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Get ready to illuminate your creativity and celebrate the Festival of Lights with our Sponge Painted Diya Craft! As Diwali, the dazzling Indian festival, approaches, it’s the perfect time to embark on a crafty adventure that combines art, culture, and fun. With a few simple materials like washable kids paint, and glitter, we’ll transform ordinary sponges into vibrant prints of diyas (lamps). Join us as we guide you through this engaging craft that not only sparks imagination but also introduces kids to the magic of Diwali.

Materials You’ll Need

Washable kids paint
Sponges
Scissors
Colorful construction paper
Glitter

Step-by-Step Instructions for Making Sponge Painted Diya Craft

Diya Base: Begin by cutting out diya shapes from your sponges. A candle shape, a semi circle and a rectangle. The diya is traditionally an oil lamp with a circular base and a spout, so aim for that classic shape.

Paint Party: Pour a small amount of washable kids paint onto a palette or a disposable plate.

Sponge Painting: Now, it’s time to paint your diya. Dip the base or semi-circle into the paint and print it onto the paper. Take the rectangle and dip It into the paint and print it above the semi circle. Finally, take the candle shaped sponge and dip that into the paint and print it on top of the rectangle.

Glittering Glam: While the paint is still wet, sprinkle glitter over the diya to add a touch of sparkle and festive charm. Let it dry.
Repeat and Create: Feel free to make as many sponge painted diyas as you like, each with its unique design and color scheme.

Tips for Making This Craft

Use washable kids paint to make clean-up a breeze.
Encourage your child to experiment with different sponge textures and shapes to create unique patterns.
Provide guidance, but also allow your child the creative freedom to design their own diyas.

Skills Gained with This Craft

Crafting isn’t just about creating beautiful decorations; it’s also an opportunity for learning and skill development:

Fine Motor Skills: Cutting, painting, and gluing all involve precise hand movements, which enhance fine motor skills.
Creativity: Crafting allows children to express their creativity and come up with unique designs.
Cultural Awareness: This craft introduces kids to Diwali, a significant festival celebrated by millions worldwide.

About Diwali

Diwali, also known as Deepavali, is one of the most celebrated festivals in India and among Indian communities worldwide. It signifies the victory of light over darkness and good over evil. People light lamps, or diyas, to symbolize the triumph of knowledge and wisdom. Diwali is a time for family gatherings, feasting on delicious sweets, and exchanging gifts.

By creating sponge painted diyas, not only are children engaging in a fun and educational craft, but they’re also learning about the rich cultural traditions of Diwali. It’s a wonderful opportunity to spark conversations about different celebrations and the importance of light in our lives.

Now that your Sponge Painted Diya Craft is complete, you can proudly display them as part of your Diwali decorations or share them with friends and family as a heartfelt gesture of light and joy. Wishing you a vibrant and enlightening Diwali celebration!

Age Suitability

This activity is good for toddlers aged children 2 years old and up with adult assistance.

Mess Level

The mess level for this activity is medium.

Difficulty to Create

Easy.

Toddler and Preschooler Curriculums, Books & TV Show!

Play2Learn Toddler & Preschool Programs for Curious Toddlers

There is no limit to your toddler’s energy and curiosity. That energy and curiosity although a joy can be challenging at times. Their interest in just about everything around them is what makes them great learners. One and two year olds can soak up so much just from their senses!

But as a teacher or parent that thirst for learning can be exhausting. That is why I created this toddler and preschooler program. To help you get the most out of this time with your curious toddler without having to come up with creative ways to play and interact with them.

Play2Learn for Toddlers includes 20 Units for toddlers. Each 2-week toddler unit has 20 super easy to set up and engaging activities for toddlers 18 months to 3 years.

Play2Learn Preschool which includes 20 Units for preschoolers. Each 2-week preschoolers unit has 20 unique and easy to set up and engaging activities for preschoolers 3 years to 5 years. That’s over 800 learning activities for your toddler and preschooler at your fingertips! So many ideas you and your child will never be bored again!

These toddler and preschool lesson plans and activities will definitely keep you and your toddler and preschooler busy playing and learning!

Click here for more information: Play2Learn

Designed for toddlers 18 months and up.

Book: Exciting Sensory Bins for Curious Kids

Did you know I wrote a book of sensory bins? Click here for more information Exciting Sensory Bin for Curious Kids. Or grab your copy at Amazon.

Boring afternoons are made exciting with awesome animal-based bins, like Salty Shark Bay or Yarn Farm. Pretend play bins like Birthday Cake Sensory Play or Bubble Tea Party encourage creativity and imagination. And your kids will have so much fun they won’t even know they’re getting smarter with STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) activities like Sink or Float Soup, Magnetic Letter Hunt or Ice Cream Scoop and Count.

Designed for toddlers 18 months and up.

Book: Super STEAM Activity Book for Kids

Learning all about science, technology, engineering, art, and math sets kids up for scholastic success―and it can be so much fun! Watch kids enjoy building STEAM skills as they color friendly fish, help water find its way to tree roots, solve math problems with mazes, and more.

Find out more and grab your copy here.

Designed for preschoolers 3 years old and up.

Book: Big Book of Riddles for Kids

Riddle me this: What’s an exciting way to practice critical thinking while having a blast? The Big Riddle Book for Kids, of course! From hilarious puns to tough brain teasers, kids can build problem-solving skills with hundreds of riddles tha. t show them how to think outside the box.

350 riddles for kids—Have hours of fun with riddles, puns and jokes, and math and logic puzzles that’ll get their wheels turning!
Level up their skills—Riddles get trickier as kids progress through the book, challenging them as they get better at solving puzzles!
Double-check their work—Kids can check their answers in the back of the book with a handy answer key.

Help children expand their minds while having fun with this puzzle book for kids!

Designed for kids ages 6 years old and up.

TV Show: Curious Crafting

I’m so excited to share my crafting TV show Curious Crafting which launched in July 2022 on TVOkids and TVOkids YouTube! Season 2 aired in August 2023! My show was also nominated in 2023 for Best Live Action Preschool Series by the Youth Media Alliance Awards of Excellence.

Curious Crafting Season 1 is also now airing in Australia on ABC! Watch it here!

Set in the ultimate crafting space, Curious Crafting is a short form pre-school age series about the joy of making crafts. I lead a rotating cast of adorable little preschoolers (including my own) making magic out of common household objects.

In each episode we transform recycled items into magical crafts like a milk carton school bus, paper bag puppet or cotton pad turtle. The crafters learn and laugh their way through each activity while demonstrating what their young imaginations can create.

Curious Crafting shares the adventure and joy of making art with takeaway lessons for creating crafts at home.

This show designed for toddlers and preschoolers 2.5 years old and up.

The Best Sensory Play Kits for Kids

Play is at the core of learning during the early years and it can take many forms. One of the most important of these is sensory play because it engages all of a child’s senses (taste, touch, smell, sight and hearing) and has a enoumous positive impact on brain development.

Our Sensory Play Kits are some fun and easy ways to keep your child engaged while at the same time using sensory play to nurture their mind!

Shop our ready made play kits here.