20 Hispanic Heritage Month crafts for kids
Check out these Hispanic Heritage Month crafts for kids. Everyone, everywhere (hopefully!) in the United States celebrates from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15. It’s the perfect time to spark creativity while learning about Latino culture and traditions. And then use these techniques and ideas all throughout the year and in life!
I compiled some kid crafts that you maybe haven’t thought of before. They are easy with accessible supplies and I hope you find a few you want to try. Some
Amate bark painting
Downloadable pattern for you to trace to use for this project.
DIY: Use kraft paper or paper bags to mimic bark paper. Start by sketching with a pencil. Think like a coloring book design – large loose designs. Draw birds, flowers, or village scenes in black marker, then fill with bright flat colors using paint. Use neon paints!
Otomí tenango patterns
DIY: Use fun foam. Cut shapes of simple animal shapes or leaves/flowers and then glue those to a chunky piece of fun foam or a piece of cardboard to create stamps. Print repeating patterns in bold colors on fabric or cardstock. This would make great wrapping paper – or a table cover for family parties!
Corn husk muñecas
DIY: Soak corn husks in water to soften, then wrap around a small ball for the head. Use other husks to create a body and add fabric or felt for clothing.
Barriletes gigantes kites
DIY: This is a beautiful craft from Guatemala. The kites are believed to act as a bridge between the living and the dead, carrying messages, prayers, and greetings to ancestors in the afterlife. A great time to break out those wood embroidery hoops! Glue tissue paper circles onto round frames, decorate with messages, and add fringed tissue edges. Variation – as shown in this picture, use long sticks glued together into a star shape, then glue large pieces of tissue paper around each section.
Huichol-inspired yarn painting
DIY: Draw a design on cardboard or a canvas. Coat with white craft glue. Press brightly colored yarn (use sparkle yarn!) yarn onto the wet cardboard in colorful geometric or radial designs. Use a design or just freestyle!
Zampoña pan flutes
DIY: Cut straws to different lengths, tape in a row, and decorate. Blow across the tops to make music.
Milagro-inspired garland
Print out this pattern on cardstock, then punch a hole at the top and thread string or yarn to hang up as garland!
Talavera tile painting
DIY: Cut 4×4” cardboard squares, sketch geometric patterns, and paint with cobalt blues, yellows, and terracotta. Use them to glue around a picture frame or a border for a wall or wood jewelry box. Make your squares big or small.
Free Printable pan dulce word search & coloring packet
Retablo shadow boxes or figures
DIY: Use shoeboxes, mint tins, any small box as a mini shrine. And it doesn’t have to be a nicho – it can be a figure like this. Paint inside, add figures or symbols, and decorate with sequins or flowers.
Molcajete play set
DIY: Sculpt pretend mortars and pestles with air-dry clay. Add pom-pom avocados or beans for pretend guacamole. Use it as a play set for toddlers who are learning to cook. Or make mini-versions for nichos or ofrendas!
Textile weaving bookmarks
DIY: Make cardboard looms, weave yarn through in colorful patterns, and knot the ends into tassels.
Mola paper cutouts
DIY: Layer sheets of colored construction paper all flat on a board, use a glue stick to secure them all in place. Use a craft knife to cut away sections. Cut away sections to reveal designs underneath.
Self-portrait Lotería storytelling cards
Download the printable here (high res)
DIY: Kids design their own lotería card with a symbol from their life, then share with classmates. Cut a rectangle piece of cardstock, paint the background, then make a copy of a picture of you or your kid, and glue in the center. Write down the Loteria name. Make one for each family member, house, car, etc to create your own game!
Zine about your family history
DIY: Fold one sheet of paper into an eight-page mini book. Dedicate each page to a family tradition, a memory, story or a line drawing of a passed family member. Color it all, and make copies to pass out to la familia!
Jumbo cardboard milagro charms
DIY: Cut cardboard into shapes like hearts, hands, or animals. Draw outline and designs with hot glue. Let cool and then coat with a layer of white craft glue and lay a piece of foil on top. Use an eraser to gently burnish so the foil goes into the grooves of the hot glue outlines. Poke a hole at the top and add a string.
Alebrijes from plastic animals
DIY: Use craft paint to give a makeover to plastic animals. To get really creative, cut apart legs, tails, heads, etc and then hot glue them in a mismatched style. Then add color with paint pens or craft paints.
Musical rainsticks
DIY: Fill cardboard tubes with rice or beans, poke small holes with toothpicks or pins, and seal. Decorate with bright designs.
cultural storytelling, encouraging creativity and pride. Whether in a classroom, at home, or in a community workshop, these projects bring heritage to life one handmade piece at a time.
Decorated pinwheels
DIY: Buy some pinwheels and add lightweight accents, such as tissue paper cut-outs and glue to the edges. They will spin in the wind and look so pretty. You can even make these to sell or use as party props.
Add ribbons to braids!
Ribbon, yarn, fabric strips – you choose! Weave these in your hair as you braid it to make your outfit even more beautiful.
Huichol bead art
Start with a ceramic or wood figurine and coat with Tacky Glue, then add beads one-by-one to create a finished look.
Ojo de Dios – God’s-Eye Garland
Use toothpicks, chopsticks or even straws to create beautiful God’s eye with yarn, ribbon, threads, etc.
Hair clips
Use a wood bead to paint a face and then add a cardboard body and embellish! So cute! Add it to a ribbon hair clip and wear it proudly.
