What is Hispanic Heritage Month?

National Hispanic Heritage Month honors the cultures of Latinx and Hispanic Americans, as well as the histories of their ancestral countries. According to 2022 US Census data, about 19.1% of the US population has Hispanic heritage; celebrating the heritage of a huge (and growing) section of the American population is really important.

When is Hispanic Heritage Month?

Hispanic Heritage Month is the 30-day period between September 15 and October 15 each year. These dates were selected because they encompass the independence days of many Latin American countries including Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua—which all celebrate on September 15—as well as Mexico (September 16) and Chile (September 18). The month also includes the holiday formerly called Columbus Day (now referred to in most of the country as Indigenous People's Day), also known as Dia de la Raza, on October 12.

10 Ways to Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with Kids

1. Introduce them to Spanish!

Most kids love learning another language, and there are lots of fun and easy ways to get started learning basic Spanish. Parents can follow along with their kids on apps like Duolingo or Spanish School Bus, or you can find a local language learning center, class, or camp to sign up for. Many offer evening or summer programs to get kids started.

2. Listen to Latin American music

Kidz Bop and PBS Kids have great playlists for little kids related to Hispanic Heritage Month and celebrating some of their favorite Latinx musicians and characters.

Bigger kids might enjoy learning more about specific genres of Latin music, like salsa, reggaeton, mariachi, or merengue.

RELATED: How to Celebrate Juneteenth with Kids

 
Representation is important; make sure some of these books are in your home library. Photo courtesy of the LA Kids Book Festival

3. Read books by or about Latinx people

Little kids might enjoy books like the Lil Libros Series, Islandborn, and Just Ask!.

Older kids can get into Brad Meltzer's Ordinary People Who Changed the World books about Sonya Sotomayor and Frida Kahlo, or chapter books including Marcus Vega Doesn't Speak Spanish or Stella Diaz Has Something to Say. 

RELATED: 30 Banned Children's Books You Should Read Today

Make a pinata at home!

4. Do a craft celebrating Hispanic Heritage

Colorful traditions abound in Latin American culture, so it's easy to find fun crafts for kids to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month.

Here are a few of our favorites:

• Try making a papel picado by cutting folded paper and lacing it onto string
• Make your own pinata out of a paper lunch bag
• Use this template to create and color your own luchador mask

5. Create a meal or treat from a Latin American country

Sure, we all love tacos, but there are plenty of other delicious meals and treats from south of the border.

• Some favorite kid-friendly meals are: empanadas, arroz con pollo, or huevos rancheros
• Treat yourself to alfajores, churros, or tres leches cake for dessert
• Try sipping some agua frescas or Mexican hot chocolate for a fun drink option

RELATED: Mommy Poppins Crafts & Games Guide

Attend a local festival to soak up culture, crafts, music, and fun.

6. Attend a local Hispanic Heritage Event

Whether it's a ballet folklorico, mariachi band, or bilingual storytime, there are plenty of events on your local Mommy Poppins calendar to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month!

7. Visit a museum dedicated to Latinx art, history, or culture

Most major cities have at least one museum dedicated to the contributions of Hispanic Americans.

Some of our favorites in the country include:

• National Museum of the American Latino in Washington, D.C.
• El Museo de Barrio in New York City
• The National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture in Chicago
• The Museum of Latin American Arts in Long Beach, CA
• Perez Art Museum in Miami

Many other museums host Latinx-themed exhibits during Hispanic Heritage Month.

8. Play Loteria or another Latin American game

Loteria is similar to Bingo—all you'll need is a set of Loteria cards and dried beans for markers. Then call out the name of each picture and have kids mark the picture with a bean. Get a full row and you win! You can also get a more kid-friendly Loteria set with cartoon images and words that preschoolers and young elementary students might use in everyday life.

You can also make or buy a pinata, or make or buy a pirinola (a top with instructions on each side for putting poker chips or coins in or out of the pot) for more Latin American fun.

 
The Madrigal Family from Encanto© Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures 

9. Watch a show or movie with Hispanic characters

Latinx characters are finally having a heyday in movies for kids with new classics like Encanto, Coco, and The Book of Life all available on various streaming services. Kids who don't have the attention span for movies can check out shows like Alma's Way, Rosie's Rules, and Dora the Explorer.

Even Spider Man has a Latino lead now with Miles Morales appearing in Marvel Super Hero Adventures, Spidey and His Amazing Friends, and the Spider-verse films.

10. Donate or volunteer to help immigrant families

New families are coming to the United States from Latin America every day, and may need a hand getting settled in the US. Kids and parents can help by donating money, clothes, and other goods to help. Some communities may also offer volunteer opportunities for older kids who want to help out. Search for a local organization, or donate to Save the Children or the Women's Refugee Commission.

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All photos by Maureen Wilkey unless otherwise noted.