Explore engaging ways for families to teach kids about Diwali through hands-on activities, crafts, cultural experiences, and educational resources that make learning about the Festival of Lights both fun and meaningful.
Here’s a peek at our family learning about Diwali with our kids. These Diwali activities are simple and informational as you explore the festival of lights with your child.
Happy Diwali!
Learning about the cultures our parents come from is part of a bilingual family. My husband and I both try our best to expose our children to both our faiths, Hinduism and Christianity.
My husband is from India where Hindus celebrate Diwali along with many other festivals. Diwali, the Festival of Lights, is one of the most significant holidays in Hinduism.
You can learn more about Diwali here
Learning about Diwali with Kids
I created a very simple handout for my daughter to make so she could learn some of the significant details about Diwali. We shared it with her class at school.
She and I dressed in Indian clothes and brought Indian sweets for the children to sample. It was a lot of fun. You can show one of these videos too.
Here’s a Printable of the Diwali Handout
Some of the Diwali vocabulary words we introduced and showed examples of…
Click now for 8 Fun & Easy Diwali Crafts for Kids
Diwali Resources for Kids
I found several websites to help children understand the steps to prepare for Diwali including decorations and Diwali Puja, which my daughter started learning about last year.
Here’s a sample Step-by-step guide to perfectly perform Lakshmi puja at home
Here’s a photo above of the offering she prepared all by herself.
- Diwali Toolkit to teach others about Diwali.
- Here are some adorable Diwali coloring sheets and cards to create for Diwali!
- My daughter enjoys this video about Diwali in India. I love that they have real clips from the markets preparing for Diwali.
- Here’s a cute video clip of Mickey and Donald getting sweets ready for Diwali with Minnie Mouse! Diwali with Mickey Mouse!
- Kids explaining Diwali to friends from Global Wonders
- Diwali information on Kid Citizen World
- Even President Obama extended his Diwali wishes too here!
- You can watch Diwali videos for kids here.
Watch these Diwali Videos for Kids!
Click now to see our favorite Diwali Books for Kids!
I think it’s a great idea to relate things to your child with people or characters they may already recognize. It’s a great way to make them feel connected to another culture.
Make your Own Diya for Diwali
My daughter and I decided to make our own version of Diyas for Diwali. Diyas are places outside of homes on Diwali to light up the night. We simply used some recycled baby food jars to create our candle holders.
We also used glitter paint and sequins with adhesive. It was great fun to sit with my inlaws and create them.
My daughter is more into repetitive designs when she does her art so detailed Indian Art Work is right up her alley.
It was also a great way to talk about symbols of Diwali with her Dadi Ji and Dada Ji (name for grandparents on Father’s side)
Here’s what our diyas looked like as we lit them on Diwali!
As the holy occasion of Diwali is here and the atmosphere is filled with the spirit of mirth and love, here’s hoping this festival of beauty brings your way, bright sparkles of contentment, that stay with you through the days ahead.
To Learn More About Diwali Click Here
Diwali Craft Ideas for Kids
- Flower Rangoli for Diwali with Kids
- Let’s Learn About Diwali with Kids
- Rangoli Craft Idea for Kids with Salt
Click now for 8 Easy Diwali Crafts for Kids
Hi Kim,
Loved this post about Diwali. I’m an Indian and bringing up kids in the US. Really want them to learn about my culture and thoroughly enjoyed your post. Using the handout tomorrow for a class Diwali party. Thank you.
Thank you for sharing this wealth of information! Great for our household and my son’s elementary school! Much appreciated.
Your daughter is so cute and I love these clothes!!!
Thanks Aruna! I love your blog and you've inspired me to work with my little Bindi Babies 🙂
What wonderful ideas to celebrate – your daughter looks gorgeous in her lehenga! We will have to share some of these ideas for next year.
October was pretty busy at our house this year. Diwali falls on different dates each year based on the lunar calendar. Diwali in 2012 will start on Tuesday, the 13th of November and will continue for 5 days until Saturday, the 17th of November.
I think Diwali is a beautiful holiday that is celebrated pretty widely here in CA. Unfortunately, October is so very full for us to be able to fit something else, but I pinned your post for the future.
Thanks Lesley! She just loves her pink and green lengha! I love you site and just became your newest follower!
Happy Diwali to you from your newest follower. Doesn't pink and green suit your daughter?
Thanks Maryanne! She loves getting dressed in her indian clothes! And can't wait to put out her Diyas tomorrow night!
Your handout is such a nice, simple introduction to Diwali! And your daughter looks beautiful in her Indian clothes. I really like the baby food jar Diyas, too.