Diwali, the festival of lights, is celebrated by millions of families across India and around the world. It is full of colour, light, food, and family, which makes it a wonderful festival to share with young children.
These 5 Diwali activities for kids are simple, low-cost, and suited to ages 3–8. Most use things you already have at home. Each one includes what you need, how to do it, and the age it suits best.
Diyas are the small clay lamps lit all over homes during Diwali. Making your own is the most popular Diwali craft for kids.
You need: air-dry clay, paint, glitter or sequins.
How to do it: Roll a ball of clay the size of a walnut. Press your thumb into the middle to make a bowl, then pinch one edge into a small spout. Leave it to dry overnight, then paint and decorate it. Place a battery tea light inside.
Rangoli are colourful patterns made on the floor near the front door to welcome guests.
You need: uncooked rice, food colouring, a splash of vinegar, zip-lock bags, card or paper.
How to do it: Put a cup of rice in a bag with a few drops of food colouring and a splash of vinegar. Shake well and spread it out to dry for an hour. Draw a simple shape on card, such as a flower or a circle, and let your child fill it in with the coloured rice. For toddlers, use chalk on the pavement or arrange flower petals into a simple pattern instead.
Lanterns hang in windows and doorways during Diwali. This version is quick and only needs paper.
You need: coloured paper, scissors, a stapler or tape, a strip of paper for the handle.
How to do it: Fold the paper in half lengthways. Cut slits from the fold, stopping 2 cm from the edge. Unfold it, roll it into a tube and staple the ends. Add a paper strip across the top as a handle. Use battery lights only, never a real flame, near paper.
Laddoos are round sweets shared at Diwali. This no-cook version lets children do most of the work.
You need: 200 g desiccated coconut, 200 ml sweetened condensed milk, a pinch of ground cardamom (optional), extra coconut for rolling.
How to do it: Mix the coconut, condensed milk, and cardamom in a bowl. Help your child roll the mixture into small balls, then roll each one in extra coconut. Chill for 30 minutes before eating.
Diwali is a lovely time to introduce a few Hindi words. Start with diya (lamp), rangoli (floor pattern) and mithai (sweets), and say them as you use them.
For 20 words with pronunciation, see our guide to Diwali words in Hindi.
If Hindi is part of your family, Diwali is a natural time for your child to hear more of it. The words come up in the stories, the greetings, and the food.
To keep that going after the festival, try Parlini Land’s Hindi games for kids. They are made for ages 3–8, and every prompt and voiceover is in Hindi, recorded by real people, not AI. Children colour animals, count, match shapes and explore picture flashcards while hearing Hindi the whole time.
The games are calm and low-stimulation, a good fit for a quiet moment after the excitement of Diwali!
Let your child play in Hindi with Parlini Land, available on the App Store and Google Play.
How do you explain Diwali to a child? Diwali is the festival of lights. Families light lamps called diyas, make colourful rangoli, share sweets and spend time together. The lights celebrate light winning over darkness and good winning over bad.
What are the easiest Diwali activities for preschoolers? A flower petal rangoli, a clay diya and rolling coconut laddoos work well for ages 3–5. They need little preparation and no sharp tools.
How can I celebrate Diwali at home with kids? Make clay diyas, create a rangoli by the front door, roll some coconut laddoos and read a Diwali story together. Add a few Hindi words to make the day even more special.
