Meeting friends and family, splashing water, playing with colours,and enjoying good food brings out the essence of Holi. The festival is all about having a good time and creating lasting memories with your loved ones. While kids can’t wait to play with colour, parents occasionally worry about the consequences of playing Holi. It’s a good idea to take some safety measures and make your child and their friends understand the importance of playing a safe Holi. Let’s look at the fun and safe ways to play Holi for kids.

Holi safety tips for kids

Safety practices during Holi have become more important than before as research has suggested that overall immunity levels especially among children have reduced after exposure to Covid-19 virus. It is important for us to keep in mind different factors including the quality of water used and the types of colour used.

Not only this, choosing to use natural colours is important for children’s safety. Using artificial or synthetic colours can not only cause skin irritation and eye infections but can also trigger asthma and other underlying respiratory conditions in children. Along with it, because it’s summer, limit exposure to direct sunlight, especially during noon time for children to avoid dehydration.

Here are 6 safety tips and precautions for kids to play Holi!

1. Teach your kid about consent

Talk to your kids about the importance of taking consent before applying colours or playing with water. Tell them how being aggressive can harm the other person. Teach them to enjoy the festival without harming anyone or being mindful while playing.

2. Choose the right kind of clothes

It’s better to make your child wear full-sleeved t-shirts and long pants so as to reduce direct exposure of the skin to harmful colours. It’s also a good idea to make them wear fun sunglasses to protect their eyes from harmful colours.

Also read: Play Holi with natural colours, here’s why your skin will thank you for it

3. Skin and hair care

As the saying goes, prevention is always better than cure. Apply a good amount of moisturiser and sunscreen to protect the exposed areas from harmful colours and sun exposure. Oil the scalp and hair well, as the oil acts as a protective barrier against harmful colours and helps to wash off the colour easily.

4. Choose non-toxic and chemical-free colours

Choosing herbal or eco-friendly colours is a great way to reduce the chances of allergies and rashes that one may get due to chemical colours. Eco-friendly colours are less harsh on the skin and also easy to wash off.

5. Keep a first-aid kit handy

Keeping a first-aid kit handy with antiseptic cream and bandage is advisable to be better prepared for minor cuts and rashes.

6. General precautionary measures

A few other tips that come in handy are ensuring your child has enough water before stepping out to play. Ask your child to be careful on wet surfaces. Help them to wash off the colour if it gets to their eyes, ears, and mouth. Keep a watch on them to ensure they are safe and no one takes advantage of the situation by being forceful.

Also read: Holi 2023: Baked gujiya vs fried gujiya, find out what’s healthier for you

Last but not the least, it is crucial to play gently. While children are playing with colours, they should be watchful to avoid injuries!