Diwali Gifts for Kids Who Don't Understand Money
Because a four-year-old would rather have LEGO than an envelope of cash.
Growing up, getting money for Diwali was the best. A crisp bill tucked into an envelope? Fantastic. Thank you very much. I'll be taking that.
But my son is four and a half, and money means approximately nothing to him.
Hand him an envelope with twenty dollars inside and he'll probably ask if there's a sticker in there.
I love the tradition of giving money for Diwali, and I'm certainly not suggesting we stop. But at this age, I also want him to experience the excitement of the holiday. Something to open. Something to make. Something to eat. Something that makes Diwali feel as exciting as the other holidays on our calendar.
And no, it doesn't all need to be educational or covered in elephants.
Here are seven gifts and activities that make Diwali a little more fun for the preschool and early elementary crowd.
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1. Malai Ice Cream
Traditional Indian sweets are wonderful. But you know what's also wonderful?
Ice cream.
Malai makes Indian-inspired ice cream with flavors that go well beyond your standard chocolate and vanilla. Think cardamom, pistachio, mango and flavors inspired by Indian mithai.
It's a fun way to introduce kids to familiar Indian flavors in a format they already understand.
And if you're sending a gift to a family celebrating Diwali, an ice cream delivery is a pretty spectacular surprise.
Technically, it's for the kids.
The adults will be participating.
2. Baked by Melissa Diwali Cupcakes
Tiny cupcakes. Festive colors. Indian-inspired flavors.
Do I really need to explain why these are a good idea?
Baked by Melissa's Diwali assortment (the first ever!) includes flavors like mango, coconut, pistachio and cardamom. They're bite-sized, colorful and considerably more exciting to a preschooler than a check made out to his parents.
They're also a great gift to send to nieces, nephews or friends' kids when you can't celebrate together.
The money can go into savings.
The cupcakes will be gone by bedtime.
3. Kulture Khazana Rangoli Floor Puzzle
This is one of those rare purchases that actually gets used year after year.
Every Diwali, I pull out this giant, colorful, 48-piece rangoli floor puzzle for my son. It's festive, fun to put together and gives him a way to participate in decorating.
And unlike a traditional rangoli, there's no colored powder, no mess and no vacuuming for the next six months.
We put it together, admire our handiwork and pack it away until next year.
All the rangoli. None of the cleanup.
4. Target's Paint-Your-Own Diyas
Five dollars.
That's what Target is charging for a kit with two ceramic diyas, paint, a brush and battery-operated lights.
Five dollars for a Diwali afternoon activity? Sold.
Will the paint stay on the diyas? Probably not.
Will the finished products look like they belong in a museum? Also no.
But he'll have made something for Diwali, and I'll proudly display those lopsided little masterpieces anyway.
The kit is labeled ages 8+, so younger kids will need some help.
Five dollars. Let them make a mess.
5. Ganesha's Sweet Tooth
An elephant-headed god who loves sweets?
We're already off to a strong start.
Ganesha's Sweet Tooth is a beautifully illustrated, funny retelling inspired by Hindu mythology. It follows Ganesha, his love of laddoos and how a broken tusk becomes part of something much bigger.
It's colorful, imaginative and a lovely way to introduce young kids to Hindu stories without making it feel like homework.
I also love the idea of building a little collection of books that come out around Diwali each year, just like we do for other holidays.
And any book that makes sweets a central plot point has my attention.
6. Whatever Toy They're Currently Obsessed With
Not every Diwali gift needs to be educational, culturally significant or specifically marketed for Diwali.
Sometimes, the best gift is simply whatever your kid is currently obsessed with.
For my son, that's LEGO.
Endless LEGO.
We could probably build an addition onto our house with the number of bricks we already own, and somehow, there's always another set he wants.
Maybe your kid loves dinosaurs. Or trucks. Or dolls. Or those tiny collectible things that inevitably end up under the couch.
The point is to make Diwali feel like an occasion worth celebrating.
If a new LEGO set accomplishes that, I'm not going to argue.
Although I would appreciate it if someone could explain why the tiniest LEGO pieces are always the ones I step on.
7. Sparklers and a Little Diwali Magic
Sometimes the best gift isn't something you wrap.
It's heading outside after dark, lighting a few sparklers and watching the kids lose their minds over a little Diwali magic.
No toy to store. No batteries required. Just a little light, a little celebration and approximately 400 blurry photos.
Practice safety, obviously!
The Money Can Still Go Into Savings
I'm not abandoning the tradition of giving money for Diwali.
In fact, I hope that one day my son is just as excited about those little envelopes as I was growing up.
But right now, he's four and a half.
He doesn't understand the value of twenty dollars.
He does understand cupcakes, LEGO and staying up a little later to celebrate with his family.
And frankly, I think that's a pretty good place to start.
Happy Diwali!
