From Afikomen to Omer: Counting as a Treasure Hunt

Mandie Greenberg

April 07, 2026

As the Feast of Unleavened Bread comes towards its end, our next commanded observance is on the horizon: the Counting of the Omer. This transition from deliverance into anticipation for God's arrival among us is one of the most under-rated Biblical holidays. (I've written about counting the Omer before and why it's significant so read here to learn more ⇢). Its a beautiful tradition that fills us with a sense of excitement to meet with God at the time of His choosing.

But, as the mom of a kindergartener, I’ve noticed that simply counting or marking days on a calendar can start to feel a little monotonous for little ones. And this time of year, when many springtime traditions and activities are happening around them, my child has definitely felt the pull to join in with friends. So, I wanted to find a way to capture that same sense of fun and curiosity while still honoring ADONAI’s command to keep His moadim.

So! In anticipation of Shavuot coming in less than 50 days, here are some creative ideas to engage your kids in preparing, counting, and anticipating in God's Appointed Feasts:

(If you’re looking for a simple way to track each day, there’s also a printable Omer calendar tracker available on our TLV Bible App! Click Here ⇢)

Bring back echoes of the hunt for the afikomen from your Passover seder and hide the number of the day somewhere in your house! Let the kids hunt for it after dinner and whoever finds it gets a treat or piece of candy. You can cut out numbers from construction paper, buy stickers, or get foam ones online! You'll have to get creative in hiding it every day, but this type of special, daily ritual can become something your kids look forward to - day after day - as we head towards the big celebration.
"How sweet is Your word to my taste— yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth!"
- Psalm 119:113 TLV
Find an empty bucket or bin and fill it over time with ping-pong balls, one for each day. You can write the day of the omer on each ball and let your little ones fill up the bucket. Then, on day 50 (Shavuot) take them for a super fun grain-focused activity like spreading frozen corn and peas for the ducks at your local pond, getting a dozen donuts and taking them to your local fire station, or even getting a couple of loaves of bread and dancing with them to your favorite worship song in the park. Either way, give your grain offering to ADONAI - even if it looks silly - because those are the moments that your kids will remember.

“Then you are to count from the morrow after the Shabbat, from the day that you brought the omer of the wave offering, seven complete Shabbatot. Until the morrow after the seventh Shabbat you are to count fifty days, and then present a new grain offering to ADONAI.
- Leviticus 23:15-16 TLV

Turn your Omer count into a daily Scripture treasure! Fill small containers (like plastic eggs) with verses based on a theme such as love or hope. Let your kids gather them in a fun hunt, then open one each day as you count toward Shavuot. By Day 50, they’ll have a collection of Scriptures hidden in their hearts, reminding them of God’s goodness.

"I have treasured Your word in my heart, so I might not sin against You."
- Psalm 119:11 TLV

Now, with Shavuot being a feast of firstfruits of your grain harvest, we traditionally make our meals heavy on the carbs. So, this is a perfect time to pull out all the stops with your bread-based meals. Pizza, french toast, bread pudding, grilled cheese, bread and butter... you name it and it's a great way to enjoy the holiday. Anything to enjoy the goodness of God!

Feast of Matzot Omer Spring Feasts