I make it a point every day to teach my kids about our Hispanic culture, but September is the perfect month to teach your niños about our wonderful heritage! Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs from September 15 to October 15, is a beautiful time where our country celebrates our Latino culture with amazing exhibits and events and celebrations that take place all month long.
To help you celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, too, I’ve compiled a list of awesome crafts that you can you with your kids. (Bonus: Each one can be accompanied by an important history lesson as to why the craft exists and what it means to our culture!) Help your kids acknowledge this 30-day celebration, like I do, while also having some fun.
Decorate your casa with papel picado (punched or perforated paper). Used to decorate the streets during celebrations and festivals, like Dias de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), this project is one inexpensive way to add a festive look to your home. Photo: Lia Griffith Craft a musical instrument for your niños (these easy-to-make traditional instruments are used in Central and South America!) while helping them master their panpipe skills. Photo: Connections Academy Decorate your next fiesta in true Hispanic style with the prettiest paper flower garland. Photo: Latinaish Celebrate (and cool) off these last days of summer with the yummiest paletas. This recipe uses peach and white grape juice for the sweetest flavor! Photo: Babble For your kids next art project, help them recreate classic Mexican folk art. They'll love getting their hands dirty with the traditional bright colors! Drink up this classic Mexican banana water drink or freeze it to make platano paletas. The sweet, rich taste is beyond delicious thanks to evaporated milk, cinnamon and sugar. Yum! Photo: Growing Up Blackxican Another fun papel picado craft, but this one teaches your kids how to make the flags by hand and attach them to sticks to wave around. Photo: Spanglish Baby A fiesta must, a piñata brings a whole other level of fun entertainment for your kids and this DIY star-shaped piñata is so simple to make. Photo: Honestly Yum One of the most recognized and traditional Mexican patterns, add this pretty imprint to your decorating style by stamping tea towels with the classic Hispanic pattern. Photo: Babble Turn up la musica and let your kids rock out with these homemade maracas. Photo: Fun Family Crafts Let your kids learn and enjoy the very important story of Cesar Chavez by creating a visual felt storybook. Photo: Growing Up Blackxican These Mexican cuff bracelets made out of cardboard and aluminum foil are easy to make and stylish! Photo: Spanglish Baby Your kids will love dipping into this paint project! Utilizing bold patterns and vivid colors, like bright blues, yellows and reds, your kids will love everything about this craft. Photo: Babble A traditional Mexican home blessing, this fun yarn weaving and spiritual craft will help your kids weave God into their life. Photo: Woo! Jr. Clack-clack-clack! Your kids will love to see you tango while they play these castanets made out of flattened bottle caps and cardboard. Photo: Education.com A historical Peruvian design, this friendship bracelet teaches your kids a new braiding technique while also helping them look extra fashion-y. Photo: Snapguide The traditional Mexican hat is so easy to make out of cardboard. Photo: Dias De Carnaval Have your kids give your patio a Mexican flair with painted pots. Photo: Babble No fiesta needed to make these mini-piñatas. They're a fun after-school project that your kids can bust open for a yummy treat! Photo: Growing Up Blackxican Hmmm! These traditional Spanish treats are perfect for breakfast or an after-dinner treat! Photo: For The Love of Spanish Rich in history, the traditional Mexican painting on handmade bark paper is a project your kids will love to do on crumpled brown paper bags. Photo: What Do We Do All Day Also known as muñecas quitapenas, these small colorful dolls, traditionally made in Guatemala, are known to help a worried child sleep better by placing it under the pillow before going to sleep. Photo: Heidi Boyd Bring a mariachi band to your child's next party, even if it is in the form of mini piñatas! Photo: Hideous Dreadful Stinky Your kids will love hearing about the Hispanic celebration of Las Posadas, but they'll love creating this fun craft even more. Photo: Mommy Maestra These traditional Guatemalan kites are so unique, your kids will love making and flying them. Photo: 4 Crazy Kings A different take on a piñata, these break open with just the pull of a string instead of having to break them with a stick. Fun! Photo: Parents.com Costa Rican's celebrate their independence with lanterns. Your kids can celebrate too with this easy-to-do craft. Photo: All Done Monkey The Mexican painter is best known for her self-portraits. Your kids will love learning about her impact to the art world as they draw her beautiful and iconic face. Photo: All Projects For Kids Make a traditional Mexican Serape, a long, blanket-like shawl worn over the shoulders, out of a brown paper sack. So fun! Photo: Education.com Decorate your kids table at dinner time with these mini sombreros made from plates, cups, and pipe cleaners! Photo: Mommyapolis DIY Papel Picado
Panpipe Craft for Kids
Paper Fiesta Flowers
Fresh Peach and White Grape Paletas
Mexican Folk Art
Agua De Platano
Papel Picado Flags
DIY Star Piñata
Potato Stamped Tea Towel
Recycled Maracas
Cesar Chavez Felt Storyboard
Repujado Mexican Cuff Bracelet
DIY Mexican Folk Art
DIY God's Eye
DIY Castanets
Peruvian Wave Friendship Bracelet
DIY Cardboard Sombreros
DIY Mexican Style Pottery
DIY Mini Fiesta Piñata
Magdalenas
Amate Painting Project
DIY Guatemalan Worry Dolls
Mariachi Band Piñatas
Luminarias
Guatemalan Kite
Pull Open Piñatas
DIY Lanterns for Costa Rican Independence
Draw Frida Kahlo
Paper Bag Serape
DIY Sombrero Table Toppers