press “pay”, and explain that it means everyone can celebrate.
16. Food for neighbours. At Eid al-Adha, families share the qurbani meat with relatives, friends and people in need: “eat from them and feed the needy” (Qur’an 22:36). At either Eid, children can pack and deliver plates of food to neighbours.
17. Toy giving. Each child chooses one toy in good condition for a children’s charity or a local family.

What are calm Eid activities for the evening?

By evening, children are tired and full, so choose something quiet: a quiz, a memory page or a story.

18. Eid quiz. A family quiz about Eid, Ramadan and the Prophets. Our Islamic quiz for kids has 50 ready-made questions with answers.
19. Eid memory page. Each child draws or writes the best part of the day on a dated page. Keep the pages in one folder, year after year.
20. A story and a dua. End with a new book, a Prophet story and a short dua of thanks. At Eid al-Adha, the story of the Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him) is especially fitting: see Ibrahim’s story for kids. Hudhud, a UK personalised Islamic storybook, puts the child’s name and likeness into the stories of five Prophets, including Ibrahim, and suits a first read in the Eid den.

Which Eid activities suit each age?

What if it rains on Eid?

Swap each outdoor activity for an indoor one and the plan still works.

How do you keep the meaning of Eid at the centre?

Remind children why we celebrate: Eid al-Fitr is a thanksgiving after a month of fasting, and Eid al-Adha comes in the days of Hajj and recalls the Prophet Ibrahim’s obedience (Qur’an 37:102–107). Between the games, say “Alhamdulillah” for the good things of the day, and thank the people who made it happen. For gift ideas, see our guide to Eid gifts for kids.