DIY Lantern: This Diwali, Help Your Child Light Their Inner Light With A Simple Activity

Diwali is a special time for all of us. Why not make it an occasion to impart some learning to our children? We all have a guiding "inner light" within us, which can help us overcome many challenges and walk toward happiness and peace. This simple activity aims to make your child connect with her inner light. But there are times when we lose sight of this light. What do we do then? We just need to look within-after all, the light lies within us!

Light My Inner Diya: Lantern Craft

In this activity, you will be making a lantern (represents you) for the diya (represents your inner light). A little bit of light passes through to the outside; the brighter the light, the more it shows outside.

What You Need

• Thick A4 paper (any color)
• Colorful stickers or sequins
• Glue
• Paper punch
• Scissors
• A battery-operated diya or tealight

How To:

1. Punch holes on your sheet of paper away from the edges.
2. Apply glue on one end of the sheet, and stick the two ends of the sheet to create a cylindrical shape. Make sure that the diameter of the cylinder is bigger than your diya or tealight.
3. Paste your stickers on the paper cylinder (decorate it however you like). Your lantern is ready!
4. Now, place the battery-operated tealight or diya on a table. Place the decorated paper lantern over it.
5. Light the diya and watch the magical glow of light!

Note: You could also use a paper cup for this activity. Cut out the base of a paper cup and punch holes in the paper cup in different places.

Finding our inner light

Light My Inner Diya is an activity that will help you and your child connect emotionally at a deeper level. Your child will be able to reflect on the inner goodness within her. She will realize that we all make mistakes, but deep inside, we are good. Lighting the inner diya is a symbolic way of reminding her of the inner light that resides in her being.

Talk to your child about this inner light of goodness. Remind her that the diya is always lit inside us, but sometimes the flame disappears. And when that happens, we all start doing non-peaceful, non-joyful things such as shouting or speaking rudely. At such times, we must stop and light the diya within.

Give your child some role-playing scenarios. You could say, "If someone snatches something from you and all you want to do is shout or push them, do you think it is a good time to light your diya? What does your inner light want?" You could do this for many situations, using your own examples.

To challenge your child, expand this thought to a wider circle by talking about situations wherein someone is exhibiting inappropriate behavior, such as hitting an animal or being loud. Ask your child, "Do you think their inner diya is lit or not?"

Your child may also become more forgiving toward others because she will be able to understand that we can all lose sight of our inner light! Make sure you share with her your experiences-talk about a time when your diya was turned off, and how you managed to light it again.

Remember to not push your child in any one direction-let her share her thoughts. Hear her out, but steer clear of any judgment!