Diwali, the Festival of Lights, is a vibrant and meaningful celebration that can be incorporated into Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) settings.
Engaging children in Diwali-themed activities offers an exciting opportunity to introduce them to a different culture, while supporting key areas of learning such as communication, creativity, and understanding of the world.
Below are some Diwali activities for EYFS that are fun, educational, and perfect for increasing engagement.
Blossom’s Recommended Diwali Activities for Early Years:
1. Creating Rangoli Patterns
Rangoli is a traditional Indian art form made from coloured powders, rice, or flower petals, often designed outside homes during Diwali to welcome good fortune.
In an EYFS setting, you can introduce Rangoli designs by providing children with colourful materials like sand, rice, or paper shapes to create their own patterns. This activity promotes creativity, fine motor skills, and pattern recognition while introducing cultural diversity.
EYFS Areas of Development:
- Expressive Arts and Design (Creating with Materials, Being Imaginative and Expressive)
- Physical Development (Fine Motor Skills)
- Understanding the World (People, Culture and Communities)
2. Diwali Storytelling: The Story of Rama and Sita
Introduce the story of Diwali by narrating the traditional tale of Rama and Sita, which is central to the celebration. Simplify the story for young children, using visual aids or puppets to engage them.
Afterwards, you can encourage discussions and ask children questions to help develop their comprehension and communication skills. This story also offers a great platform for children to explore themes of good versus evil, light versus darkness etc.
EYFS Areas of Development:
- Literacy (Comprehension)
- Communication and Language (Listening, Attention and Understanding, Speaking)
- Understanding the World (People, Culture and Communities)
3. Making Diya Lamps
Diwali is known as the Festival of Lights, and decorating diya lamps is a key part of the celebration. Children can make their own diyas out of clay or use pre-made ones to paint.
This hands-on activity helps children develop fine motor skills while giving them a sense of achievement as they create something beautiful that ties into the celebration.
Don’t go filling them with oil though unless you want a slippery mess on your hands!
EYFS Areas of Development:
- Expressive Arts and Design (Creating with Materials)
- Physical Development (Fine Motor Skills)
- Personal, Social, and Emotional Development (Managing Self)
4. Diwali Dance and Music
Introduce children to traditional Indian music and dance as part of the Diwali celebration. Play classical or Bollywood music and encourage children to move to the rhythm, or learn a simple Indian dance routine.
This activity enhances physical development and coordination and fosters cultural awareness to boot.
EYFS Areas of Development:
- Physical Development (Gross Motor Skills)
- Communication and Language (Listening, Attention and Understanding)
- Understanding the World (People, Culture and Communities)
5. Exploring Diwali Lights
Since Diwali is a festival celebrating light, use this theme to explore the concept of light and darkness. Set up a darkened room with fairy lights, lanterns, or battery-operated candles, allowing children to explore the effects of light in different settings.
This sensory experience can lead to discussions about light, shadows, and the symbolic importance of light in different cultures. It’s also great fun for the younger ones who might not be able to get involved with the crafting activities.
EYFS Areas of Development:
- Physical Development (Gross Motor Skills)
- Communication and Language (Listening, Attention and Understanding)
- Understanding the World (People, Culture and Communities)
6. Diwali-Themed Crafts: Paper Lanterns and Fireworks Art
Incorporate craft activities that connect to the festival’s themes, such as making paper lanterns and fireworks art. Provide children with materials to design their own colourful lanterns with folds and safety scissors for the older ones, or use paint to create fireworks patterns on black paper.
These activities promote creativity, fine motor skills, and colour recognition, while linking to the festive spirit of Diwali.
EYFS Areas of Development:
- Expressive Arts and Design (Creating with Materials)
- Physical Development (Fine Motor Skills)
- Mathematics (Numerical Patterns)
7. Cooking (and Tasting!) Indian Sweets
Involving children in simple, no-bake cooking activities allows them to explore new tastes and textures, while also introducing basic maths concepts such as measuring ingredients.
This activity is a wonderful way to promote cultural appreciation through food, and a great opportunity to talk about health and nutrition too.
EYFS Areas of Development:
- Understanding the World (People, Culture and Communities)
- Physical Development (Fine Motor Skills)
- Mathematics (Number)
Incorporating Diwali activities for EYFS into your curriculum not only enriches children’s understanding of cultural diversity, but also supports multiple areas of development and early learning goals.
From Creating with Materials and Fine Motor Skills to Speaking, Literacy and more, Diwali is a great time for early years learning and exploring. These activities provide a fun, hands-on way to engage children with the themes of light, celebration, and culture while meeting EYFS early learning goals.
