At YWCA Canberra, we are committed to building strong and positive relationships with people of all ethnicities and backgrounds. One of the ways we do this is by integrating cultural activities and learning in many areas of our childcare services to increase cultural awareness and appreciation.
On Tuesday 10 March, pre-schoolers from the Conder Early Childhood service participated in a fun-filled day celebrating Holi, the ancient Indian festival of colour.
Educators of Hindu background were excited to share their culture with the children and have fun spreading cultural awareness during the day’s activities.
On this day, children took part in a range of activities, such as helping the educators draw Rangoli on the ground with chalk and making rainbow biscuits. In the afternoon the educators and children took part in an exciting activity where they painted each other using spray bottles full of multicoloured paint.
Also joining in on the celebration of Holi was the Winyu
Early Childhood Education service.
On Tuesday educators from Winyu set up plates of Holi colours, which are natural based powders, in the backyard for the children to play with.
To help start the activity, Winyu educator Bhawna first demonstrated how to play with Holi colours with support from the educators.
Afterwards, the children were then invited to touch, feel and play with the different textures and colours of the powders.