It’s a pretty long stretch between Easter and Memorial Day…why not celebrate Cinco de Mayo to hold you over until summer? Even those of us who aren’t Mexican can join in on the fun the fifth of May brings each year; in fact, Cinco de Mayo has been Americanized since it began centuries ago, and is now celebrated more in the United States than Mexico itself!

A bit surprising, since Cinco De Mayo is Mexico’s independence day commemorating the country’s win over the French army on May 5, 1862. French soldiers tried to take over a piece of Mexican land, but Mexico won, despite its army being outnumbered. 

Here in the U.S., Cinco de Mayo celebrates the heritage and culture of Mexico with colorful parades, mariachi music, and of course, traditional Mexican foods like tacos, fajitas, and chips and guac. Here are some helpful resources and activity ideas for kids of all ages—crafts, recipes, books, and more—to turn a regular ol’ Monday into a true fiesta.

• Make mini pinatas using paper towel rolls, string, and construction paper

• Decorate your home in festive Mexican garb and colors (PS: so many online stores have huge Cinco de Mayo selections this year, including Oriental Trading and Target)

• Visit the library and borrow some children’s books about Cinco de Mayo (and if you ask me, Dragons Love Tacos totally fits the bill)

• Do some Mexican flag art using red and green paint, buttons, beads, crayons, or other supplies on top of white paper

• Have your kid help you in the kitchen in whipping up taco recipes for kids; serve them as a DIY taco bar so your picky eater may be more inclined to eat

• Bake sombrero hat cookies with frozen dough, candy dots and M&Ms

• Show a short video aimed at kids that explains the history and significance of Cinco de Mayo

• Cut out your own papel picado, a traditional Mexican decoration made by cutting shapes into colorful paper, and use them as table centerpieces or wall art

• Build sand pyramids to pay homage to the architecture in Mexico

• Have a dance party to a playlist of mariachi music (and don’t forget the kiddie crowd–pleaser, “It’s Raining Tacos!”)

• Or, make your own music playing DIY Mexican instruments using items you have at home like cereal boxes and paper plates

• Print a Cinco de Mayo themed coloring page, or a themed word search for older kids

• Teach your kid a few basic Spanish words or phrases, like por favor, gracias, and como te llama. You can also teach them to count to ten in Spanish, a skill my 7-year-old still likes to show off at parties

• Finish off the day with Mexican desserts, such as Mexican hot chocolate or these crescent baked churros, even better dipped in chocolate.

What’s on tap for you and your fam this Cinco de Mayo?

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