Cinco de Mayo Celebrations With Kids

Introducing kids to new holidays and having them actively participate can be difficult, especially when much of that holiday’s celebrations are clearly focused on the active consumption of alcohol. There are plenty of ways to make Cinco de Mayo accessible for young kids, though.

Cinco de Mayo is a celebration of Mexican heritage and culture. It falls on May 5, the anniversary of the date of Mexican armed forces’ unlikely victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla in 1862. In Mexico itself, the holiday is largely considered minor, but it is huge in the United States.

Start off with a plan to introduce kids to the real reason behind the holiday. Kids will probably come home from school with a cursory understanding of the day, but bringing the activities home will help drive the point. Consider picking up a copy of a picture book centering on the holiday. These are all over the place on Amazon, and can do a good job giving you some ideas for celebrations you might not have thought of.

If it presents the possibility of getting messy, kids are going to be drawn to it. Start by getting some art supplies together and making Mexican flags with the kids. This is a fun activity that allows their creativity to shine through. If their appetite for crafts isn’t sated, gather some empty plastic bottles and small pieces. These can be grains, pastas, nuts or small pieces of plastic. Help the kids fill the bottles with the noise-makers and wrap tape around the bottles. Gather some paint and let your kids decorate. Be warned, though, they now have maracas.

Finally, if you want to make a full day of the festivities, take a tip to the grocery store and pick up a few Cinco de Mayo desserts and ingredients to make an authentic Mexican dinner the kids can assist with. If you need a few ideas, this website has you covered. Pick up some candy and a piñata if the kids have been good, as well.

Finally, start planning a trip to Mexico and, more specifically, Puebla, to mark the occasion. Depending on the age of your kids, this can act as a great introduction to travel planning while letting them have a real hand in the next vacation.