As el Dia de los Muertos approaches this is a great opportunity to use the Day of the Dead for kids to learn about this Mexican tradition. I’ve compiled a list of the best Day of the Dead activities for kids that will make celebrating Dia de los Muertos with children not only educational but fun too.
From Day of the Dead movies and easy Day of the Dead crafts to Day of the Dead projects and easy recipes, there are so many Día De Los Muertos activities to choose from. You’re sure to find lots of ideas to celebrate the Day of the Dead at home or in the classroom here.
Dia De Los Muertos Activities for Kids
Día de los Muertos, known as “Day of the Dead” in English, is a beautiful Mexican tradition that can teach us important lessons about life, death, and celebrating the people we love. It’s not just a Mexican tradition; it can be a way for all of us to remember our loved ones who have passed away and celebrate their lives in a joyful and colorful way.
Learning about the Day of the Dead
El Día de los Muertos is a holiday that is about celebrating loved ones that have passed away. It is typically celebrated in Mexico and other Latin American countries and it’s also celebrated by many families across the United States. The Day of the Dead is a holiday for remembering the people that have passed on, and the cherished memories you have with them, it is a great time to help children remember them as well.
What is the meaning of the Day of the Dead celebrations in Mexico?
The Day of the Dead celebrations in Mexico hold a beautiful and heartfelt meaning, which we can easily explain to kids. This special occasion is all about honoring and remembering loved ones who have passed away. Imagine it as a giant family reunion, but instead of meeting in person, we gather in our hearts and memories to celebrate those we miss dearly.
During these celebrations, families create altars, or ofrendas, which are like colorful and decorative shrines filled with photos of our loved ones, their favorite foods, and special mementos. These altars help us connect with the spirits of our ancestors, as we believe that, during this time, their souls come back to visit us. We light candles and offer marigold flowers to guide them home and show them our love. It’s like telling them, “We miss you, and we remember you.”
So, Dia de los Muertos is a time for us to smile, share stories, and keep the memory of our loved ones alive in our hearts. It’s a beautiful way to celebrate the circle of life and remind us that love never truly fades away, even when someone we cherish has passed on.
When is the Day of the Dead celebrated?
The Day of the Dead, or Dia de los Muertos, is celebrated in Mexico from October 31st to November 2nd. It’s a little bit like a three-day party where we remember and honor our loved ones who have passed away. On October 31st, we welcome the spirits of children who have passed, and we call it “Dia de los Angelitos” or “Day of the Little Angels.” Then, on November 1st, we celebrate the adults’ spirits, and it’s called “Dia de los Muertos.”
We believe that the spirits come back to visit us during these days, so we make special altars, light candles, and decorate with colorful marigold flowers to show them the way. Finally, on November 2nd, we say our goodbyes and send the spirits back to the spirit world with love. So, it’s like a special time to remember our loved ones and let them know that we still care about them, even though they are no longer with us.
Learn about Day of the Dead celebrations across Latin America
Did you know that the Day of the Dead, or Dia de los Muertos, isn’t just celebrated in Mexico? It’s also celebrated in many other Latin American countries like Guatemala, Peru, and Ecuador. Each place has its own unique way of celebrating, but they all share the same idea of honoring and remembering loved ones who have passed away.
I am from from Guatemala where we eat fiambre and ayotes en miel. Celebrations for the Day of the Dead in Guatemala also include a giant kite festival where they fly enormous kites to connect with the spirits. In Peru, people visit cemeteries and share special bread called “t’anta wawa” with colorful decorations. And in Ecuador, families make beautiful paper marigolds and visit the graves of their loved ones. So, it’s not just a Mexican celebration; it’s a tradition that brings people together all across Latin America to celebrate the lives of those who are no longer with us. To learn more about how Dia de los Muertos is celebrated in other countries heck out my article about Día De Los Muertos celebrations across Latin America. .
Best Day of the Dead Activities for Kids
One of the most best ways to introduce children to Día de los Muertos is through crafts and Day of the Dead activities. Engage their creativity with hands on activities that will open up conversations about the Day of the Dead traditions.
From Day of the Dead crafts for kids, to cooking Day of the Dead traditional dishes or even making a Day of the Dead cake we’ve got you covered with the best Dia de los Muertos actives for kids.
Watch a Day of the Dead Kids Movie
Explore family-friendly Day of the Dead movies that children can enjoy. Films like Disney’s Coco Movie offer a captivating and heartwarming glimpse into Mexican culture and the importance of remembering loved ones. I have compiled a list of the best Day of the Dead movies for kids including animated Day of the Dead movies and shorts as well as Dia de los Muertos documentaries and live action movies.
Make Mexican traditional Day of the Dead food together
You can learn about traditional Dia de los Muertos recipes and foods and choose an easy Day of the Dead recipe to make. We like to make pan de muerto or ayote en miel. To make things more fun we will often make foods that incorporate the Dia de los Muertos imagery like a Day of the Dead cake with sugar skull designs or Day of the Dead cookies. You can also check out this article were you will find lots more Day of the Dead recipes to die for.
Build a Day of the Dead Altar Together
Have your children help you in creating an altar with you commemorating lost loved ones. An altar is a special collection of items that remind you of your cherished loved one. For instance, kids can contribute favorite Day of the Dead flowers or symbols of memories they had with that person. Set up a small altar together with pictures of loved ones, candles, and offerings. Encourage children to share stories and memories about the people they’re honoring.
Make Sugar Skulls
Sugar skulls are not only traditional but also a fantastic and imaginative way to celebrate El Día de los Muertos. During this vibrant holiday, families come together to remember their loved ones who have passed away, and sugar skulls play a special role in these festivities.
These colorful and intricately decorated skulls are made from sugar, which is molded into skull shapes and then adorned with colorful icing, beads, and other decorative items. They are often personalized with the names of the departed loved ones and placed on ofrendas, or altars, to honor their memory. Creating sugar skulls can be a fun activity for children, as they get to use their artistic skills to design these sweet and symbolic treats. You can also crate sugar skull inspired recipes, here are some ideas:
Make Day of the Dead crafts
One of the most enjoyable ways to introduce children to Día de los Muertos is through hands on activities. Engage their creativity by making some kid-friendly Day of the Dead crafts.
Here are some fun and easy Day of the Dead projects that allow kids to connect with this tradition while having fun:
- Easy Day Of The Dead Painted Pumpkin Craft
- Day Of The Dead Mask Craft
- Day of the Dead Noise Maker
- Day Of The Dead Catrina Craft
- Easy Glow In The Dark Day Of The Dead Lanterns
I also wrote an article with lots more ideas so be sure to check out this Day of the Dead crafts for kids. You can also make some easy Day of the Dead projects for older kids or teens like a sugar skull t-shirt or duct tape Day of the Dead flip flops or even Day of the Dead shoes! You can also check out my article with Day of the Dead crafts using Circuit with includes free SVG files.
Throw a Day of the Dead Party
Nothing get’s kids more excited than a party, so why not throw a little Day of the Dead party. You can decorate with these Sugar Skull piñata garland and use these Day of the Dead party printables to set up the Day of the Dead food .
Make some fun recipes like Sugar Skull fruit pizzas, cute Sugar Skull chocolate covered strawberries or one of my favorite: Sugar Skull mini cheesecakes!
For more ideas check out my article for more fun and easy Day of the Dead recipes for kids.
Search for Day of the Dead events near you
Many communities do Dia de los Muertos parades or other Dia de los Muertos events. Of coarse the best places to experience the Day of the Dead are in Mexico. Day of the Dead events in Mexico City include, among others, the Day of the Dead parade and an alebrijes parade while the Day of the Dead in Mazatlan is an art focused celebration.
But there are many places in the US that have Day of the Dead events among theme the most popular include the Festival of Altars in San Francisco, the Muertos Fest in San Antonio Texas, the Olvera Street Día de los Muertos celebration in Los Angeles and the Dia de los Muertos and Marigolds parade in Albuquerque.
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.
- Sumpango vs. Santiago Sacatepéquez: Which Giant Kite Festival In Guatemala Is Right for You? - April 27, 2025
- Guatemala’s Giant Kite Festival in Santiago Sacatepéquez: All You Need to Know Before You Go - April 27, 2025
- The Giant Kite Festival in Guatemala: Insider Tips for Experiencing Sumpango’s Barriletes Gigantes - April 26, 2025
Very interesting–I love to hear and learn about other cultures traditions.
great tips and what a wonderful celebration
we have different ways on celebrating the day of the dead or we call call it All soul’s day. we usually visit our dead loved one on their graveyard even spend the night there, the whole cementery will be filled of people who is there to remember their loved ones.
Nice celebration. Very colorful.
I haven’t celebrated El Dia De Los Muertos since middle school!! Been such a long time….I miss the candy skulls, hehehe!
These are good ways to teach children about the tradition.
We don’t celebrate this type of occasion though, but this reminds me of the occasion celebrated in the Philippines called “Kalag-Kalag”, which also means remember those loved ones who had passed away. I guess it is the same thing as El Dia De Los Muertos.
Oh how festive, beautiful decors too.
It’s the first time I have heard of this. I know we celebrate All Saint’s Day in the Philiipines every 1st of Novermber, but we just go to the cemetery and visit their tombs. Very interesting celebration for Day of The Dead.