4 Kid-Friendly Ideas for Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month

Hispanic Heritage Month runs from Sept. 15 through Oct. 15, and it's the perfect time of year to learn more about the cultural traditions of people from central and South America, according to Parents Magazine. These kid-friendly ideas for celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month include more than Day of the Dead food recipes and are lots of fun.

1. Construct Ecuadorian Migajon Clay Statues

Artists in Ecuador create miniature figures using dough made from bread crumbs and glue. According to Kid World Citizen, you can do the same if you remove the crust from a slice of bread. Tear the bread into pieces and add 1 tablespoon of glue. Mix it by hand until it forms a clay-like dough. After shaping them into whatever you imagine, bake them at 200 degrees for 90 minutes before decorating them with paint or markers.

2. Make a Sugar Skull Fruit Pizza

Sugar skulls are popular in Day of the Dead dessert recipes, according to Growing Up Bilingual, so have some fun with this colorful symbol used in the celebrations. Start by spreading sugar cookie dough on a baking sheet and cut it in the shape of a sugar skull. Bake it and, after it cools, spread some cream cheese mixed with whipped topping on top. Then use an assortment of fruit such as blueberries, strawberries, kiwi and pineapple to decorate.

3. Create Mexican Folk Art

According to Frogs, Snails, and Puppy Dog Tails, you can let the kids create their own Mexican folk art using paper plates and aluminum foil. Cover a paper plate with aluminum foil, pressing firmly around the edge of the plate so the ridges show through. Then give each child some permanent markers in multiple colors and let them draw their own interpretations of the sun with a face.

4. Prepare a South American Treat

You can also celebrate Hispanic heritage by preparing traditional treats from the Caribbean and South America. One easy dish is an empanada, a piece of pastry dough filled with sweet or savory fillings that you deep fry or bake. According to Laylita's Recipes, in Argentina a popular filling is seasoned ground beef, but you can also try a combination of strawberry jam and cream cheese if you want a sweet treat.