Meaningful Ways to Celebrate Diwali with your Child

Significance of Diwali and how to explain this to your child?

Diwali is the season of joy, festivities, and fun. Here is how you can explain your tiny tots about this festival. Your older kids might know some of it but it’s always good to explain the relevance of the festival to your toddlers.

The festival of Diwali symbolizes the spiritual victory of light over darkness, good over evil and wisdom over ignorance, according to the Hindu calendar Diwali is celebrated on the Kartik Amavasya (no moon day) in the month of (October or November) The lights of Diwali signify a time to destroy all our dark desires and thoughts, and give us the strength and the zeal to carry on with our goodwill for the rest of the year.

Isn’t it important to teach our kids the actual story behind the festivals?

Diwali is celebrated across the country in the return of Lord Rama to his kingdom, Ayodhya, after an exile period of 14 years. People of Ayodhya welcomed Rama, Lakshman and Sita by lighting many clay lamps called “Diya’s”. Additionally, the festival of Diwali is believed to symbolize the visit of Goddess Lakshmi to our homes in order to bless us with prosperity and wisdom. Devotees ardently  worship Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha on this day as they are believed to bring happiness, prosperity, wealth, and success. Thus, people celebrate this festival by lighting many Diya’s around their homes. 

Celebrate this Diwali with your kids in a unique way.

Have you planned to make Diwali meaningful this year?

However, these days people are choosing to opt-out of over the top, lavish celebrations, and doing something that they care about. This year, take a moment to make Diwali meaningful and unique for your kids. We at Tickle Right believe creativity has no boundaries or limitations and spending time together as a family motivates your child to be the best version of themselves.

  1. Decorating your house for Diwali, cleanliness is next to godliness.

As Indians, it is a common practice to spend time cleaning and decorating our homes from top to bottom, often weeks prior to Diwali celebrations. Have you noticed  your child pretending to sweep the floor, or wipe the table? Kids actually like being given tasks, as it makes them feel responsible and confident. Give your kids the opportunity to help you with little things. It could be dusting tables or cleaning their toys and arranging bookshelves . Your child’s innocent desire to help you is heartwarming and will recharge your batteries too. Once they have cleaned everything, you are ready to begin the fun of decorating your homes for Diwali. Traditionally, decorations consisted of oil lamps and beautiful lanterns. 

Decorating your House for Diwali cleanliness is Next to Godliness.

  1. Make Diya’s out of clay for Diwali decorations and let your kids design it.

One of the main elements of Diwali is the presence of light. It is believed that light, glitter and illumination is what welcomes the Goddess Lakshmi into people’s homes. It’s always interesting to plan DIY for your kids on Diwali. Here are a few one. Ask your kids to make a paper lantern and help you in drawing Rangoli with some simple decorations. Buy some plain Diya’s from the market, and ask your kids to decorate them with glitter gels, mirrors, and paints. And then light those Diya’s up at home when they’re ready, show your kids how much you appreciate their efforts.

Diya's for Diwali

  1. Make Indian sweets to celebrate Diwali with kids and share them with the people around you to spread some joy.

Ask your kids to help you in making easy sweets and dessert. Because by offering sweets we express our love, respect and acknowledge their presence in our life. It is a method of conveying the message to people in our life that ‘they matter’. Teach your child about the importance of sharing with others. A small piece of sweet could light up another child’s face with a 1000-watt smile. Diwali is all about sharing what you have, with someone who will really appreciate it.

Make Indian Sweets to Celebrate Diwali with Kids and share them with the people around you to spread some joy.

  1. Party-time with a traditional twist and stories.

Choose some traditional garments and clothes for your kids. To give your kids and other family members a little more information about Diwali and how it is celebrated around the world, read books to explain the significance of the festival. It will also make them think beyond sweets and presents. Have them play scrabble or a word game with words related to the festival of Diwali to make it a fun party. 

Party-time with a Traditional Twist and stories.

  1. Light-up a Diya, not a firecracker.

Diwali is not all about the noisy firecrackers. The essence of the festival lies in having fun with friends and relatives, sharing beautiful moment, and delicious sweets recipes. Lighting up a firecracker is just a means of noise and air pollution! This can result in health problems related to hearing, breathing and many more eliminate the firecrackers because that can have adverse effects on you, your child and people around you. Getting away with firecrackers doesn’t mean getting away with fun. Try buying natural and recyclable materials as much as possible. Let your kids draw Rangoli, It’s an amazing way to develop skills, eye hand coordination, focus etc. Use flowers and natural colors such as turmeric and vermilion to draw Rangolis and decorations.

 

Importance of Diwali celebration with family and kids.

It is important for families to come together on a festive occasion like Diwali because it:

  • It gives an identity to a family since each family has tradition and values of its own.
  • Celebration creates a healthy environment of love, joy, laughter, humor, fun, excitement, reverence, and sharing.
  • It shows kids’ celebrations are best shared with loved ones.
  • Give an opportunity to your kids to introduce new members of the family .
  • These festive seasons provide grandparents with an opportunity to share traditions, narrate stories, explain the family’s unique cultural beliefs and practices.

 

This Diwali, teach your kids how they can make a difference by celebrating the festival in a unique and powerful manner. Because a child learns social awareness, empathy, and sensitivity simply by observing and imitating you. Diwali’s power to unify people from every corner of the country, irrespective of caste, creed, and religion, is truly remarkable. It is a time when people embrace one another with joy, love, and laughter.  Happy Diwali!

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