First Question: What is Hispanic Heritage Month?
Hispanic Heritage Month takes place annually in the United States from September 15th to October 15th. This month-long observation is about “celebrating the histories, cultures, and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America,” according to the official government website.
Beginning in 1968, it was initially recognized as “National Hispanic Heritage Week” before being extended to a month-long observation in 1988.
- Learn Some Spanish
Learning a foreign language has many benefits. It can help build communication, critical thinking, and listening skills, to name just a few.
And since young children are like sponges, they’re ready to absorb anything.
So, why not introduce them to some Spanish words? You can try familiar phrases or help them count up to 10. You can even point to something, say what it is in Spanish, and ask your children to guess what the word means.
- Read a Picture Book
Reading is a fun activity you can share daily with your preschool children. Reading Spanish picture books can be an excellent way to help children (and adults) learn words, rhythm, sounds, and even culture.
There are many bilingual picture books available that can be purchased or borrowed from the library. Here are a few suggestions you can curl up to and enjoy with your children:
- Abuela by Arthur Dorros
- ¿Qué Puedes Hacer con una Paleta? by Carmen Tafolla
- Cuadros de Familia by Carmen Lomas Garza
- Cantando De Colores by Patty Rodriguez and Ariana Stein
- Señorita Mariposa by Ben Gundersheimer
- Dragones y Tacos by Adam Ruben
- Make Piragua or Paletas
If you haven’t tried these cold treats, set aside time to make them with your children.
Piraguas are a type of Puerto Rican snow cone. They consist of shaved ice and fruit-flavored syrup. Even better, they’re a cinch to make.
You can purchase syrup from the grocery store, but it’s also relatively easy and delicious to make from scratch. You can use strawberries, cherries, and even lemons!
My daughter loves lemons, and during the warmer months, we make these “slushy lemonades” using shaved ice, lemon juice, lemon zest, water, and sugar. Why not ask your preschoolers which flavor they’d like to try? You can give them a small role too. Many will be happy to “chip in” and help!
Paletas are a frozen Mexican dessert made with fresh fruits and a creamy or water base. It’s similar to a smoothie but molded, frozen, and served on an ice pop stick instead. You can make any paletas – strawberry and yogurt, watermelon with water and lime juice, and more. The options are limitless! Many recipes are available online.
- Try a Hispanic-Inspired Dish
We love Hispanic and Latino-inspired dishes in our household. They tend to be bursting with fresh flavors and are easy to make. Many words also only need one frying or baking pan, which saves from washing multiple dishes when cleaning up. Win-win!
- Play a Game while Listening to Songs by Hispanic and Latino Artists
Give classic party games like musical chairs or freeze dance a Hispanic twist by listening to artists with Hispanic and Latino roots. Simply clearing some space in the living room and having a “dance party” at home can be a great way to appreciate music from these artists.
See what fun moves your children (and even you!) can do while listening to the beat. It’s a great way to get the heart pumping and the legs moving while having fun simultaneously!
- Make Maracas
If you’d like to take your dance party one step further, why not make some instruments at home and play along to the music?
Maracas, a type of percussion instrument, are surprisingly easy to make. And you can use items most likely around the home already.
Materials required include:
- small box, like one that would hold cereal bars
- paper cups
- yogurt cups with lid
- plastic egg and plastic spoons
- pasta, rice, or dried beans
- tape
Directions:
Ask your preschoolers to add pasta, rice, or other dried ingredients to a container. Then tape the container securely shut. You’ll be shaking to the music in no time!
- Get Crafty with Paper Fiesta Flowers
This is another easy project and an excellent way for young children to develop fine motor skills and patience.
Materials for each flower:
- six to eight sheets of tissue paper (I recommend different colors)
- stapler with staples
- one pipe cleaner
Directions:
First, lay the sheets of tissue paper on top of each other and cut them into a square. I tend to work with a 10” x 10” court, but it depends on your preference.
Second, have your children fold the tissue paper (sheets should still be on top of each other) like an accordion. Once this is done, staple them together in the middle.
Finally, encourage your children to pull each sheet gently toward the middle. And voilà, children can proudly show off their beautiful flowers!
- Make a Sombrero Out of a Paper Plate and a Cup
Here’s another crafty activity that’s a firm favorite. Your children can proudly display their creations as decoration or wear them once finished.
Materials required include:
- paper plate
- paper or plastic cup
- glue
- elastic cording
- hole puncher
- ribbon or yarn (optional)
- stickers (optional)
- pom poms (optional)
Directions:
To start, glue the cup to the paper plate and give it time to dry. Once dry, punch two holes in the paper plate on opposite sides.
Next, cut a 12-inch elastic cording (this will hold the hat in place on your child’s head) and tie on to the cap.
Finally, give the hat to your child to decorate. This is something that both preschoolers and older elementary school children can do together.
- Make a Piñata
Last craft, but certainly not least, why not make a piñata in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month?
This is quite a messy activity, so it’s best to do it outside if possible. Plus, it’s also a project that takes a few days to complete. But it’s well worth the effort and surprisingly simple to do.
And kids of all ages love digging in and getting messy – at least mine do!
This is a simple piñata project in the shape of a ball. But you can decorate it in many ways (for example, my daughter made a round cat a few years ago).
You’ll need the following materials:
- balloon
- newspaper strips about one inch wide
- paper mache paste (equal parts flour and water)
- glue
- different color construction paper or tissue paper
- string
- scissors or pin to pop the balloon
- goodies to fill the piñata
- tape
Directions:
First, blow up a balloon to a decent size. Then show your children how to put newspaper strips in the paper mache paste – get rid of any excess – and then place them on the balloon. I recommend having plenty of newspaper layers to hold the weight of goodies placed inside the piñata.
Remember: Leave a small part of the balloon uncovered so you can put treats inside the piñata.
When the balloon is covered, give the paste at least 24 hours to dry.
Once dry, encourage your children to decorate the piñata. They can use paint, tissue paper, or even strips of construction paper. You can also attach streamers using glue.
After decorating, pop the balloon and fill the piñata with treats. I used tape to seal the hole, but you can glue cardboard.
Finally, hang the piñata on display. You know what happens next!
- Play a Game of “I Spy.”
If you’re looking for a Hispanic Heritage Month preschool activity with minimal prep, this game is just the thing!
I Spy is a great game to play and has many benefits, including enhancing visual discrimination (vital for learning to recognize letters and numbers), building spoken language skills and helping children learn to take turns.
- Learn about Hispanic Festivals such as Cinco de Mayo
Along with learning about history and culture during Hispanic Heritage Month, you can teach children about other important Hispanic festivals. For example, Cinco de Mayo.
Cinco de Mayo is celebrated annually on the 5th of May. On this day in 1862, the Mexican army defeated the French at the Battle of Puebla. While the celebrations are often confused with Mexican Independence Day, this is an important day because it symbolizes the resistance of the Mexican people. The French would eventually leave Mexico in 1867.
- Learn about Different Countries that Speak Spanish
As you try many of the above activities, use this as an opportunity to discuss different Spanish-speaking countries with your preschoolers.
Some ideas or topics you may discuss include:
- Asking your children to point to a country on a map.
- Discussing what the flag of a particular country looks like.
- Discovering exciting facts about a country.
- Learn about the different foods, music, and art from various countries.
- Learn about Notable Hispanic People
As your children learn about Spanish-speaking countries, why not introduce them to notable Hispanic individuals?
You can introduce them to famous Hispanic artists like Pablo Picasso and Frida Kahlo.
Or other individuals like:
- Ellen Ochoa – The first Hispanic American woman to go into space.
- Lin-Manuel Miranda – American actor and composer who wrote the Broadway hit Hamilton and music for the film Moana.
- Sonia Sotomayor – The first Latina Supreme Court Justice in U.S. history.
- Cesar Chavez – Mexican American who fought for the rights of farmworkers.
- Get Creative with Hispanic Heritage Month Coloring
Looking for a quiet activity? Why not provide your children with paper, crayons, and coloring pencils?
You can ask your children to draw what Hispanic Heritage Month means.
Perhaps they’ll draw their favorite recipe that they’ve tried or draw a portrait of a Hispanic American that has made incredible achievements. They can even draw a Spanish-speaking country they might want to visit one day.
- Throw a Parade
Toward the end of Hispanic Heritage Month, you and your children can throw a parade. It’s a great way to recognize Hispanic and Latino Americans’ history, culture, and contributions. Or host a parade to summarize a busy month of activities.
There are many things you can do during your parade:
- Kids can color Hispanic Heritage Month flag coloring sheets and wave them during the parade.
- Listen and dance to music by Hispanic and Latino artists.
- Shout greetings to others in Spanish.
At the parade’s end, ask what your children learned throughout the month. Hopefully, they will take away how much fun it is to celebrate differences!
¡Salud!
