Back
Celebrating Holi with Colourful Art
March 28-29 (Sundown to Sundown) marks the annual Hindu and Sikh spring festivity. Holi is a festivity that celebrates the arrival of spring, love and the beginning of a new life. You will find countries like India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and other countries with Hindu and Sikh populations celebrating Holi. This holiday celebrates the Hindu God Krishna and the legend of Holika and Prahlad. This holiday begins with a large bonfire ceremony on the first night that commemorates how the young Prahlad escaped miraculously from the demoness Holika that carried him into the fire. The next day, people of all ages go into the street to throw coloured powder and water at each other as a celebration that goodness will always prevail.
Today’s activity is all about celebrating Holi with some colourful fun! This activity can be done indoors or outdoors and will have your child making colourful art while observing the movement of the colours on the paper. This will also provide an opportunity for young children to use their favourite colours to make an exclusive piece of art.
-
- Paint in multiple colours
-
- Plate or tray
-
- Loose parts such as fabric, paper, string, glitter, etc.
-
- Construction paper, plain paper or mural paper
-
- Paintbrush, spoon, sponge, or stick
-
- Optional:
-
1. Gather materials on a table or outdoors on the ground.
-
2. Use the spoon or sponge or stick to transfer the paint to the paper.
-
3. Use an object or even your finger to move the paint around however you like.
-
4. Use the loose parts to decorate your painting.
-
5. Leave it on the side to dry.
Children as young as four months old have preferences of colours. Researchers have shown that children distinguish colours right after they’re born. When they’re around two years old, they start learning the names of the colours and first say names of the colours they like.
Begin by laying the materials on the table and inviting your child by asking them “Can you show me your favourite colour(s)?”. Follow-up by beginning your own piece of colourful art and wait for your child to begin as well. Once they begin painting, ask your child open-ended questions such as “I see you chose to paint with yellow, green and red. Why did you choose those colours?” or “Wow, that is so colourful, what did you make?”. This type of art focuses on enjoying the process more than what it will end up looking like. Enjoy the process, praise your child’s effort and do it as many times as you please. Once your art work is complete, find a special place to put it. This will foster that sense of accomplishment and pride in your child. Have fun!
EarlyON