Celebrate Día de Los Muertos with these easy Day of the Dead crafts for kids! On November 1st and 2nd, we honor the lives of those who have passed and swap the mourning with a celebration of life. The Day of The Dead is unlike any holiday you have ever experienced. It is full of unique traditions like visiting the cemetery and decorating altars. So, embrace this spirit-filled holiday with these easy Day of the Dead crafts perfect for the whole family. From colorful piñatas and cute lanterns to traditional sugar skulls, you’ll find a fun craft to decorate your home!
Día De Los Muertos Celebrations
We love celebrating the Day of the Dead (Dia de Los Muertos) in our house. The Mexican holiday is observed in November and focuses on remembering loved ones that have passed away. One of the most fun ways to enjoy the holiday is by making a cute sugar skull or Day of the Dead crafts. This way, the kids and I can display them in our home.
We also love to get busy in the kitchen and cook Day of the Dead recipes, make sure to check out my article where I have compiled the best Day of the Dead recipes for kids!
What does Day of The Dead Celebrate?
Day of the Dead, also known as Día de Los Muertos, is a Latino holiday celebrating life and death. It is commemorated across many Latin American countries to honor the dead. People make colorful altars full of ofrendas or offerings, marigolds, and Calaveras (skulls). Even the food is displayed as a way to encourage a visit from departed souls and join in the Day of the Dead celebrations.
In my home country, it is a huge holiday, full of great Guatemalan traditions and unique celebrations. For example, people prepare exceptional food to take to the cemetery and decorate the gravestones. There is even a beautiful giant kite festival and an unusual drunken horse race!
When is the Day of The Dead?
Day of the Dead is a holiday celebrated in November, usually unfolding over two or three days. Depending on the country, it is called different things. For example, some countries celebrate Día de Todos Los Santos (All Saints Day) on November 1st, and Día de Los Fieles Difuntos (All Souls Day) is on the 2nd.
In Mexico, Día de Los Muertos is a two-day celebration, starting on November 1st and culminating in the famous Day of The Dead celebrations on the 2nd. Day of the Dead in Mexico is celebrated with elaborate processions and decorate altars with marigolds, sugar skulls, pan de muerto, and other traditional Day of the Dead foods.
Best Day of the Dead Crafts for Kids
In addition to having fun as a family, making Day of the Dead crafts is a beautiful approach to talking about the holiday with my kids. Also, it gives my husband and me the perfect opportunity to teach them a little more about their Hispanic heritage. These crafts are also ideal for teaching kids about Dia de Los Muertos in the classroom. Here are fifteen fun and easy Day of the Dead arts you can make with your kids this year:
Sugar Skull Piñata Garland
If you are looking for festive Day of Dead decorations, this sugar skull piñata garland is easy to make and so much fun. It is an excellent activity for kids and adults alike. Its bright colors will brighten any party!
Sugar Skull Pumpkins: Easy Day Of The Dead Painted Pumpkin Craft
If you’re looking for easy Day of the Dead craft for kids, these Sugar Skull Pumpkins are a great option. These colorful sugar skull pumpkins can serve as a wonderful addition to your Day of the Dead altar, a festive centerpiece for your Day of the Dead party, or charming fall decor for your home.
Felt Sugar Skull Craft For Day Of The Dead
Get ready to unleash your creativity with a fun and easy felt sugar skull craft perfect for celebrating Day of the Dead, or Dia de Muertos. Day of the Dead crafts are a wonderful way to engage in this vibrant and meaningful tradition, and our easy sugar skull craft is no exception.
Easy Day Of The Dead Craft: Sugar Skull Quilling Project
This easy Día De Los Muertos sugar skull is an easy quilling project. This fun Day of the Dead craft is perfect for beginners. This will make a beautiful addition to your list of Day of the Dead crafts for kids. If you’re looking for Day of the Dead activities with kidsDay of the Dead activities with kids at home or in the classroom, this easy quilling craft is a great option and you can add it to your ofrenda along with other altar elements like, papel picado, and Day of the Dead flowers.
Glow in the Dark Day of the Dead Lanterns
These whimsical lanterns are another fun Día de Los Muertos craft to make with the kids. These non-toxic glow-in-the-dark Day of the Dead lanterns are so easy to make! They are a great Day of the Dead activity for adding to your altar.
Day of the Dead Mask Craft
You can create these colorful sugar skull masks that are easy to make for your Day of the Dead celebrations. Kids will have a blast adding unique designs and bright colors to make them fun.
Día de Los Muertos is about celebrating the lives of our loved ones who have passed away. Creating these masks is a great way to teach kids about this important holiday.
Easy Sugar Skull Garland for Day of the Dead
These easy Day of the Dead sugar skull inspired garland is a great project to do with kids at home or in the classroom. It’s a great project for kids to explore their creativity and practice fine motor skills cutting the different shapes from yardstick.
Day of the Dead Sugar Skull Wind Chime
This DIY sugar skull wind chime makes a great outdoor decoration for the El Día de Los Muertos celebration. The best part: it’s so easy to make by upcycling old materials you have around the house!
Sugar Skull Pots and Flowers Craft for Kids
These Sugar Skull Pots and Flowers are an easy, kid-friendly craft to make for El Día de Los Muertos’ festivities. Sugar skulls and paper flowers are commonly used during the Day of the Dead celebrations to decorate altars where the photographs of loved ones are displayed.
Dia de Los Muertos Kid-Friendly Lanterns
Altars usually include candles, but if you want a safer and kid-friendly option, give these lanterns a try. They are ideal for adding to your altar, and you won’t have to worry about them catching fire!
These Día De Los Muertos kid-friendly lanterns were not just an easy and quick craft but also affordable. I also like that you can place them inside or outside your home to brighten up a space.
Matchbox Shrines
These colorful matchbox shrines are a fantastic way to use materials you have at home and create new crafts for El Día de Los Muertos celebrations. Transform a matchbox into an artful doorway to a mini-masterpiece, a creative decoration perfect for the Day of the Dead festivities.
Easy To Make Sugar Skull Pumpkin Candle Holders
These DIY pumpkins will make a fun centerpiece and are ideal for a Day of the Dead altar. If your kids like decorating pumpkins, these sugar skull-inspired pumpkin candle holders are perfect. Make them the focal point for our Dia de Los Muertos Altar, giving it a whimsical twist this year!
DIY Sugar Skull
The Día de Los Muertos Sugar Skull decorations have become a popular way to honor family members that are no longer with us. They add a whimsical and fun side to the Day of the Dead celebrations. Have fun coloring these incredible designs with your kids!
Day of the Dead Photo Frame
Photos as a crucial part of the ofrenda altar in the Day of the Dead celebration, so why not create a meaningful photo frame? This easy DIY Photo Frame for the Day of the Dead Ofrenda Altar is a fun, inspiring craft you can make with your kids.
Since the Día de Muertos is a special occasion to honor our ancestors, encourage your kids to get creative. Use things or colors that have a special meaning for the loved one you are making the ofrenda for.
Day of the Dead Printables
Day of the Dead is celebrated throughout central and southern parts of Mexico to honor the deceased. The sugar skull is the symbol for all festivities; you will find it in many altars. So here is a couple of Day of the Dead sugar skull FREE printables that could make cute tags or coasters!
More Day of the Dead Crafts and Ideas You’ll Love
Easy Day Of The Dead Party Ideas, Food, And Crafts
Whether you’re hosting a Day of The Dead Party for the first time or want to make your celebration more memorable, here are easy Día de Los Muertos party ideas you’ll love. From sugar skull-inspired recipes to Day of the Dead decorations, here are lots of tips and inspirations for your Dia de Muertos party.
Best Day Of The Dead Craft Ideas With Cricut: Includes Free SVG Files
Break out your Cricut and do a project with your kids to honor the lives of loved ones that have passed away. These Day of the Dead crafts and free SVG files for Cricut are perfect for your Day of the Dead altar, for decorating your home, or as offerings.
25 Day Of The Dead Recipes To Die For!
These recipes will not only make your mouth water, but they all look so awesome. Plus, they are fun to make and will undoubtedly make any Day of the Dead party or celebration unforgettable!
25 Easy Day Of The Dead DIY Projects
Here are 25 easy-to-make Day of the Dead DIY crafts you can do with your kids. Some of these are so easy they will only take a few minutes! Many of these DIY crafts would make incredible decorations for your altar or party decorations.
Traditional Day Of The Dead Recipes For Celebrating Día De Los Muertos
If you’re looking for Dia de Los Muertos’ traditional recipes to serve during the Day of the Dead, you’ve come to the right place. These traditional Day of the dead recipes include everything from Pan de Muerto and decorated sugar skulls to traditional Mexican dishes.
These Day of the Dead crafts are ideal for kids as they are easy to make. They would also make great Dia de Los Muertos art projects for school! These Día de Los Muertos crafts would also make for a great activity during your Day of the Dead celebration. Let us know how you celebrate Día de Los Muertos, and share your traditions in the comments below!
Paula studied architecture and now makes a living as a freelance writer,traveler and amateur photographer.She started her writing & publishing career as the editor of Bebé y Mamá, the first parenting magazine in Guatemala.She is the founder of www.GrowingUpBilingual.com and www.365thingsswfl.com and writes articles in Spanish and English for both magazines and the web on travel,food and bicultural and bilingual parenting .
When she is not on a plane or road trip she likes to create recipes inspired in the flavors of her native Guatemala.
- Guatemalan Dulce de Chilacayote Recipe (Crystalized Chilacayote Candy) - February 26, 2024
- Guatemalan Naranjas en Miel Recipe (Candied Oranges Recipe) - February 25, 2024
- Traditional Guatemalan Candy - February 25, 2024
This looks like such a fun craft activity to do! My kids would love this.
I am in love with the candle holders! all these Día de Muertos craft are a hit! thanks for sharing so many good ideas!