Are you looking for creative and meaningful crafts to celebrate the Day of the Dead with your kids? In this post, I’ll share some of my favorite Day of the Dead crafts that are perfect for kids of all ages. The best part is they all have very special meaning to them. You can use these as a group project, for festivals, or just in your home with your family! I hope you enjoy them.
What Is The Day Of The Dead – Dia de Muertos – And Why Is It Celebrated?
Day of the Dead, also known as Día de los Muertos, is a Mexican tradition that goes back 3,000 years. It is celebrated in Mexico and other Latin American countries to honor and remember loved ones who have passed away. It takes place on November 1st and November 2nd, which are the same days as All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day in the Catholic religion.
If you want more info, read this first: How to authentically celelbrate Dia de Muertos.
The holiday has its roots in ancient cultures, such as the Aztecs, who believed that death was a natural part of life and that the dead could come back to the world of the living for a short time each year.
When the Spanish arrived in Mexico in the 16th century, they brought Catholicism with them, which combined with the existing indigenous beliefs to create the modern-day celebration of the Day of the Dead.
Traditions
During the holiday, families and friends come together to build altars, called ofrendas, in memory of their loved ones who have passed away.
These altars are decorated with marigold flowers, candles, photos, and other items that were once important to the person being remembered.
Families also visit cemeteries to clean and decorate the graves of their loved ones and often bring food and drink to share with the spirits.
Day of the Dead is a time to remember and celebrate the lives of those who have passed away and to show that death is not the end, but rather a continuation of life in a different form. It is bright colors and a joyful holiday that celebrates the beauty and richness of life, even in the face of death.
Day Of The Dead Crafts For Kids
Now that we know The Day Of The Dead history, we can get to the Day of the Dead activities and crafts! I have listed a bunch of different Day of The Dead crafts for kids to enjoy. They are all pretty easy to make, but some may require a parent or adult to help. Even an older sibling or older kids.
Let’s get to crafting!!!
Make an ofrenda in your home
This is the most essential aspect of Dia de Muertos, so let’s start here. They don’t have to make something as elaborate as this. you can use a shoe box or any box and go from. Include a picture, marigolds, and butterflies.
For a more hands-on craft, try making a Day of the Dead altar. You can use a shoebox or other small container to create your own altar. Then, let your kids decorate it with candles, flowers, photos, favorite foods, and other meaningful items.
This is a great way to honor loved ones who have passed away and teach your kids about the importance of remembering and celebrating their lives.
Make sugar skulls!
This is the ultimate craft tomake for the season! First up, we have the classic sugar skull crafts! These are always fun to make and there are SO many different sugar skull crafts to choose from! Sugar skulls, or “calaveras de azúcar” in Spanish, are a traditional part of Day of the Dead celebrations in Mexico and other Latin American countries. They are made from a mixture of sugar, water, and meringue powder, and are often decorated with bright colors, patterns, and other embellishments.
The sugar represents the sweetness of life.
Here is my article about how to make sugar skulls with icing!
Here are my favorite sugar skull crafts:
Sugar skull apple slice pops
Rather than dipping an entire apple, slice one up and make these pops. So easy and easier to eat. Just as tasty!
Day of the Dead journal
Create alittle book like this to write down all your favorite memories about a loved one who passed away.
Day of the Dead Barbie
You know you want to! Find a dollar the thrift or dollar store and give her a makeover!
Sugar Skull Pinata
Use a paper lantern as the base, rather than a balloon! so much easier!
Mini Sugar Skull Piñata DIY
Here is a much smaller version! I used a die cut to make this, but oyu can use my template to make it or make your own!
Looking for a cute and festive craft project for the Day of the Dead? Check out this ! It’s so adorable and easy to make and is perfect for a craft night or just for fun.
There is a tutorial video (see below) on how to make this adorable sugar skull craft paper mache piñata. You can fill it with small candy and let the kids have some fun swinging at it! It is the perfect way to get some energy out! This is a really fun craft project for the whole family to make together.
Sugar Skull Paper Banner
Here is another fun and easy craft project for Day of the Dead. It is a cute Sugar Skulls Paper Banner! It’s the perfect way to add some festive decor to your celebrations.
Plus, there are some free printables included (sugar skull template) that you can use to make your own banner of any length you want! Just follow the simple directions and you’ll have a colorful and beautiful decoration in no time! This is a simple craft for kids to make with an adult.
More Day of The Dead Crafts For Kids!
Q-Tip Skeletons
These are super cute and perfect to embellish and decorate and even customize! Glue them to. construction paper, add paint, flowers, glitter and a name of who you are making it for.
Dia de Muertos Pumpkin
My friend Paula made this beautiful pumpkin in honor of dia de Muertos! you can too!
Muertos ghost painting
This is such a fun idea! Find a painitng at the thrift store and make it Dia de Los Muertos!
Paper Rosettes
Paper rosettes are decorative paper crafts that are made by folding and pleating strips of paper into a circular shape. They are often used as decorations for parties, weddings, and other special events, and can be made in a variety of sizes, colors, and patterns.
They are pretty easy to make and turn out really pretty. This is a great craft for kids to sit down and do with an adult! Learn to make these by watching the tutorial video below and following these simple steps.
Day Of The Dead Mask
Another fun craft is the Day of the Dead mask. You can use paper plates, cardstock, or even recycled materials to make your own Calavera masks. Then, let your family members decorate them with colorful markers in vivid colors, puffy paint, acrylic paints, feathers, and other fun materials.
Your kids will love wearing their wearable mask skull faces and pretending to be part of the Day of the Dead celebration. This craft is great for young children (with an adult’s help) or any arty crafty kids who want to get creative!
Day Of The Dead Coloring Pages
One of the most popular ways to celebrate this holiday is through art, including coloring pages that feature traditional Day of the Dead designs. There are many free Day of the Dead coloring pages available online that you can print and color at home.
However, my favorite coloring pages are the ones my husband, Patrick Murillo, created! He is known worldwide for his comical and detailed Dia de Muertos paintings, drawings, sculptures, and more. Kids of all ages enjoy coloring these pages! Get your free sugar skull coloring pages by clicking the link above!
Skeleton puppets
Use paper or cardboard to create a skeleton puppet. Then, let your kids decorate it with paint, markers, or other materials. Your kids will love putting on their own Day of the Dead puppet show.
Papel picado for your ofrenda
This traditional Mexican craft involves cutting intricate designs into colorful tissue paper. You can use scissors or a craft knife to create your own papel picado, and then string it up to create a festive banner or you can hang it on your wall. You can also use this to decorate your Day of the Dead altar (see craft idea for the altar, below).
Marigold Paper Flower Printable
Marigolds are essential in the celebration of The Day of The Dead. They are named after the Virgin Mary and are known as the flower of the dead in Mexico. By celebrating their loved ones who have passed on, they decorate the ofrenda (which is an altar) with these Marigolds.
You can print out the free template and instructions on how to make these beautiful Marigold paper flowers and start making them right away. This is a wonderful kid’s craft that they can do with an adult (because you use a hot glue gun).
Print multiple copies to create a ton of pretty flowers! You only need a few items to make these paper flowers. You can always have your child add glitter to the flowers to complete the look! There are endless possibilities with this fun Day of the Dead craft!
La Catrina Greeting Card (free printable)
La Catrina is iconic with the tradition – you can learn more about her here. Then you’ll be inspired to make a greeting card in her honor, I have a free printable for you to use!
Painted Muertos Lanterns
You can use mason jars or other clear containers to create your own Day of the Dead lanterns. Make sure that the clear container or mason jar is washed and dried completely so the paint or markers you use on it stay put. Find a free Day of the Dead template of a sugar skull, and print it out. Then, tape the template to the inside of the container/jar.
Use different colored acrylic paints to paint the design onto the jar. You can also use paint markers! Once everything is dried, add a tea light or two (battery-powered!) so you can enjoy the different colors you painted onto the container and the artwork you created! Such a cute (and fun way!) to create a DIY Day of the Dead Lantern! This is a great craft for kids of all ages to do.
Paper Or Fabric Garland
We have the Day of the Dead garland (kind of like the sugar skull one we talked about above). You can use paper, fabric, or even felt to make your own garland.
Muertos Window Painting
This is a family activity everyone can contribute to! Use tempura paint for easy clean-up. This tutorial will guide you along!
Felt sugar skulls
All you need is felt, embroidery thread, a needle and your imagination! Add sequins, glitter and whatever else you want!
Muertos Paper Dolls
These are soo adorable and made from supplies we already have around la casa! Made by YMCA of San Francisco.
Sugar Skull Caramel Apples
This is one of my most popular projects – they are absolutely fun to decorate and enjoy!
Muertos Reverse Glass Painting
Buy frames at the dollar store and use my template to make this!
Dia de Muertos face painting ideas
This is a fun aspect of the tradtition – to paint your face like a skeleton. It represents the beauty of the cycle of life. Here are a whole bunch of ideas!
Then, let your kids decorate it with Day of the Dead skulls, colorful items, flowers, and other fun things. Hang the garland in your home so everyone can look at it and enjoy it! So much fun because there are so many ways to decorate a Day of the Dead garland!
There are plenty of great ideas and beautiful crafts to make in this blog post for fun Day of The Dead crafts for kids. This holiday is a celebration of life and a very special day for many. It is important to learn about different cultures and their beliefs.
I hope these Day Of The Dead Crafts For Kids ideas inspire you and your children to get creative and have some fun celebrating and learning more about the Day of the Dead!
Do you have a Day of the Dead craft for kids that you would like to share with us? Is you do, please leave me a comment below! I would love to hear how you celebrate this Mexican holiday with your kids!
