Celebrate Diwali with Read-Alouds!

When children see their culture represented in books, it can promote inclusivity and self-worth. Being able to share parts of their lives at home and have others interested in the holidays they celebrate may make students feel more accepted and comfortable in the group. 

When children learn about many cultures and different holidays, it helps them to appreciate the world and the people around them. Introducing your children to a variety of cultures, via the gift of reading, is one step to raising culturally sensitive humans. 

Diwali is a major holiday celebrated by people of Hindu and other faiths, and is a major holiday in India, similar to Thanksgiving or Christmas in the US, according to National Geographic magazine. It is typically in late October or early November, November 12th in 2023. Here are a few titles to get started with at an early elementary, even preschool, level.

The Diwali Gift by Shweta Chopra and Shuchi Mehta (2015)

The characters get a gift from one character’s grandmother, Dadima, to celebrate the Hindu Festival of Lights, Diwali. This story explains some of the traditions of a Diwali celebration - it may help some students make connections to their holiday, which may not be a holiday we all know about. There is a wonderful glossary at the back that would be worth scanning first for key definitions. Children light up when they feel connections with a story - this would be a great story to help them shine and promote inclusivity . 

Diwali (board book) by Hannah Eliot, illustrated by Archana Sreenivasan (2018)

This is a great little book that shows the ways that Diwali is celebrated - gathering with friends and family, lighting the brightest lanterns, and praying for a bountiful season. The illustrations show the family cleaning, decorating, and making rangoli, which are beautiful sand paintings. Lighting diyas (candle vessels) and feasting are also integral parts of the holiday. Even though is looks like a simple board book, this book is packed with info and will explain the holiday, and help children make connections. 

Although not about Diwali, my Diwali-celebrating friends really enjoyed this book, which highlights some vocabulary and customs, while setting it all to a “Wheels on the Bus” rhyme. 

The Wheels on the TukTuk by Kabir Sehgal and Surishtha Sehgal (2015)

The book has a great glossary to get up to speed on words that might be unfamiliar. Students can join in - it won’t matter what their cultural background is - and learn about each other in the process. Even the smallest students might want to sing along and in our case, lots of giggles and trying out pronunciations ensued! 

The wala will drive you around in the tuktuk and you might get inspired to make your own tuktuk afterwards. My friends lined up some chairs and played tuktuk, checking their pronunciations with each other - adorable! 

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There are several others books now available - these are just a small selection, as publishers have begun to respond to the need for more diversity in children’s books. 

The family members who were consulted about book choice regarding Diwali and related culture were very animated and excited to see the books, which I love and appreciate! I wanted to make sure that the books I chose were accurate and acceptable - but what I learned was that being consulted was unexpected and very welcome. So, feel free to try this strategy with your village! 

And - have fun! 

Thoughtful/Useful Gifts for Creative Kiddos

Consumable gifts - gifts that will get used up and not take up space forever - are great for adults AND kids! Some of my favorite gifts for adults are … 

• restaurant gift cards for a night out 
• collections of note cards and greeting cards, wrapped up with some stamps 
• seeds and pots to plant and nurture 
• specialty spices/ ingredients with a favorite recipe              

…. You get the picture! 

So, why not take this concept and apply it to THE KIDS! There’s something for everyone! 

For your kiddo Mechanic:

Hit the hardware store for a collection of bolts and washers and screws and nuts to put in a small “toolkit” container and let your child have fun with this self-made STEM kit. Extra points if you find a small board and drill holes in it to work on - don’t forget to sand down those rough spots :) 

For your little Scientist:

Put together a sturdy magnifying glass (Lakeshore has some good ones) and some plastic containers with lids. These will be collection cups - put in a sample of pine cones, seeds, shells, etc. but leave lots of room for additions by your scientists.

For your budding Writers/Artists:

A box of scrapbook paper, construction paper, and sticky notes will be exciting for these kiddos. Add in scissors, glue sticks, stick-on Googly eyes, etc. and some writing tools to complete a card or book-making kit. 

For the kiddo Bakers/Chefs:

Sometimes supplies of their own inspire new hobbies! Start with a favorite recipe and add a few special utensils to create interest :) Plastic bowls and small rolling pins, spoons, recipe books, cookie cutters, and mini pans are all possibilities for baking kits. There are toy versions of baking kits or you can make your own and present it in a little cloth bag or box. 

Most of all, think of all the interaction that can take place while using these kits, and have fun planning together!! 

Happy Holidays!!

Joyful Giving

Looking for a way to share the joy of giving with your kiddos? 

First, talk about finding happiness in giving, as well as receiving, and share stories of the joy that comes from gift giving. There are some great stories that will help teach this lesson - two that come to mind are A Chair For My Mother by Vera Williams and One Winter's Day by M. Christine Butler.

A Chair For My Mother tells the story of a family saving up coins in a jar after they lose everything in a fire, to save up for something special. It shows how all the little coins come together to purchase something wonderful.

In One Winter's Day, Hedgehog's nest blows away and he is left with only his hat, scarf and mittens. As the story goes on, he gifts these to other animals who need them more than he does. At the end, he is rewarded for being such a good friend. 

Then, try this: 

Send a note home that invites everyone in the class (or at home) to contribute coins for a class giving project, and explain why this is so important. Children can get very caught up in the “receiving” part of the holidays, but may need a nudge to discover the joys of “giving.”

Contributions would be up to individuals and would be private, with students each feeling a part of the project, whether with just a few coins, or more. *tip: have coins on hand for those unable to bring in from home, so that they can feel a part of things too. 

Talk with the children to decide what type of giving they would like to participate in as a class - possibilities could include food, toys, clothing, etc. Maybe even chart their answers to decide together. 

Next, choose some kind of container, and decorate it for whatever theme you want to convey to your students. If you are collecting to buy mittens or hats, you could find pictures and cover a plastic container. If your coins are going towards a toy drive, try using an actual toy for a container - maybe a small doll house or container truck :) 

Make sure there is an opening for change to fit in and to be held for as long as your drive will take. If you are in-person or hybrid, you can place the container in your classroom. If remote, choose a day/time(s) to accept secure donations each week outside of school, leading into the holidays, with proper social distancing.

When all the coins are collected, purchase and display the items purchased, so that the children can feel the happiness that comes with giving gifts - you can send out photos, have them make cards, and even write about the experience! It all helps to make this a memorable event - and inspire a lifetime of giving :) 

Have fun!