Diwali or the festival of lights celebrates new beginnings. It also provides an opportunity for us to create meaningful experiences with our little ones, appreciating the beauty of traditions and customs. This article explores the magical world of Deepavali celebrations at Mindseed, presenting different activities for Diwali early years in preschool.Ā
When one thinks of Diwali, one of the first things that comes is decorating the home with vibrant colours and warm lights. Since a preschool is a home away from home, we thought it is fitting that we bring out the inner artists and fill our learning spaces with a festive ambience. Apart from creating a visually stunning environment, incorporating classroom decoration as part of the Diwali celebration at Preschool allowed children to be creative and collaborate with each other.Ā
The Deepavali celebration in preschool started by involving our little ones in the decoration planning process. In addition to brainstorming ideas and themes, we thought of it as a great opportunity to educate children about the significance of celebrating an eco-friendly festival. Together, teachers and students made Torans using recycled and sustainable decorations such as natural flowers and paper cutouts. Their happy faces reflected how excited they were to witness each room transform into a magical space filled with the spirit of Diwali.Ā
Rangoli making was also among the activities for Diwali in Preschool that the kids enjoyed. They made beautiful rangoli patterns out of flowers and rice powder. It is said that adorning courtyards and entrances with rangoli will bring prosperity. As our children unleashed their imagination and drew colourful designs with their tiny hands, they were also learning about its cultural heritage.Ā
One of the important life lessons that the Festival of Lights teaches us is that no matter how dark the circumstances may seem, you will always find light in the end. Deepavali is a festival that commemorates the victory of good over evil, light over darkness and truth over falsehood. As part of Diwali activities for preschoolers, we made sure that our children came across the story of Lord Ramaās successful return to Ayodhya after defeating demon king Ravana, symbolising that the truth shall always prevail.Ā
Storytelling is a great tool for teaching children the values, ethics and history associated with festivals. Our teachers read age-appropriate stories and rhymes to discuss the lessons and morals associated with the festival. To make our Diwali in preschool more engaging, we encouraged all of our children to narrate the tales of their Diwali celebrations at home.Ā
We know that Diwali celebrations would be incomplete without diyas. To bring out the creative side of our students further, we introduce diya and lantern making as one of the fun Diwali crafts for preschoolers. They let their imagination run wild and made colourful Diya paper cutouts in different sizes.Ā
At Mindseed, be it learning or celebrating festivals, we urge our parents to get actively involved in these activities with their children.Ā Parents get the opportunity to bond with children over Diwali activities. While suggesting creative ideas for making diyas, they also educate the kids about how diyas are associated with purity and represent the triumph of light over dark. Festivals are a great time to teach children about the value of sharing. Every year, we follow the sweet tradition of sharing sweets among students and teachers at Mindseed. Since we have a rich tradition of āMithaiāĀ that has great significance in our Indian culture, we get to see our students bringing a variety of sweets from their homes to exchange with their peers.Ā
Celebrating festivals with children is a rewarding experience that fosters creativity, cultural understanding, and collaboration among kids. Through these engaging activities like storytelling, enjoying traditional sweets, and fun Diwali craft preschool ideas such as rangoli and diya making, we can help children understand the true meaning of Diwali and embrace our traditions. At the same time, educating children about the significance of eco-friendly festivals ensures that our kids follow the measures to save Mother Earth from suffering- a true representation of the spirit of Diwali.
