Introducing kids to Holi in an exciting way helps them build a strong connection with their heritage. Through storytelling, creative activities, and playful traditions, you can turn Holi into a cherished celebration they look forward to every year!
1. Storytelling
Holi’s legends are filled with adventure, devotion, and triumph. Make the stories of Prahlad and Holika or Krishna and Radha’s playful Holi come alive with:
- Bedtime storytelling – Build anticipation by narrating a different story each night leading up to the festival.
- Storytime with props – A small bonfire of paper or a blue-painted Krishna figurine adds a fun, visual touch.
Book Recommendations for Kids
Reading about Holi is a wonderful way to introduce children to the festival’s significance. These engaging books capture the spirit of the festival through storytelling, vibrant illustrations, and cultural insights:
- Holi Hai! by Chitra Soundar
It is a lively and engaging story that brings Holi’s colors and cultural significance to life.
- Festival of Colors by Surishtha Sehgal and Kabir Sehgal
It is a beautifully illustrated book that introduces young readers to Holi traditions through the siblings’ journey preparing for the festival.
Reading these books together or gifting them during Holi can help kids develop a deeper appreciation for the festival while making learning fun and meaningful!
2. DIY Crafts
Get little hands busy with festive, hands-on activities:
- Homemade Natural Colors – Mix ingredients like turmeric, beetroot powder, and dried flowers to create safe, chemical-free colors. Kids will love helping with the process!
- Holi Greeting Cards – Let them design and decorate colorful cards for friends and family.
- Color Splash Art – Fill spray bottles with watercolors and let kids create vibrant splatter paintings, inspired by Holi’s color play.
Free Holi Coloring Pages for Kids
3. Holi-Inspired Games
Turn the festival into an action-packed celebration with these exciting games:
- Treasure Hunt – Hide packets of organic colors around the house or backyard and let kids search for them.
- Water Balloon Relay – A friendly competition where kids pass water balloons without dropping them. Expect lots of giggles!
- Musical Holi – Like musical chairs, but with a Holi twist! Kids dance to Holi songs and splash colors at every pause.
By weaving in these fun activities, you’ll make the festival exciting for your children and help them embrace its traditions in a way they’ll remember forever.
4. Video Recommendations for Kids
Looking for fun and educational videos to introduce your kids to Holi? These engaging picks bring the festival to life through storytelling, animation, and music.
These are the videos that I have shown to my kids. I recommend that you watch these videos before showing them to your kids to ensure they are suitable for your home atmosphere.
- Holi Festival Video – by Jalebi Street. This is a fun and engaging video that will appeal to toddlers and young adults alike. This briefly introduces kids to the festival of Holi, how it is celebrated, and the relevance of forgiveness in relationships.
- Holi Hai! – Read Aloud – by Read Around the World. This video narrates the book ‘Holi Hai’ by Chitra Soundar. It is very well narrated and is also a good idea to show the kids if you do not have a Holi Book.
- Festival of Colors- Read Aloud – by Learning Tree T.V. It narrates the book ‘Festival of Colors’ by Kabir Sehgal and Surishtha Sehgal.
- Holi – Festival of Colors – on Netflix Jr. This video will appeal to toddlers and young kids.
- Story of Holi in Hindi– by Mocomi Kids. This is a video in Hindi that narrates the story of Holika and Prahlad and is more suitable for toddlers.
- The Legend of Holika Dahan – by CYCLEdotIn. This video also shows the story of Hiranyakashyapu, Holika, and Prahlad. It will appeal to older kids. My 9-year-old approved it.
- Narasimha Avatar- The fourth avatar of Vishnu – by The Hindu Saga. This is part of the Dashavatar series by the creators. It shows the story of Hiranyakashyapu, Holika, Prahlad, and Lord Vishnu’s Narasimha Avatar.
- What is Holi? – by the Hindu American Foundation. It’s a short and sweet video introducing listeners to the festival of Holi.
Watching these videos together can make learning both entertaining and meaningful!
5. Fun and Interesting Facts for Kids
Holi is more than just a festival of colors—it has many fascinating aspects that make it unique and exciting! Here are some fun facts that kids will love:
- A Festival of Many Names – Holi is celebrated all over India, but it has different names in different regions. In Barsana and Nandgaon, it is called Lathmar Holi, while in West Bengal and Odisha, it is known as Dol Jatra.
- Krishna’s Playful Holi – According to legend, young Krishna started the tradition of playing with colors because he was jealous of Radha’s fair complexion and playfully smeared her with color. This is why it’s such a huge celebration in Vrindavan and Mathura!
- Colorful Natural Powders – In ancient times, people used flowers, herbs, and spices to make Holi colors. Turmeric gave yellow, hibiscus flowers made red, and neem leaves produced green.
- A Full Moon Festival – Holi is celebrated on the Phalguna Purnima, the full moon night of the Hindu calendar month of Phalguna.
- Holi Celebrations Around the World – Holi is not just celebrated in India! Countries like Nepal, the USA, the UK, Canada, and even Mauritius host large festivities filled with colors, music, and dance.
- A Time for Sweet Treats – Holi is famous for delicious sweets like gujiya, malpua, and Puran Poli. In some places, people also drink thandai, a spiced milk drink.
- The Festival of Forgiveness – This is a time to forget past quarrels and strengthen friendships. People apply colors to each other as a gesture of love and unity.
