I am proud to share my Hispanic heritage with my kids. Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated in the United States from September 15 to October 15 each year. This month-long celebration recognizes and honors the “histories, cultures and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America.”
One in four children in the United States is of Hispanic origin. For these children, Hispanic Heritage Month is an opportunity to celebrate their own culture and to see it celebrated by others. It is also a wonderful opportunity for all children to explore and learn about this diverse population and heritage.
5 Ways to Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month
Read Books
Whether you’re still reading books with your little ones or have teenagers, books are a great way to celebrate and learn about Hispanic and Latino histories and cultures. Here are a few of our household favorites to get you started:
For the babies:
I love you, sun. I love you, moon/Te amo, sol. Te amo, luna
Frida
La Catrina
For the littles:
Arroz con Leche
Hairs/Pelitos
Little Night/Nochecita
For older kiddos:
The House on Mango Street
Mexican Gothic
A Cuban Girl’s Guide to Tea and Tomorrow
Have a Movie night
Representation matters and in recent years, more and more movies written, produced, or directed by individuals of Hispanic or Latin American background have been recognized. We have also seen more movies showcasing Hispanic/Latino leads and stories. If your family is anything like ours, movie night is a common occurrence in your household. Incorporating any of these into your next family movie night is sure to make for an enriching experience:
Super Monsters: Vida’s First Halloween
Encanto
Coco
Spider-Man: Across the Spider Verse
Selena
La Bamba
Play Games
We love a good game night at our house and it’s a great way to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. Whether your kids prefer playground games or board games, here are a few for you and your family to try:
Lotería
Mar y tierra
1, 2, 3 Calabaza
Do Crafts
Isn’t it great when you can incorporate a learning opportunity into something that also keeps your kids busy and entertained? Here are some simple crafts that are fun for the whole family. Take a little bit of time to read up on the background and significance of each and then discuss with your kids as you create!
Tissue paper flowers
Papel picado
Piñatas
Ojo de Dios
Make and Eat Traditional Food
We recently watched Encanto for the 837th time and my four-year-old kept asking me if we could make arepas like Mirabel. Food is a great way to expose children to different cultures and here are a few kid-friendly recipes that even little hands can help with in the kitchen:
Arepas
Guacamole
Albondigas
Arroz con leche
Ensalada de pollo tostadas
