HOLI – WELCOMING SPRING IN INDIA

Holi is the coming of spring celebrated in India and Nepal.  Traditionally large bonfires were lit to chase away the winter and the unwanted elements of the past.  There is much singing and dancing during this time.  The songs are usually Holi folk songs or Bollywood songs.

On the day of Holi, people visit each other and exchange treats. They also like to throw colored powder or colored water at each other to honor the reappearing colors of nature.  Families give children gifts of candy, crayons, water colors, water guns, colored hats and masks.  Families give each other gifts of colorful flowers, wall hangings, balloons, candles and candies.

Below are some ideas for celebrating Holi with preschoolers.

WATER COLORS

• Let your children take turns using a tray of water colors with large color squares.
• Show them how to dip a brush in some water, then circle it around in a color square and then brush the paint across a piece of paper.
• Give children different brushes for different colors.
   

COLORED WATER SPRAYS

• Set out some spray bottles with a different colored water in each.
• Tape a large sheet of paper on the wall and let your children take turns spraying colors onto the paper.

 
BALLOON PAINGING

•  Take three paper plates and but a different color of paint on each plate; example red, blue and yellow paint.
• Then blow up three small balloons, one red, one blue and one yellow.
• Have your children take turns coming up and making a balloon painting.
• Have the child pick up a balloon and dip it in the same color of paint as the balloon.
• Then, have them make a print of the balloon on a piece of paper.
• Let each child make 3-4 prints, either all the same color or a combination of colors.
   

COLORFUL HEADBANDS

• Give each child a strip of 2” x 20” piece of paper.
• Set out some washable marking pens (remove dark colors).
• Let each child color his strip as he wishes.
• Encourage children to use lots of colors.
• When children are done, fit the strips around each child’s head and tape the ends together.

 
COLORFUL CHALK PICTURES

• SIDEWALK ART – Go outside on a sunny day and let your children draw pictures on a sidewalk using colorful pieces of large chalk.
• CHALK/WATER PICTURES – Give each child a piece of white construction paper, a brush and a small cup of water.  Have child cover her paper with water, then draw a chalk picture on the paper using the bright colors out a of a small box of chalk.
• SANDPAPER PICTURES – Give each child a piece of sandpaper and two or three pieces of colorful chalk.  Have the child color with the chalk on the sandpaper.
   

MARBLE PAINTING

• Set out 3-4 trays of bright colors of paint, such as; red, pink, orange, yellow
• Set a large marble in each tray.
• One at a time, let your children make a marble painting by placing a piece of paper inside a box lid.
• Then have them one at a time, place a marble (covered with paint) on the paper and then tilt the box lid so the marble will roll across it a few times.
• Have the child repeat the process with other marbles, as they wish.
• Let pictures dry and hang up for all to enjoy.

HOLI COLOR GAME

SPRAYING BODY CUTOUTS

• Set out some large sheets of butcher paper.
• Have children take turns lying on the paper as you draw around their bodies.
• Cut out the shapes and tape them to the wall.
• Set out some spray bottles filled with colored water.
• Let your children take turns spraying the cutouts of their friends with colored water.

Variation: Lie cutouts on the ground outside and have your children color them with colorful water.
 

CONFETTI THROWING

• Cut out paper body shapes, like in the activity above.
• Have children spread glue on their body shapes.
• Then let children throw confetti at the body shapes, until they are covered with confetti.

 
THROWING OUT WINTER

• Set out a pile of white tissue paper.
• Let children take turns squashing tissue paper into a ball, then throwing it as far as they can.
• This will symbolize  “Getting rid of Winter”.
   

CANDY PRIZES

• Buy some small wrapped candies for prizes.
• Then plan some simple games and races for your children to participate in.
• Winners (or Participants) in each activity will receive a small candy.

COLOR GAMES

• MISSING FLOWERS -  Set out a vase of different colored plastic flowers.  Have children close their eyes while you remove one of the flowers.  Then have them tell you which color of flower is missing.  Repeat game while interest lasts.
• COLOR LOTTO – Play color lotto or dominoes with your children.
• COLOR HUNT – Hide multiple small paper flowers around your room of two or three different bright colors.  Name one of the colors and have your children hunt until they each find one flower.  Repeat game calling out a different colored flower to find.
   

ADDITIONAL COLOR GAMES – can be found at the Game Station, under “Color Games For Mixed Colors”.

HAPPY HOLI CARD

• Have your children make simple Holi cards for friends.
• Give children small white index cards.
• Show them how to fold their cards in half.
• Next, have them spread some glue on the front of their card.
• Then have them place the card in a box lid and sprinkle the card with confetti.
• Have child write their initials inside the card and give it to a friend or relative.
   

WATER COLOR CARDS

• Give your children plain index cards.
• Have them paint one side of their card with water color paints or washable marking pens.
• When dry, have children fold their cards in two and write their names or initials inside the card.
• Have children give their cards to friends or relatives.

 
COLOR STORIES

• First take four small index cards and color a purple circle on each card.
• Continue with another color, make colored circles on four more cards.
• Repeat, until you have 12 cards, four of each color.
• Now mix up the cards and turn the cards over in a pile.
• Now sit in a circle with your children and start a story.
• Have children take turns turning over a card and telling you the name of the color.
• You then incorporate something in your story that is that color.
• Continue your story until all of the cards have been uncovered.

Variation:  Advanced students, after drawing a color card, may be able to continue the story themselves, incorporating the color into the story.  Then you tell more of the story (usually getting it back on track) for a while, then have another child draw a card and tell part of the story.  Continue until interest lasts.

ADDITIONAL COLOR STORIES can be found at the Story Station.

HOLI MUSIC & RHYMES

HOLI TIME IS HERE
Tume:  “The Farmer In The Dell”

Oh, Holi time is here,
Let’s all give a cheer.
It’s time to sing and time to dance,
Oh, Holi time is here!

We welcome in the Spring,
And all that it can bring,
Heigh-ho, we love it so,
Let’s have a color fling!
                                Jean Warren
 

NOW THAT HOLI HAS BEGUN
Tune:  “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star”

Now that Holi has begun,
It is time to have some fun.
Throwing colors in the air,
Colored faces, colored hair.
Now we dance and now we sing.
As we welcome in the Spring!
                                Jean Warren

 
SING A SONG OF HOLI
Tune:  “Sing a Song of Sixpence”

Sing a song of Holi, colors in the air.
Sing a song of Holi, colors in our hair.
Sing a song for spring time, as we dance about.
Circle round the bonfire, and chase the winter out!
                                                Jean Warren
 

HOLI PARADE
Tune:  “When Johnny Comes Marching Home Again”

The children are marching into town, Hurray! Hurray!
The children are marching in a great big Holi Parade.
Some wear flowers, or colored hats,
Some wear scarves or funny masks.
Oh, we’re all so glad, that they could come today.

The children are marching into town, Hurray! Hurray!
They are throwing confetti as they come our way.
Some shake shakers as they march along.
Some sing happy, Holi songs.
Oh, we’re all so glad, that they could come today.
                                                                Jean Warren

MAKING COLORS
Show your children how to make a new color out of two other colors, while finger painting.

• Put red and blue paint on a piece of finger painting paper.
• Have your child finger paint using the two colors.
• What happens?  (The paint when mixed will turn to purple).
• Another time, mix red paint and yellow paint, or yellow paint and blue paint.
   

 
CELEBRATING SPRING

• Holi is a celebration welcoming spring. 
• Discuss the four seasons with your children.
• Why is Spring fun to celebrate.
• What are the signs in nature that winter is over and spring has arrived?
• Read books about spring.
   

COLORING FLOWERS
You will need some white carnations for this activity.

• Set out four clear glasses of water.
• Place a white carnation in each.
• Let your children help you pour one color of food coloring into each glass
• Leave over- night.  What happened to the white flowers.
• Discuss with your children how this happened.

IDEAS FOR HOLI SNACKS

• Make cupcakes or cookies with frosting and colorful sprinkles.
• Make glasses of colorful layered Jello for your children.
• Make fruit salad or colorful veggie tray with a dip.
• Make colored ice for your children’s drinks.