6 Ways to Celebrate Hispanic & Latino Heritage Month
When kids and teens learn about culture, they broaden their world view and develop a deeper understanding of themselves and others. Hispanic and Latino heritage is rich with history, culture and exciting contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans past and present.
When is Hispanic Heritage Month? Hispanic Heritage Month is unique in that it crosses over two months, celebrated from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15. This time period was chosen because it includes Independence Day celebrations for Belize, Chile, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico and Nicaragua.
Why is it important to celebrate Hispanic & Latino Heritage Month? Latino, Hispanic and Latinx Americans have wonderful traditions to honor during this month and all year long. They’re also a vital part of the American population. The Hispanic population in the United States accounts for 19% or 1 in 5 Americans, according to the 2020 Census.
At Boys & Girls Clubs of Sonoma-Marin, about 77% of our Members and 58% of our staff identify as Latino or Hispanic. Our Clubs encourage kids to embrace their identities and cultures – building pride and self-esteem. Even if your family isn't from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, Central or South America, you can still celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. Kids build respect and curiosity when they learn about other cultures.
6 Ideas for Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with Kids
From tasty eats to virtual tours, here are some Hispanic Heritage Month activities to engage the young people in your life:
Dish up some delicious flavors.
Head to Mitote Food Park on Sebastopol Road in Roseland, a Santa Rosa neighborhood rich with Latino heritage and the county’s largest Latino population. Local food trucks from the North Bay are there to offer a taste from different cuisines in Mexico: Oaxaca, Jalisco, Michoacan, Yucatan, and Mexico City.
You can also bring some new cultures to the table by trying the following Hispanic and Latino dishes at home:
Chimichurri sauce originated in Argentina. This herbaceous green sauce tastes best when served on top of proteins or vegetables or employed as a marinade.
Migas are kid-friendly, and you’ll likely have the ingredients on hand. A popular dish in Spain, Portugal, Mexico and Texas, migas combines scrambled eggs, tortilla chips, melty cheese and pico de gallo.
With origins in both Columbia and Venezuela, arepas are the ultimate sandwich – fried corn cakes stuffed with chicken, avocado and more. To earn extra kid points, watch the movie "Encanto" before making the cheese-filled arepas from the film.
Take a virtual tour.
Virtual tours provide an accessible way to explore contributions of Latino communities and individuals.
La Casa Azul is Mexican artist Frida Kahlo's former home. The name literally translates to the Blue House. Now, it's a museum dedicated to her work and life.
The Smithsonian's Museum of the American Latino shines a light on the legacy of U.S. Latinos and Latinas.
Explore Latino heritage through art.
Pablo Picasso, Frida Kahlo, Salvador Dali, Diego Velazquez and Francisco Goya – Hispanic artists are some of the most famous of all time.
View their masterpieces and discuss what makes them stand out. Then, ask kids to try to recreate some of these famous art styles at home or in the classroom.
Making Hispanic-inspired crafts is also a great way to experience hands-on learning through art.
Read books by Hispanic and Latino authors
Whatever the age of your reader, there are plenty of books to explore by Hispanic and Latino authors.
These days, you can also find recorded "story times" available on YouTube in English and in Spanish. For young readers, check out "Where Are You From?” by Yamile Saied Méndez, a story about a little girl who always gets asked where she's from and her grandfather, who helps her understand her identity.
Make it a movie night.
Kid-friendly movies that explore Hispanic and Latino culture are perfect for movie night.
The hit 2021 movie "Encanto" takes place in Colombia. While your kids enjoy the magical family Madrigal, they’ll also see Colombian fashion, architecture, animals and food. Expect to learn a few Spanish words along the way.
Inspired by the Mexican holiday Day of the Dead, the 2017 animated film “Coco” explores family and tradition.
Set to the musical stylings of Lin-Manual Miranda, 2021’s “Vivo” on Netflix celebrates the culture of Cuba as a rain forest creature seeks to deliver a message on behalf of his owner.
If you're looking for more movie picks throughout the month, check out these other kid-friendly movie options.
Hit the dance floor.
If your child considers every room a dance floor, it’s time to introduce them to the vibrancy of Latino dance styles. There are plenty of new moves to learn:
Check out the basic steps of salsa dancing.
Get moving to these fun, Spanglish-taught cumbia moves.
Exploring culture is a great way to learn about other people while deepening respect for diversity and inclusion. With these Hispanic Heritage Month ideas, you can celebrate Sept. 15 - Oct. 15 with the people in your life!
Story adapted from BGCA