You are invited to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis as it hosts its annual Family Celebration on Sunday, September 15th. Make traditional paper flowers, create a unique piece of Mexican folk art, and make your own Guatemalan worry doll that, according to legend, will banish worries when placed under your pillow.
Music
Music is the heartbeat of Hispanic culture, filled with dynamic rhythms and soulful melodies. Introduce your children to different types of Latin music, starting with the lively sounds of a mariachi band.
To be more interactive at home, create homemade maracas. Decorate empty toilet paper rolls, fill them with beans or rice, seal them tightly and let your kids shake fast. Add to the fun with DIY trinkets made from cardboard folded in half with bottle caps inside. Your kids can make music while you show off your salsa or tango moves.
Food
Food is a delicious way to explore and appreciate a culture. Go beyond the familiar taco and burrito by researching and cooking traditional Hispanic dishes from different countries. Try making pupusas from El Salvador, pastel de choclo from Chile or gorditas from Mexico. Each dish reflects the unique heritage of its country. Don’t forget the sweets! Little ones will surely love the tres leches cake, churros or conchas.
Craft
Unleash your child’s creativity with traditional Hispanic crafts. Papel picado, or “punched paper,” is a colorful decoration used in many Hispanic celebrations. You can buy papel picado or make your own with tissue paper and scissors.
Another fun craft is making paper flowers, which are a staple in Mexican celebrations. Use brightly colored paper and simple folding techniques to create beautiful flourishes that brighten up any space.
Chandeliers are another traditional decor in Hispanic culture. These are often made from paper bags with designs inserted into them. Then all you have to do is put in a small battery operated tea light. They add a magical glow to pathways and entrances at any time of the year.
No party is complete without a piñata! Instead of traditional piñatas that break sticks, try one that opens with the pull of a string for safer, indoor fun. Just take an empty toilet paper roll, decorate it, fill it with small candies and tape it shut. Pull the cord to shower the kids with goodies.
Language
Many children already know words like “rodeo”, “tortilla” and “lasso”. Building on this foundation can increase their confidence and appreciation of the language. A fun game you can try at home is called Lotería. It is a popular game similar to bingo. Each player has a picture card, and the caller announces the cards in Spanish. The first player to cover a row shouts “Lotería!” It’s a fun way to practice Spanish.
Hispanic Heritage Month is a fantastic opportunity to connect with your children by celebrating the rich and diverse traditions of Hispanic culture through music, food, crafts and games. Ojalá lo object (we hope you will Taste that)!
