Diwali, also known as the Festival of Lights, is a vibrant and joyful celebration that offers a wealth of learning opportunities for young children. In Early Years settings, it provides a meaningful context to explore different cultures and traditions, develop communication and language skills, and inspire creativity.
Involve Staff and Families as Cultural Experts
A powerful way to bring Diwali to life is by involving those with lived experience of the festival. You might have staff members or parents who celebrate Diwali – invite them to share stories, photos, music, and traditional items with the children. This not only brings authenticity to your learning but also fosters a strong sense of community. Whether it’s demonstrating how to wear traditional clothing or sharing family traditions, these firsthand accounts help children build empathy, respect, and understanding of different ways of life.
If in-person visits aren’t possible, consider using videos or voice notes from parents describing how they prepare for and celebrate Diwali at home. Children will enjoy recognising familiar faces sharing special family traditions.
Engaging activity ideas to support your Diwali celebrations
Using high-quality resources from TTS, alongside the knowledge of staff and families within your community, you can create an engaging and inclusive Diwali celebration that supports children’s understanding of diversity and belonging. Here are three ideas to help you celebrate Diwali:
Rangoli Patterns with Loose Parts
Use loose parts to create stunning Rangoli patterns. Offer children trays of coloured gems, buttons, wooden discs, or natural materials like petals and leaves. Show examples of traditional Rangoli designs and encourage children to work independently or collaboratively to create their own. This activity supports creativity, fine motor skills, and early maths concepts like pattern and symmetry.
Diya Lamp Crafting with Air-Dry Clay
Introduce the significance of Diya lamps – symbolising light triumphing over darkness. Using air dry clay or modelling dough, children can mould their own Diya lamps. Once dry, they can decorate them with sequins, paint, and glitter. This hands-on experience encourages fine motor development and gives children a tangible connection to the festival.
Diwali Small World Play with the Washable Festival Story Basket
Bring Diwali storytelling to life with the Diwali festival story basket set. This eight-piece set includes soft, durable props like a Diya, Sari, Rangoli mat, and characters representing Rama and Sita. Use the set alongside a story retelling of the Ramayana to engage children in small world play, helping them explore the cultural and narrative aspects of Diwali. This resource supports personal, social, and emotional development as well as communication and imaginative play.
Suggested Picture Books
Books are a wonderful way to explore Diwali in more depth and support language and literacy skills. Here are a few recommended titles to share:
- Let’s Celebrate Diwali by Anjali Joshi – offers a multicultural look at Diwali through different Indian communities.
- Binny’s Diwali by Thrity Umrigar – a charming story about a girl sharing Diwali with her class.
- My First Diwali by DK – perfect for toddlers, with bright photos and simple text.
Celebrating Diwali in Early Years should be joyful, meaningful, and inclusive. By using TTS’s engaging resources, inviting contributions from families, and planning thoughtful activities, you can offer children an authentic celebration that broadens their horizons while developing key early learning skills. Most importantly, it sends a powerful message: all cultures and traditions are valued and celebrated in your setting.
Many thanks to Hayley Winter for sharing this blog with us. Hayley is an Early Years teacher and leader who is passionate about learning through play. She shares simple and effective teaching ideas for 3-5 year olds on social media.
