Beyond Celebration: Meaningful Parent–Child Connections During Dashain

Simpler Ways for Parents to Connect with Children

We at Early Genius believe Dashain to be more than a festival—it's an occasion where one gets to relax, move closer, and reconnect with the simplicity of sharing time. Although the schools may close for vacation, education does not come to an end, but continues in the comfort of home. It is a special season for parents to strengthen their bond with their child through simple, authentic activities grounded in culture and in daily life.

Here are seven tips on how to get the most out of Dashain to strengthen bonds and create memories for a lifetime.

1. Make a Family Collage

Gather old photographs, photographs from a sketch, or magazine cutouts, and sit with your child to create a collage of your family's Dashain customs. Incorporate scenes like planting jamara, flying kites, preparing food, or visiting temples. Narrate the background story of each photograph as you build the collage. These instances of quiet activities make kids feel seen and valued.

2. Fly Kites and Share Dreams

As you are flying the kite, ask your child to imagine where they would go if they were a kite. What would they see? Whom would they meet? This activity invites space for imagination and dialogue, in which you can enjoy understanding their expectations and ideas.

3. Prepare Meals Together

Ask your child to help prepare Dashain sweets, such as sel roti or aloo achar. Share your personal experiences during the festival while cooking. Ask them what they enjoy most about Dashain. Kitchen talk is generally accompanied by laughter, anecdotes, and a greater connection.

4. Write a Gratitude Note

Sit down as a family and write short gratitude notes to a person who made Dashain special—perhaps a grandparent, neighbor, or teacher. Employ simple sentence pieces such as "Thank you for…" or "I felt happy when…" This helps children be thankful and recognize the people who look after them.

5. Act Out Dashain Traditions

Turn your living room into a mini-stage and make your child perform festival scenes—accepting tika, swinging from a "ping", or welcoming guests. Add bilingual sentences like "Tika lagau" or "Welcome to our home." The task serves to reinforce cultural pride and confidence.

6. Share a Story

Tell your child a story from your own Dashain experience. It could be a funny moment, a lesson learned, or a memory that stayed with you. Then ask them to share one of theirs. Listening deeply shows children that their voices matter and that their experiences are important.

7. Sing and Dance Together

Play a Dashain song and dance with one another. Have your child teach or guide you a few steps. Music is happiness, and happiness creates connection. These laughter and movement moments shared tend to be the most cherished.

Why It Matters

Children flourish when they are seen, heard, and loved. In Dashain, the most loving gift that you can give is your time. None of these activities requires special materials or hours—only your time, your heritage, and your attention.

We at Early Genius consider every parent to be the first teacher to a child. This Dashain, let us make our homes places of warmth, learning, and bonding. Memories made today will echo long after the festival.

Wishing you, your family a peaceful and joyful Dashain.