Mexican Games and Activities for Kids

A young girl trying to hit a piñata. Several kids standing around watching. Text reads Mexican Theme: Mexican culture games and activities for kids.

Here you are going to find an extensive list of Mexican activities and theme games like Cinco De Mayo and other similar activities. These Mexican themed activities will help kids learn about Mexican culture but also enjoy hours of fun and entertainment.

Great for Cinco de Mayo or fiesta! Art, Crafts, Games, Snacks/Recipes, Simple Greetings/Phrases, and more.

Mexican arts & crafts ideas

1. Make a piñata

A picture of a colorful 6 pointed star Piñata.

Making a piñata can be a lot of fun. You will see them being used for playing the PIÑATA game at parties and celebrations.

2 cups flour 3 cups water
1 balloon Newspaper strips
Paint, crayons, or markers Tissue paper (optional)
Colored crepe paper & String  

General guidelines

Materials:

  1. Blow up a large balloon and tie the end securely.
  2. Mix flour and water together until it makes a smooth paste.
  3. Cut newspaper into long 1 inch thick strips and dip into the flour and water mixture, creating paper Mache strips.
  4. Carefully place the strips of newspaper on the balloon in a single layer, patting the paper smooth until the balloon is covered, leaving only a hole at the top large enough for candy. Set aside and allow the balloon to dry completely overnight.
  5. Place another layer of newspaper strips dipped in the mixture over the balloon and let that dry. Repeat with yet one more layer, making sure you leave the hole at the top. When completely dry, pop the balloon, and remove any balloon bits that remain.
  6. Use wadded paper, lightweight wire shapes or smaller paper Maché covered balloons to create noses, ears, arms, legs or other details to make your piñata into the shape you want.
  7. Paint your piñata, or cover it with layers of bright tissue paper in colors to match your party theme.
  8. If desired, hang colored crepe paper from the sides and bottom.
  9. Punch 2 small holes in the top near the opening and string a large piece of string through the two holes.
  10. Fill your piñata (through the hole you left at the top) with candy, toys, or any other fun surprises. Mix the treats with strips of newspaper or small wads of tissue paper to keep the treats spread throughout the piñata.
  11. Tie your completed piñata in the air with the string and have fun.

Tip: Those who know how to make a piñata have learned not to make the paper Mache layers too thick or the piñata will be nearly impossible to break.

  • You can be creative with this project – your piñata can be almost any color or shape you can imagine. Don’t worry about your artistic skills, or craft experience. Anyone can learn how to make a piñata. It’s a great group project and a wonderful way for to have fun preparing for a party together.
    Source: catalogs.com

2. Paper Bag Piñata

An image of a paper bag turned into a piñata.

This is a very simple version of a Piñata making it a suitable craft to do with large groups of children. It’s much less messy than the Paper Maché version.

Materials:

  • Paper lunch bag
  • Newspaper
  • Candy or other treats
  • Different colors of tissue paper
  • Scissors
  • Glue, Hole punch & String

Instructions:

  • Put candy or treats into the paper bag.
  • Scrunch up a piece of newspaper and put it in the bag. Repeat until the bag is full, with the newspaper- about 1 inch below the top of the bag (you need the inch so you can close the bag later)
  • Cut strips of tissue paper 3 to 6 inches wide and long enough to wrap around the bag (the wider you cut the strips, the quicker the craft will go)
  • Fringe the strips by using your scissors to cut about 1/2 way up each strip, 1 to 4 inches apart
  • Glue the strips around the bag, starting at the bottom – only glue the uncut part, don’t get any glue on the fringes.
  • When you glue on the second strip, overlap it so it comes about to where you cut the fringe.
  • Repeat until you’ve covered the entire bag – again leaving about 1 inch free at the top.
  • Punch holes all the way around the top of the bag.
  • Lace a piece of string or yarn around the holes and pull tight (You may need to pull out a bit of the newspaper or add a bit extra at this point). Tie in a loop so you can hang it.
  • Cut 4 or 5 long strips of tissue paper and glue them to the bottom of the bag as streamers.
  • When all the children have made their piñatas, you can hang them up for decorations OR you can let them whack their bag with a stick until their candy falls out.

Tips: Be very careful that children don’t hit each other. You can use skipping ropes, to rope off a small circle inside a large circle. The stick (and whoever is using it) stays inside the small circle. When the person’s done using it, they have to put the stick down inside the small circle before they go back to the audience. The audience stays outside the large circle. Adapted from: dltk-kids.com

An image of tissue paper turned into flowers. A lady holding a large bouquet of them.

3. Make Mexican flowers

Need: Tissue paper in a variety of colors, scissors, and floral wire or colored pipe cleaners.

1. To make the flowers, layer five or six rectangular sheets of the same size tissue paper (the colors can be mixed or not). The smaller the tissue paper sheets, the smaller the flower.
2. Starting at one of the short ends of the paper, fold the paper into one-inch accordion folds – as if making a fan.
3. Next, wrap floral wire or a pipe cleaner tightly around the center of folded tissue paper. Straighten one of the wires for the stem.
4. Gently pull the layers of tissue paper apart, out and up, and fluff them to create a lush burst of colorful flower petals.

Colorful, Fun, and Pretty.

4. Cactus art

A cactus art project made from construction paper and paint.

Put out construction paper, watercolor paints, torn tissue paper, and toothpicks or pasta pieces. (That is the materials used for the cactus on the right)
The first sample is made by a fourth-grade student of Shannon Stewart and the first by a first grader.

5. Make plastic water bottle maracas

Supplies:

  • Empty plastic water bottles with their caps
    Masking tape (plain or bright colors)
    Paint and/or markers (of not using colored tape)
    Dried beans or popcorn kernels

1. Going horizontally, wrap the water bottle from top to bottom with masking tape. If using colored masking tape, alternate the colors to make a bright design.
2. If using plain masing tape, decorate the maraca by drawing or painting designs on the masking tape.
3. Fill the water bottle half-way with popcorn or dried beans. Replace bottle cap and shake!

6. Mini maracas

Easy to make from empty film canisters and craft sticks.

You need:

  • Empty Film Canisters
  • Craft Sticks
  • Colored Vinyl Tape
  • Black Marker or Paint
  • Rice, Beans, or Beads
  • Scissors

Instructions:

1. Paint the craft sticks black.
2. Decorate the sticks and the containers using colored vinyl tape.
3. Cut a slit in the tops to hold the craft sticks securely. Fill containers half full with rice, beans or beads. Replace the tops.
4. Push in the crafts sticks.

7. Paper plate maracas

1. Have kids paint their paper plates (eating-side down) any color and design they choose. The brighter the better.
2. Once  paint is dry, fill one paper plate with dried beans, popcorn kernels,  or anything that will make noise.
3. Glue the paper plates together and shake!
Optional: glue or staple long crepe paper streamers if desired.

8. Mexican ‘jumping bean’ art

Supplies: Variety of dried beans, heavy construction paper or card stock, thick tempra paints, shallow dishes, spoons, shallow boxes/containers

1. Give children construction paper/card stock and several colors of thick tempera paint in shallow dishes.
2. Place the paper in a shallow box- then dip the beans in the chosen paint color and use a spoon to scoop it out. Place beans on the paper.
3. Hold the box tilting it back and forth as the beans move across. When there is no more paint, dip the beans again or get a scoop of beans in a different color.

9. Tin work

Known in Mexico as hojalata, this goes back to the 16th Century. It’s used widely by artisans and craftsmen to form both useful and ornamental objects ranging from purely fun to elegant and delicate. Only hindered by imagination, tin artists produce candelabras, frames, ornaments, jewelry boxes, figures, lanterns, and bowls. Introduce tin art to your kids.

10. Tin can lanterns & luminaries

1. Look for cans that have plain sides without any ridges. These make the nicest lanterns. Remove the label from the can. Scrape and clean any glue that is still on the can.

2. Draw a pattern of dots on the outside of the can with a permanent marker. Be careful NOT to smudge the dots before the ink is dry. Challenge kids to come up with patterns such as stars, flowers, circles, etc.

3. Fill the can with water and put in the freezer for at least 24 hours until frozen solid.

4. Place the can on its side on a folded towel. Use assorted nails (also screwdriver tips make a nice look) to pierce through the pattern of dots that have been drawn. Hammer the nails in just far enough to pierce the metal. If the ice is melting too quickly, return the can to the freezer for a few hours.

5. When done, melt the ice in the can. Dry the lantern. Caution the children to take care and not cut or scratch themselves on in edges inside of the can.

The lantern is now ready to place a votive candle in it. Several together make a lovely night-time light.

11. Tin art hanging ornaments (Using juice lids)

Pierce a pattern of holes in the metal top of a frozen juice can. (The lids that are held in place with a plastic strip have the smoothest edges.) Place the lid on a work surface that can sustain the pounding of nails. Besides the design, pound a hole in near the top of the lid to string fishline or yarn from which to hang.

 Several lids hung together make a nice mobile.

12. Paper plate sun

Images of the sun are themes that appear frequently in Mexican art.

This is a simple craft made from a paper plate and a child’s handprint cutouts. These would surely add to the ‘Fiesta’ spirit when hung about the room.

Supplies:

  • A paper plate
  • Yellow construction paper
  • Scissors
  • Glue (or a stapler)
  • Crayons, paint or markers
  • Googly eyes (optional)

1. Paint the front side of a paper plate yellow.
2. Trace the child’s hand on yellow construction paper about 7 times.
3. Cut out the tracings.
4. Glue or staple the handprint tracings to the backside of the plate – the fingers are the sun’s rays.
5. Color in the sun, drawing a mouth and a nose. Either draw the eyes or glue on googly eyes.

Paint small terra cotta pots with acrylic paints. Have kids decorate them with popular Mexican symbols such as a sun, Mexican flags, sombreros, cactus, maracas, etc.

13. Make a serape

Materials:

  • Large brown grocery bag
  • Masking tape
  • Scissors
  • Paint

1. Place the bag-seam side up.
Starting at the bottom cut straight up the seam, cutting into a “V” and then a hole in the bottom of the bag (this is the neck hole).
2. Cut about a 5-inch wide strip from each side of the bag. This makes the open sides of the serape.
3. Make a fringe around the bottom by either cutting slits all around the edges, or by punching holes along the bottom and threading pieces of yarn through.
4. Turn the serape inside out, so that the print is inside, and the side that is showing is plain brown. You may need to secure the shoulder area (the bottom of the bag) with masking tape.
5. Lay the serape out flat, and paint with bright colors.

14. Make confetti (cascaron) eggs (Craft and Game in one.)

“Cascaron” is the Spanish word for eggshell. They are used in many celebrations including Easter, Christmas, Birthdays and Cinco de Mayo.  In San Antonio, the “confetti-filled eggs,” are sold in stores and is a basic part of Fiesta.

Materials

  • Uncooked chicken eggs large or jumbo size
  • Food color, dyes and/or markers
  • Scotch tape OR Glue and Tissue paper
  • Paper confetti (Two cups per dozen eggs)

1. Make about a half-inch hole or the size of a dime in the bottom or top of an egg. Remove the egg contents. (Either prop over a bowl and let the eggs drain or See directions for blowing out eggs on Egg Decorating Page)
2. Rinse out the inside of the egg. When it is completely dry decorate it using your favorite method.
3. Fully fill the dry egg with paper confetti.
4. Once finished, place a small piece of scotch tape over the opening of the egg, or glue on a small piece of tissue paper that matches the egg.

What to do with them?

Surprise a ‘ someone by ‘cracking’ and egg over their head
Hide cascarones as part of an Easter-egg hunt. When a cascarón is found, it can be cracked over someone’s head. Make a wish when you crack the cascarón. According to tradition, a confetti shower brings good luck to both the one who breaks the cascarón and the one above whose head it is broken.

Origin of cascarones

According to wikipedia.com, many people believe Cascarones were first brought from Asia to Italy by the explorer Marco Polo. He would give the eggs often filled with perfumed powder as gifts.

The custom traveled from Italy to Spain and was brought to Mexico in the mid-1800s by the wife of Emperor Maximilian. In Mexico, the powder was replaced with confetti, and cascarones became a part of holiday celebrations, including Easter, New Year’s Eve and birthday parties.

Mexican themed music games

15. Do the Mexican hat dance!

Place a sombrero in the center of floor where children will be dancing, or, If there is no sombrero cut a large circle from construction paper and use a marker to draw the features of a Mexican sombrero.

To perform the Mexican Hat Dance, stand with feet together and arms down by your sides. Kick your heel out three times, alternating feel each time; clap twice. Repeat until the chorus begins.
At chorus, link elbows with a partner and skip around in a circle. Circle once, and then circle the opposite direction. Repeat with a different partners throughout chorus. Or, the entire circle can circle one way-and then the other.

Variation: You can call children names one by one.
When a child’s name is called he/she will come to the center of the circle and do a dance.

16. Remember the Macarena? It’s still an easy and fun dance for kids

Just put it on your phone or tablet, and teach them the moves.

17. Have a chilli pepper relay

1. Divide students into two or more teams and have each team form a line.
2. Give each team a long red balloon (their “chili pepper).
3. Kids pass their chili pepper down the line as quickly as possible. The first player passes it between his legs, the second over her head, the third between his legs, and so on.
4. When the pepper reaches the last child, they race to the front of the team’s line and start the chili pepper down again.
5. The relay ends when the first player from one of the teams reaches the back of his team’s line, gets the chili pepper, and returns it to the front of the line.

18. Play ‘pin the tail on the burro’! (Donkey) Or – put the flower on the cactus!

19. Mexican kickball

A traditional game played in Mexican villages; it’s a great fiesta outdoor game for teams and large groups of kids.

Divide the kids into teams.
Each team member takes turns kicking a ball (no hands!) around an obstacle course. The first team that has all players complete the course is the winner.

Set the obstacle course to reflect the age of kids. Example: around tables and chairs, a tire, logs, or tree. Kick over and under things whatever is available to make a course.

20. Word find

Take a Mexican Fiesta or Cinco de Mayo related word such as guacamole or festival. Challenge the children to find as many little words as they can.

Example: Guacamole
Words: came, come, me, am, game, gem, cue, male, meal, mole, mule, ace, camel, coal, lag, camel, go, goal, coal, etc.

21. Jump like jumping beans

This is played much like the game “Freeze or Statues”.
Play Mexican music. While the music is playing, the children jump around like “jumping beans”. When the music stops all must stop moving. Anyone caught moving is out-the last remaining ‘jumping bean’ is the winner.

22. Estimation: How many beans in the jar?

Need:

A large glass jar filled with a variety of beans
Small pieces of paper
Sombrero (if available)
Pencil

1. Have children write their name and guess on a small piece of paper.
2. Have them place the number of beans guess in a container or sombrero.
3. The correct of closest guess is the winner!

23. Play ‘hide and seek’ in Spanish

Count in Spanish instead of English. (See below Spanish 1-10 numbers)  “Here I come!” can also be said in Spanish “Ya me voy!”

‘Hide and Seek’ played in Mexico is called ‘Escondida’ 

It’s best played with lots of places to hide. The person who is the counter (or seeker) stands next to a designated tree and close their eyes while counting to ______.  The rest of the players run and hide.  When the seeker is done counting, they call out “Ready or Not, Here I come!” and begin searching for everyone else.  The goal for those hiding is to get back and touch the tree before being tagged.  Those who are tagged before touching the tree are also “It” and join the seeker.  The last one to reach the tree or be tagged is the seeker for the next game.

Other ‘common games’ played in Mexico are

24. Bebe Leche

The traditional Hopscotch Game and brincar la cuerda (Jump Rope) Jump Rope rhymes and games here) 

25. Futbul (Soccer)

A popular sport in Mexico. Get a good game of futbul (soccer) going! 

26. Marbels 

Still an all-time classic and popular in Mexico. Get a variety of marbles in different sizes and colors have kids play this traditional game.

27. Jacks

Another nostalgic game that is a classic and one of the oldest games in the world.  In the early days the game was played with whatever was on hand such as stones, crumpled-up paper, sticks, etc. ‘Jack game sets’ are still easy to find.

Jacks – a game played in Mexico

Materials:

Set of jacks and ball. Smooth surface to play on.
Object of Game: Be the first to go from ‘Onesie’” to ‘Tensies’

 1. Begin by throwing your jacks onto the ground in front of you.  Try and make the jacks land not too far apart or too close together.

2. Next throw the ball into the air and pick up one jack. Catch the ball after it bounces one time. Continue picking up the jacks one at a time.

3. When you have collected all the jacks, throw them again and start picking the jacks up two at a time (twosies). When you get to threshes you have to pick up the three sets of three first, then pick up the left over jack. Continue on until you are at tensies. You can then declare the winner as the first one to tens, or go back down again to onesies.

Your turn continues until you either miss the ball, fail to pick up the jacks, move a jack, or drop a jack that you have picked up. Your turn is then over and the next person goes.

Variations for Jacks:
• No bouncies

Go from one to tens without letting the ball bounce before you pick up the jacks.

• Double bouncies
Pick up the jacks and then catch the ball after it bounces twice.

• Left handed
Switch the hand you normally throw the ball with.

• Cherries in a baskit
Cup your hand and throw the ball with the opposite hand. You have to then place the jacks in your cupped hand – one through tens.

• Around the world
After you throw the ball you have to make a circle in the air around the ball before it bounces – one to tens.

28. Spanish word game

Give each child an identical list of Spanish words.
Each child guesses the meaning of each word. Who ever guesses the most correctly is the winner.

Tip: Try not to make the words too difficult or have them link to English words.

29. Teach the kids to count from one to ten in Spanish.

Spanish English
uno one
dos two
tres three
cuatro four
cinco five
seis six
siete seven
ocho eight
nueve nine
diez ten

Some Fiesta decorations

• Red, white and green balloons and streamers
• A Mexican blanket on the wall or use one as a tablecloth
• Mexican flags
• Sombreros
• Hang a pair of maracas or a sombrero on your front or program door to welcome fiesta spirit!
• Map of Mexico
• Piñatas
• Plastic or real cactus
• Use brightly colored paper plates and cups or terracotta pottery and straw mats; place bowls of tortllla chips and snacks in sombreros
• Be sure to play Mexican, Tex/Mex and Latin music as guests arrive and throughout the party

For centerpieces – Use colorful vegetables such as: yellow peppers, red peppers, red chilis, green chilis, avocados, and tomatoes.

A collage of images showing Mexican themed games and activities. The main image is of two young boys wearing sombreros. Text reads Mexican themed games and activities for kids.