South Asian Heritage Month gives early years settings the perfect chance to bring colour, culture and conversation into everyday practice. July is South Asian Heritage Month – and it’s a wonderful opportunity for early years settings to open a window onto some of the richest, most vibrant cultures in the world. Whether your setting is home to children and families of South Asian heritage, or you’re based in a community where South Asian culture isn’t yet widely represented, this month matters. It’s a chance to celebrate diversity, nurture curiosity, and lay the foundations of respect and inclusion right from the very start of a child’s life.
What is South Asian Heritage Month?
South Asian Heritage Month was first launched by the South Asian community at the House of Commons in 2019 and has grown into a major annual celebration across the UK. From 2026, it runs throughout July – a change made specifically to align with the school term calendar and make it more accessible for education settings. The month honours the rich cultures, histories, and contributions of South Asians worldwide, encompassing countries including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, and the Maldives. This year’s theme is “Unity in Diversity” – a beautiful fit for the early years, where we’re always helping children understand that we are all different, and that’s something to celebrate.
Why South Asian Heritage Month Matters in Early Years Settings
Children as young as two or three are already beginning to notice differences between people – in appearance, language, food, and customs. Research consistently shows that positive exposure to diverse cultures at this age helps build empathy, confidence, and a sense of belonging for every child in your setting, including those from South Asian backgrounds who may rarely see their own heritage reflected in the books, toys, and activities around them. You don’t need a large budget or a South Asian community on your doorstep to make this month meaningful. You just need a little creativity and a willingness to explore.
South Asian Heritage Month Activities for Early Years Settings
South Asian Food Activities for Young Children
- Introduce children to dishes like chapati, dhal, samosas, or mango lassi through a simple tasting session.
- Babies can join in through sensory exploration – the smell of cardamom, the texture of lentils, the colour of turmeric.
- Making simple roti together is a fantastic fine motor activity for older children that sparks great conversations.
- Gently invite families from South Asian backgrounds to share a favourite family recipe – but never put anyone on the spot. Always check for allergies and dietary requirements beforehand.
South Asian Music and Dance for Early Years
- Explore classical Indian music, Bollywood songs, or the lively beats of bhangra for dancing, clapping, and listening activities.
- Set up percussion instruments – or tap out tabla rhythms on a drum – and invite children to explore sound and beat.
- A Bollywood dance session for older children is enormous fun and a brilliant way to get bodies moving.
South Asian Books and Stories for Early Years
- Look for picture books featuring South Asian characters, stories, and settings – there’s a growing number of wonderful titles available.
- Books featuring Diwali, Eid, or everyday South Asian family life can open up brilliant conversations with older children.
- For babies and toddlers, books with colourful images of South Asian textiles, animals, and landscapes make lovely sensory and language experiences.
- Check your local library – many now stock diverse book collections you can borrow for the month.
South Asian Arts and Crafts Activities for Children
- Try rangoli-inspired art using coloured sand, chalk, or flower petals outdoors – a gorgeous, accessible activity for all ages.
- Older children might enjoy simple block printing using cut sponges or vegetables dipped in paint, inspired by traditional Indian block printing techniques.
- Bring in colourful saris, dupattas, or salwar kameez fabric for children to explore through texture, colour, and pattern play.
Involving South Asian Families in Your Setting
- Extend an open, optional invitation to South Asian families to share something of their culture – a story, a recipe card, a piece of music they love, or a chat about customs they’d like the setting to know about.
- The goal is to make families feel their heritage is genuinely valued – not to put anyone in the position of being a spokesperson.
South Asian Heritage Month CPD for Early Years Practitioners
- Explore the South Asian Heritage Trust website together – their toolkits and resources are freely available.
- Watch a short documentary, share an article, or simply have a conversation as a team about what you know and what you’d like to learn.
- The more confident practitioners feel, the more naturally these conversations will flow with children.
Celebrating South Asian Heritage Month All Year Round in Your Early Years Setting
South Asian Heritage Month is a brilliant springboard, but the conversations it starts don’t have to end on 31st July. The books you add to your shelves, the songs you learn, the connections you make with families – these can become part of the fabric of your setting all year round. Celebrating diversity isn’t a one-month job. It’s at the heart of everything we do in early years, every single day.
Embed inclusion all year round, not just in July. Celebrating cultural diversity is the heart of inclusive early years practice. The Level 3 SEND Coordinator Award strengthens inclusive, equality-focused provision where every child feels they belong. Explore all our courses or call 0800 002 9242.
A question for our readers: How will you be marking South Asian Heritage Month in your setting this July? Share your activity ideas in the comments so we can inspire one another.
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