National Hispanic Heritage Month is a month-long celebration that pays tribute to the contributions of Americans who trace their roots to Spain, Mexico, Central and South America, and the Spanish-speaking nations of the Caribbean.
The celebration, which starts in mid-September every year, honors the rich culture, history, and contributions this community has made to the culture and economy of the United States.
Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month is a fun way to introduce your child to different cultures and expand their understanding of the world. For Hispanic families and children, it’s especially important for building a sense of identity, pride, and self-worth.
When is Hispanic Heritage Month Celebrated?
National Hispanic Heritage Month is observed from September 15 to October 15.
According to National Today, the observance starts on September 15 to honor Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua on their independence from Spain in 1821. Mexico, Chile, and Belize celebrate their independence on September 16, 18, and 21, respectively.
The month-long celebration continues through October 15 to include Dia de la Raza (or Columbus Day) on October 12.
How to Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with Your Kids
You can introduce your child to Hispanic culture through music, dancing, books, and more. Below are resources, including playlists, book recommendations, crafts, movies, and television shows that showcase the Hispanic and Latino cultures.
Have a Dance Party
Who doesn’t love a good dance party? Put on some fun music, make some simple maracas, and let your kids experience the rhythm of Hispanic music.
- This kid-friendly Hispanic Heritage Month Spotify Playlist features music from Hispanic and Latin artists and music from popular films like “Encanto” and “Coco.”
- Follow this simple DIY guide to make your own maracas — a fun instrument that has a rich history in Latin America.
Dancing is a great activity for children of all ages and abilities, encouraging healthy movement and building gross motor skills and fine motor skills in the process. Listening to music and singing along is also great for supporting cognitive development and communication skills in little ones!
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Read stories showcasing Hispanic Culture
Reading with your child is a great way to introduce them to Hispanic and Latino culture.
Look for these titles when you visit your local library or bookstore during Hispanic Heritage Month this fall. These books support Hispanic/Latino authors and explore unique elements of Hispanic culture at an age-appropriate level for kids.
- “Bisa’s Carnaval” by Joana Pastro
- “Island Born” by Leo Espinosa
- “Day of the Dead Alphabet Book” by Jeanette Winter
- “Mi Familia: A Mexican American Family” by Ana Cristina Gluck
- “The Piñata That the Farm Maiden Hung” by Samantha R. Vamos
- “Lucia the Luchadora” by Cynthia Leonor Garza
- “Where Are you From?” by Jaime Kim
- “My Little Golden Book: Frida Kahlo” by Silvia Lopez
- “Viva Frida” by Yuyi Morales
- “Across the Bay” by Carlos Aponte
- “Areli is a Dreamer” By Areli Morales
- “Danza: Amalia Hernández and Mexico’s Folkloric Ballet” by Duncan Tonatiuh
- “Pepe and the Parade” by Tracey Kyle
- “Abuela” by Arthur Dorros
- “Harvesting Hope The Story of Cesar Chavez” by Kathleen Krull
Reading is one of the best things you can do to support early childhood development, starting from an early age. Reading together helps build all sorts of key cognitive, communication, and emotional skills and strengthens the bond between you and your child.
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Learn more about the importance of reading from the early childhood specialists at Penfield Children’s Center:
Color a Hispanic Flag
Download free printable coloring pages. Make it a family activity, and color them all; then decorate your home with your new artwork.
Coloring is a great way to practice and develop fine motor skills in little ones since grabbing and holding crayons or markers works those key muscles in their hands.
Coloring can also support other key areas of development, such as communication and social skills as they practice the words for different colors and learn to share crayons and coloring pages with their siblings, classmates, or friends.
Watch Movies & TV Shows That Tell Hispanic Stories
In moderation, movies and shows are another way to immerse your child in Hispanic culture. Here are some kid-friendly options to consider watching during Hispanic Heritage Month.
- “Coco” | Watch it on Disney+
- “Encanto” | Watch it on Disney+
- “Nina’s World” | Watch it on Peacock or Amazon Prime Video
- “Alma’s Way” | Watch it on PBS Kids
- “Dora the Explorer” | Watch on Paramount+ or Amazon Prime Video
- “Oh Noah!” | Watch on PBS Kids
- “Elena of Avalor” | Watch on Disney+
- “Plaza Sésamo” | Watch on HBO Max or Amazon Prime Video
- “Pororo” | Watch on Netflix
- “Pocoyo” | Watch on Netflix
- “Go Diego Go” | Watch on Paramount+
- “Handy Manny” | Watch on Disney+
- “Diary of a Future President” | Watch on Disney+
- “One Day At A Time” | Watch on Netflix
- “Stuck in the Middle” | Watch on Disney+
- “La Familia P. Luche” | Sling TV or Amazon Prime Video
- “Under the Same Moon” | Watch on Amazon Prime Video
- “Instructions Not Included” | Watch on Amazon Prime Video
- “McFarland USA” | Watch on Disney+
As you are watching these TV shows and movies, be sure to limit screen time and focus on building your child’s development away from the screen as well.
Build cognitive and communication skills by pausing to talk about what you watched or repeating key words and songs together. What did they learn from watching? What was their favorite part?
You can also build fine and gross motor skills by encouraging movement while watching, such as dancing along to any music or setting a timer to make sure you get up and move every 15-30 minutes.
Happy Hispanic Heritage Month from Penfield
We hope you and your little ones make the most of Hispanic Heritage Month and enjoy learning, growing, and playing together! Be sure to stay connected for more fun tips, tricks, and ideas from our early childhood specialists to support your child’s ongoing development all year long!
