How to Celebrate Hispanic Heritage with Kids

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What is Hispanic Heritage Month?

Hispanic Heritage Month is the annual celebration of the culture, history, and heritage of the Hispanic communities in the U.S. This month honors and celebrates the contributions made by the ancestors of citizens who came from Mexico, Spain, South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. This month-long celebration brings light to this often under-represented group of people.

How To Celebrate Hispanic Heritage with KidsWhen is Hispanic Heritage Month?

It originally started in 1968 and began as Hispanic Heritage Week. But it was later extended to a 30-day celebration (September 15- October 15) by President Reagan in 1988. This celebration begins on the 15th in honor of the many Latin American countries whose independence anniversaries fall on or after that date. Countries such as Mexico, Chile, Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador celebrate their independence within this time frame.

Why is it important?

This celebration is dedicated to acknowledging the rich history and diversity of the American Latino community. Hispanic Americans have made significant contributions to the development of the U.S. This month is meant to represent those individuals and the immense impact they have made. Whether or not you are of Latino descent, it is important for children to learn about the many different cultures in the U.S.

How to Celebrate Hispanic Heritage with Kids

Here are a few fun and educational activities you can enjoy with kids to celebrate Hispanic Heritage month.

Recipes

Activities such as choosing a Hispanic recipe for dinner can be both a fun and delicious way to learn about the culture. I love this list of traditional Hispanic recipes to try in honor of this month. Which will you cook first?

Books

You can also read books inspired by or based on Hispanic individuals who have made a difference. Check out this great list of Hispanic heritage kids’ books. Our local libraries would be a great place to look for books as well.

Movies

You can watch a few kid-friendly, Latino culture based movies. Watch Coco or Encanto on Disney+. Or check out The Book of Life on Amazon Video. Not every movie on this list of 9 Movies that Celebrate Hispanic Heritage is kid-friendly. But they’re all amazing, and you’re gonna want to add them to your must-watch list.

Music

Another super fun activity that kids would love would be to have a Latino music dance party! Latin pop, Tejano, Salsa, Cumbia, Flamenco, Samba, and other Latin music genres are great options. And the songs just might help teach your kiddos Spanish. I love this list of kid-friendly Latino music. 

Happy Hispanic Heritage Month!

Originally published September 2022.



The opinions expressed in this post are those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of El Paso Mom, its executive team, other contributors to the site, its sponsors or partners, or any organizations the aforementioned might be affiliated with.

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