Want your Kids to Enjoy a Fun, Responsible Holi?

Holi, the festival of colours is finally here, and everyone is eagerly waiting to celebrate it, especially kids. It is the second most popular festival in India, and brings out a lot of enthusiasm in kids. 

Kids usually begin their planning a month prior to the festival, and eagerly wait to go shopping for pichkaris, and colours with their parents. However, amidst all the excitement and joy surrounding this festival, we cannot forget about the importance of safety. 

Holi celebrations might take an ugly turn or get ruined if children are not taught to play responsibly and safely. To avoid that from happening, parents can discuss with their children about necessary precautionary methods to follow while celebrating the festival of colours.

In this post, we have discussed certain tips that can help you and your child celebrate Holi safely. Read on to know what they are.

Tips to Celebrate Safe Holi with Kids:

From getting skin rashes for using chemical-based colours, to falling down in a wet area, there are many things that can ruin the Holi mood. Ensure these precautionary methods are taken ahead of time so that your child is safe and has a blast while celebrating Holi. 

1. Use Eco-friendly Colours

Synthetic or chemical Holi colours can affect your child’s skin and cause rashes and allergies. To keep your kids safe, you can try opting for chemical-free or organic colours. These colours are inexpensive and are easily available in all markets.

You can also prepare your own Holi colour at home, using flowers, henna leaves, and turmeric powder. These colours are gentle on your child’s skin and can be easily washed off with water and soap.

2. Teach Them to Use Pichakris Safely

Teach your kids to handle their pichkaris responsibly, and avoid aiming at sensitive areas such as eyes, nose, mouth, and ears. Encourage them to use their pichkaris in a manner that is safe and doesn’t harm other kids. 

3. Make Your Kids Wear Full-sleeved Clothes

We suggest you pick clothes that cover most of their skin. Avoid sleeveless shirts and short clothes. This will ensure that their skin doesn’t come in contact with colours directly.

Plus, it makes the bathing task easier for parents and the child. Therefore, make sure to dress them up in pyjamas, full pants, and shirts.

4. Avoid Water Balloons

A lot of water is used during the celebration of Holi, and adding water balloons to this mix can lead to extra water wastage. Teach your kids about the importance of preserving water and how they can still have a lot of fun without using water balloons.

Moreover, if not supervised carefully, water balloons can also cause injuries to children. So it is always a safe option to steer clear from buying these for your kids.

5. Don’t Forget To Use Goggles

To avoid any colour getting into their delicate eyes, make sure your child wears a pair of goggles or their favourite sunglasses or even swimming glasses. These will keep your child’s eyes safe from infections and protect them from any r colour or dirty water splashed on them.

Get your kids a funky pair of  Holi-themed sunglasses and watch them rock Holi in style.

6. Keep A First Aid Kit Ready

You never know when an accident is about to happen. But you can always prepare yourself beforehand, to face any kind of  emergency. Prepare a first aid kit for your child and make sure they are aware of the items inside it.

This can also come in handy if your child or any of his/her friends injure themselves. Let them know where you have stored the first aid kit, and what medicines or ointment to use, depending on their injury.

7. Teach Them to Keep Colours Away from Their Mouth

Holi colours contain harmful and chemical ingredients, which if ingested can lead to severe allergic reactions or food poisoning. Make sure you teach your kids to not ingest Holi colours. Also, ask them to move away if anyone else tries to put colour in their mouth.

In case they consume the colours accidentally, teach your child to inform you immediately. You can take them to emergency care to get further treatments.

8. Talk to Them About Consent

No matter how much your child loves playing Holi, they cannot indulge in any impropriety. Tell your child to be polite while playing Holi and avoid all forms of aggressiveness. 

Make sure that they are aware of the fact that they cannot put colours on anyone forcefully or without their permission. While teaching them about consent, inform them that it’s always both ways. 

If your kids face a similar situation where they are forcefully dragged to play colours, they must inform the grown-ups immediately.

9. Avoid Stepping Out during Peak Hours

If possible, avoid letting your child step out during peak hours of celebration. This will protect them from becoming a victim of hooliganism. 

If they are out playing during the peak hours, do keep an eye on them and ensure they don’t run around crowded or wet areas, as it could lead to a fall and injury.

10. Say No to Animal Cruelty

Encourage your child to be gentle on all street animals. Holi colours if inhaled by animals can cause severe rashes and allergies. Ask your child to stop their friends from doing the same too.

11. Make Sure Your Child Stays Hydrated

While they are busy playing, your child may forget to drink water. However, since Holi is mostly played outdoors, and under the sun, staying hydrated is crucial. Remind them to keep drinking water, and pack a full bottle of water with them. 

12. Ask Your Child To Contact You Immediately during An Emergency

In case of an emergency, inform your child to contact you immediately. If they are playing at a friend’s house, make sure you have the parent in-charge’s number saved on your phone.

Apart from that, you should also keep the contact of your child’s doctor, ambulance services, and nearby hospitals handy. 

Hair And Skin Care Tips for Holi

While playing Holi, you need to pay extra attention to hair and skincare. 

• Before sending your child to play Holi, make sure to apply coconut oil or sunscreen all over their body. This will keep their skin moisturise and protect them from the effects of harmful colours.

• Applying a thick lotion over their face and body can also help to wash off the colours easily.

• Make sure to oil your child’s hair thoroughly, a night before Holi. And do not send them out without tying their hair properly.

• You can also tie a scarf around their hair to protect them from colour damage.

Holi is one of the most fun-filled festivals that both grown-ups and children enjoy. By teaching these tips to your kids, you can ensure a safe Holi celebration.

Knowing that your kid is playing Holi responsibly will give you peace of mind, and also allow you to enjoy the festival wholeheartedly. Happy Holi everyone!