Cinco de Mayo, Spanish for 5th of May, is on Saturday and you don’t have to be Latino to have fun with your family.  Some family friendly activities that are popular with my children include:

MEXICO (to the tune of Bingo)

At night there’s mariachi
And the sun shines hot all day-O!

M – E – X-I – C – O,
M – E – X-I – C – O,
M – E – X-I – C – O,

Let’s all clap for Mexico!

Papel picado (punched paper)

•     You need tissue paper  (whatever colors you want)
  scissors
  string
  scotch tape
• Directions:
•     Fold tissue paper a number of times.
•     It should be folded edge to edge, not corner to corner.
•     For younger children, don’t fold too many times or it will be difficult for them to cut.
•     Cut shapes from the paper, but don’t cut off any corners (you want the rectangular shape of the tissue paper to remain)
•     Unfold
•     Edges may be straight, scalloped, zig-zagged or fringed.
•     Fold over the top 1/4 inch of the papel cortado over a long piece of string and tape to make a pocket
•     Add additional sheets to form a long decorative streamer

Pinatas are always fun, and you can always cook up some Mexican food with your kids. We will making tortillas!

• tissue paper (I cut store bought sheets into 4 pieces — each about 8×10 inches)
• scissors
• string
• scotch tape