{"id":53975,"date":"2026-09-09T17:43:55","date_gmt":"2026-09-09T17:43:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c?p=53975"},"modified":"2026-09-09T17:44:11","modified_gmt":"2026-09-09T17:44:11","slug":"dia-de-los-muertos-for-kids-ideas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/dia-de-los-muertos-for-kids-ideas\/","title":{"rendered":"D\u00eda de los Muertos for kids: 14 activities for learning, honoring and celebrating"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>For many Mexicans and other Latinx, D&iacute;a de los Muertos (or Day of the Dead) is a special time during which the living honor those who have gone before them. These days, it&rsquo;s become more popular around the world, thanks to movies (we&rsquo;re looking at you, &ldquo;Coco&rdquo;!), social media and a general love of sugar skulls. But being a cultural holiday (and even somewhat religious for some), it&rsquo;s important to know the facts before celebrating D&iacute;a de los Muertos with kids (and even without).<\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-pullquote is-style-default\"><blockquote><p>D&iacute;a de los Muertos (or Day of the Dead) is a special time &mdash; every November 1st and 2nd &mdash; during which the living honor those who have gone before them.<\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure><p>Taking place annually on November 1st and 2nd, D&iacute;a de los Muertos is a two-day holiday observed in areas of Mexico and beyond based on celebrations observed by the ancient Aztec and Nahua people thousands of years ago. It was believed that the recently deceased passed on to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.history.com\/articles\/day-of-the-dead\">Land of the Dead<\/a> before going to a final resting place and that the living could make offerings to their dearly departed on certain days to help them on their way. <\/p><p>While their rituals were performed in August, D&iacute;a de los Muertos as it is now is a combination of these original celebrations combined with All Souls Day (which was introduced to Mexico by European colonizers), which is also observed in November. And while it is celebrated just after Halloween, it is not Mexican Halloween.<\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-pullquote is-style-default\"><blockquote><p>While D&iacute;a de los Muertos is celebrated just after Halloween, it is not Mexican Halloween.<\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure><p>Today, families gather to make foods and paper flowers and sugar skulls for their ofrendas (altars), don calavera makeup, visit and clean up the graves of their dead and generally celebrate the lives that were once lived. And though there are certain practices that shouldn&rsquo;t be done by non-Mexican or non-Latinx individuals without being invited to do so by members of the community and having a good understanding of their significance, there are many ways in which anyone can celebrate and participate in D&iacute;a de los Muertos activities with kids respectfully.<\/p><div class=\"wp-block-custom-dynamic-list key-takeaways-block\"><h3>Key takeaways<\/h3><div class=\"key-takeaways-container\"><ul><li>D&iacute;a de los Muertos is a meaningful holiday rooted in Mexican and Indigenous traditions, not simply &ldquo;Mexican Halloween.&rdquo; Before celebrating with kids, take time to learn about its history and significance so activities are approached with respect rather than as a costume or trend.<\/li><li>There are many family-friendly ways to learn about and participate in D&iacute;a de los Muertos, from making sugar skulls and papel picado to baking pan de muerto and creating an ofrenda. These activities can also open the door to meaningful conversations with children about family, remembrance and the lives of loved ones who have died.<\/li><li>One of the best ways to celebrate respectfully is to learn from and participate alongside Mexican and Latinx communities. Look for local events, classes, museums or cultural programs that center the people and traditions behind the holiday, rather than treating D&iacute;a de los Muertos as a collection of decorative symbols.<\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div><p>Here, 14 kids activities for D&iacute;a de los Muertos:<\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-1-read-books-together-about-the-holiday\">1<strong>. <\/strong>Read books together about the holiday<\/h2><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/GettyImages-1279718994-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Celebrating and honoring D&iacute;a de los Muertos for kids\" class=\"wp-image-53959\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/GettyImages-1279718994-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/GettyImages-1279718994-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/GettyImages-1279718994-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/GettyImages-1279718994-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/GettyImages-1279718994-1620x1080.jpg 1620w, https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/GettyImages-1279718994.jpg 1800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"><\/figure><p><\/p><p>Before you get started with your festivities, it&rsquo;s always good to educate yourself about the holiday. Take a trip to your local library or bookstore and read up on the history as well as D&iacute;a de los Muertos traditions. Here are a few recommendations (depending on the ages and reading levels of the children):<\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-gallery columns-3 is-cropped\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"402\" height=\"400\" class=\"wp-image-54010\" src=\"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/La-Catrina.jpeg\" alt=\"La Catrina: Emotions Emociones by Patty Rodriguez\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/La-Catrina.jpeg 402w, https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/La-Catrina-300x300.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/La-Catrina-150x150.jpeg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 402px) 100vw, 402px\"><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-item__caption\">Image via The Storybook Garden<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"509\" height=\"400\" class=\"wp-image-54015\" src=\"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/I-Remember-Abuelito.jpeg\" alt=\"I Remember Abuelito: A Day of the Dead Story: Yo Recuerdo Abuelito: Un Cuento del Dia de los Muerdos book by Janice Levy, Loretta Lopez, Miguel Arisa\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/I-Remember-Abuelito.jpeg 509w, https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/I-Remember-Abuelito-300x236.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 509px) 100vw, 509px\"><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-item__caption\">Image via Cafe con Libros<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1008\" height=\"1024\" class=\"wp-image-54021\" src=\"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/Festival-of-Bones-1008x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"The Festival of Bones \/ El festival de las calaveras book by Luis San Vicente\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/Festival-of-Bones-1008x1024.jpeg 1008w, https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/Festival-of-Bones-295x300.jpeg 295w, https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/Festival-of-Bones-768x780.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/Festival-of-Bones-1063x1080.jpeg 1063w, https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/Festival-of-Bones.jpeg 1400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1008px) 100vw, 1008px\"><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-item__caption\">Image via Amazon<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure><p><!--more--><\/p><ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><a href=\"https:\/\/bookshop.org\/books\/la-catrina-emotions-emociones-emotions-emociones\/9780986109966\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">La Catrina: Emotions \/ Emociones<\/a> by Patty Rodriguez (Ages 0-4)<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.albertwhitman.com\/book\/i-remember-abuelito-a-day-of-the-dead-story\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">I Remember Abuelito: A Day of the Dead Story \/ Yo Recuerdo a Abuelito: Un Cuento del D&iacute;a de los Muertos<\/a> by Janice Levy (Ages 4-8)<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Festival-Bones-festival-las-calaveras\/dp\/1941026036\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The Festival of Bones \/ El festival de las calaveras<\/a> by Luis San Vicente (Ages 4-8)<\/li><\/ul><figure class=\"wp-block-gallery columns-3 is-cropped\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"501\" class=\"wp-image-54032\" src=\"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/rosita-y-conchita.jpeg\" alt=\"Rosita y Conchita By Eric Gonzalez Erich Haeger\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/rosita-y-conchita.jpeg 700w, https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/rosita-y-conchita-300x215.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\"><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-item__caption\">Image via Scholastic<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"795\" height=\"645\" class=\"wp-image-54037\" src=\"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/Screen-Shot-2021-10-15-at-1.37.58-PM-e1634330375673.png\" alt=\"Pablo Remembers : The Fiesta of the Day of the Dead by George Ancona\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/Screen-Shot-2021-10-15-at-1.37.58-PM-e1634330375673.png 795w, https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/Screen-Shot-2021-10-15-at-1.37.58-PM-e1634330375673-300x243.png 300w, https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/Screen-Shot-2021-10-15-at-1.37.58-PM-e1634330375673-768x623.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 795px) 100vw, 795px\"><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-item__caption\">Image via Better World Books<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"412\" height=\"500\" class=\"wp-image-54027\" src=\"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/Funny-Bones.jpg\" alt=\"Funny Bones: Posada and His Day of the Dead Calaveras by Duncan Tonatiuh\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/Funny-Bones.jpg 412w, https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/Funny-Bones-247x300.jpg 247w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 412px) 100vw, 412px\"><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-item__caption\">Image via Tia Chucha&rsquo;s Centro Cultural &amp; Bookstore<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure><ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><a href=\"https:\/\/shop.scholastic.com\/teachers-ecommerce\/teacher\/books\/rosita-y-conchita-9781338355154.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Rosita y Conchita<\/a> by Eric Gonazlez and Eric Haeger (Ages 6-9)<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.betterworldbooks.com\/product\/detail\/pablo-remembers-0688112498\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Pablo Remembers<\/a> by George Ancona (Ages 4-8)<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/tia-chuchas.myshopify.com\/products\/funny-bones-posada-and-his-day-of-the-dead-calaveras?variant=29451952881725\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Funny Bones: Posada and His Day of the Dead Calaveras<\/a> by Duncan Tonatiuh (Ages 6-10)<\/li><\/ul><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-2-make-sugar-skulls-together\">2. Make sugar skulls together<\/h2><div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/Dia-de-los-Muertos-Sugar-Skull-Painting-Party-30-1024x683.jpeg\" alt=\"Activities for celebrating and honoring D&iacute;a de los Muertos for kids\" class=\"wp-image-53924\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/Dia-de-los-Muertos-Sugar-Skull-Painting-Party-30-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/Dia-de-los-Muertos-Sugar-Skull-Painting-Party-30-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/Dia-de-los-Muertos-Sugar-Skull-Painting-Party-30-768x512.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/Dia-de-los-Muertos-Sugar-Skull-Painting-Party-30.jpeg 1125w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Image via Stephanie Chavez<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><p>Sugar skulls have become extremely popular in recent years, in part due to the commercialization of the holiday. But once you understand a bit more about their place in the festivities, making them is an excellent way to celebrate D&iacute;a de los Muertos with kids. Stephanie Chavez, a Mexican-American food blogger at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spanglishspoon.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Spanglish Spoon<\/a> and small business owner, says she loves hosting sugar-skull-making parties with loved ones.<\/p><p>&ldquo;Decorating sugar skulls with family and friends is a great way to add a personal touch to an ofrenda that only you can add because each sugar skull is unique to that person you are creating it for. Just like in life, no two are ever the same,&rdquo; says Chavez. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s a personal, family-friendly experience that gives us an opportunity to come together at the table to have a different kind of conversation about life while creating new memories together.&rdquo;<\/p><p>Chavez has a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spanglishspoon.com\/how-to-make-sugar-skulls-for-day-of-the-dead\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">wonderful sugar skull recipe<\/a> for folks to try at home. If, however, you aren&rsquo;t quite as handy in the kitchen, you can always purchase a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.etsy.com\/search?q=sugar%20skull%20making%20kit&amp;ref=search_bar\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">sugar skull-making kit<\/a>.<\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-3-collect-or-craft-marigolds-cempasuchil-nbsp\">3. Collect or craft marigolds (cempas&uacute;chil)&nbsp;<\/h2><div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"697\" height=\"501\" src=\"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/GettyImages-1420414977.jpg\" alt=\"Collect or craft marigolds (cempas&uacute;chil) \" class=\"wp-image-87306\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/GettyImages-1420414977.jpg 697w, https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/GettyImages-1420414977-300x216.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 697px) 100vw, 697px\"><\/figure><\/div><p><\/p><p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/remezcla.com\/features\/culture\/cempasuchil-dia-de-muertos\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">tradition of using Mexican marigolds<\/a> (or cempas&uacute;chil) dates as far back as at least the 16th century, recorded as having been used in Aztec rituals to celebrate the dead, rooted in a <a href=\"https:\/\/projectpulso.org\/2019\/10\/23\/muertos-flower\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">romantic mythology<\/a>. Today, we see both live and paper cempas&uacute;chil used on ofrendas, laid atop tombs and worn in flower crowns.&nbsp;<\/p><p>After reading about its use, craft your own flowers with kids, using an online tutorial like this <a href=\"https:\/\/craftychica.com\/2015\/10\/paper-marigolds-diy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">paper marigold DIY<\/a> by Kathy Cano-Murillo (aka <a href=\"https:\/\/craftychica.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The Crafty Chica<\/a>) or this <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mommymaestra.com\/2010\/10\/how-to-make-tissue-paper-flowers.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">tissue-paper flower how-to<\/a> by Monica Olivera (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.mommymaestra.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">MommyMaestra<\/a>). You can also visit your local plant and flower shop to try and purchase fresh ones, or even purchase reusable paper chains of cempas&uacute;chil from a number of Latinx vendors, like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.etsy.com\/shop\/FriduchaYMas\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Friducha Y Mas<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.etsy.com\/listing\/988837516\/marigold-flower-svg-cut-file-flor-de\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Una Crafty Teacher<\/a> and other <a href=\"https:\/\/www.etsy.com\/market\/latinx_owned\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Latinx-owned shops<\/a> found on Etsy.<\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-4-create-a-nicho\">4. Create a nicho<\/h2><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"681\" src=\"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/GettyImages-976330554-1024x681.jpg\" alt=\"Celebrating and honoring D&iacute;a de los Muertos for kids\" class=\"wp-image-53969\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/GettyImages-976330554-1024x681.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/GettyImages-976330554-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/GettyImages-976330554-768x510.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/GettyImages-976330554.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"><\/figure><p><\/p><p>Nichos are small three-dimensional scenes created as shadow boxes or sometimes set inside tin boxes. They are fairly common in Mexican craft markets and are often used in D&iacute;a de los Muertos altars.&nbsp;<\/p><p>You can create a nicho box as a way of commemorating the life of a lost loved one by using a photo or drawing of the individual, including aspects of their life (their occupation in life, their hobbies, etc.). Check out <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=-N9qo6Ty9zU&amp;ab_channel=Craftolog%C3%ADa\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">this paper niche how-to<\/a> from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.craftologia.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Craftolog&iacute;a<\/a>:<\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Craftolog&iacute;a | C&oacute;mo Hacer un Nicho de Papel para el D&iacute;a de Muertos\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/-N9qo6Ty9zU?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div><\/figure><p><\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-5-bake-and-eat-pan-de-muerto\">5. Bake (and eat) pan de muerto<\/h2><div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" src=\"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/PandeMuerto.jpeg\" alt=\"Activities for celebrating and honoring D&iacute;a de los Muertos for kids\" class=\"wp-image-53939\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/PandeMuerto.jpeg 1000w, https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/PandeMuerto-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/PandeMuerto-768x512.jpeg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Image provided by Nicole Reyna<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><p>Pan de muerto (bread of the dead) is one of the most common foods placed on the ofrenda, so why not try your hand at baking some? Nicole Reyna, a Greek-American food blogger at <a href=\"https:\/\/flanandapplepie.wordpress.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Flan and Apple Pie<\/a>, taught herself how to bake it and now celebrates the holiday respectfully with her Mexican husband and son.&nbsp;<\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-pullquote is-style-default\"><blockquote><p>&ldquo;The sugar-dusted bread that is laced with orange zest welcomes in this season of remembering those closest to us who have passed on. Each year, we look forward to filling our kitchen with these smells and making memories together as a family.&rdquo;&nbsp;<\/p><cite>&mdash; Nicole Reyna, blogger, Flan and Apple Pie<\/cite><\/blockquote><\/figure><p>&ldquo;I love making pan de muerto every year, not only to add to our D&iacute;a de Muertos altar but also to nibble on as an after-dinner treat,&rdquo; says the Pittsburgh-based mom. &ldquo;The sugar-dusted bread that is laced with orange zest welcomes in this season of remembering those closest to us who have passed on. Each year, we look forward to filling our kitchen with these smells and making memories together as a family.&rdquo;&nbsp;<\/p><p>Try making her <a href=\"https:\/\/flanandapplepie.wordpress.com\/2016\/10\/27\/pan-de-muerto-bread-of-the-dead\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">pan de muerto recipe<\/a> with curious children.&nbsp;<\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-6-cook-or-bake-even-more-traditional-foods\">6. Cook or bake even more traditional foods<\/h2><figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\"><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/Marigold-and-Orange-Blossom-Sugar-Cookies-x-Lolas-Cocina-819x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"Activities for celebrating and honoring D&iacute;a de los Muertos for kids\"><\/figure><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/Mexican-Hot-Chocolate-from-Oaxaca-for-Day-of-the-Dead-x-Lolas-Cocina-01-819x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"Activities for celebrating and honoring D&iacute;a de los Muertos for kids\"><\/figure><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-caption wp-element-caption\">Images via Lola Dweck<\/figcaption><\/figure><div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div><p>What is a celebration without food? There are so many different kinds of D&iacute;a de los Muertos food to make. Mole is a dish that&rsquo;s so complex it&rsquo;s often only used on special occasions, and what is D&iacute;a de Muertos if not one of the most special events of the year? Lola Wiarco Dweck of <a href=\"https:\/\/lolascocina.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Lola&rsquo;s Cocina<\/a> has an <a href=\"https:\/\/lolascocina.com\/2013\/11\/01\/mole-negro-with-chicken\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">excellent mole negro with chicken recipe<\/a> up on her blog that will definitely impress your entire family. <\/p><p>It&rsquo;s a multi-day project, so a great way to bond with kids as well! For dessert (and for the ofrenda), you can also try her <a href=\"https:\/\/lolascocina.com\/2020\/10\/22\/day-of-the-dead-sugar-cookies\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">marigold and orange blossom sugar cookies<\/a> (get some skull-shaped cookie cutters for the little ones to help with) as well as <a href=\"https:\/\/lolascocina.com\/2015\/11\/02\/mexican-hot-chocolate\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Mexican hot chocolate<\/a> (a popular ofrenda recipe youngsters will love stealing sips from).<\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-7-cut-up-some-papel-picado\">7. Cut up some papel picado<\/h2><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/GettyImages-973593342-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Celebrating and honoring D&iacute;a de los Muertos for kids\" class=\"wp-image-53964\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/GettyImages-973593342-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/GettyImages-973593342-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/GettyImages-973593342-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/GettyImages-973593342.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"><\/figure><p><\/p><p>Papel picado is a form of folk art found in Mexico and some other Latin American countries and created by cutting up tissue paper into elaborate designs. The result is colorful and beautiful, with intricate images of anything from flowers and animals to calaveras (skulls) and more. It&rsquo;s also often used to decorate the ofrendas, which is why this is another fun craft you can do in preparation for celebrating D&iacute;a de los Muertos with kids. <\/p><p>Check out this <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=UzGaFYOQWxg&amp;ab_channel=LAPlazadeCulturayArtes\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">papel picado YouTube tutorial<\/a> from <a href=\"https:\/\/lapca.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes<\/a> or this <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=9aY3y0C98nc&amp;ab_channel=HispanicSocietyMuseum%26Library\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">papel picado activity<\/a> from the <a href=\"https:\/\/hispanicsociety.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Hispanic Society Museum and Library<\/a>.<\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Workshop for Kids | Papel Picado Activity\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/9aY3y0C98nc?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div><\/figure><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-8-build-your-altar\">8. Build your altar<\/h2><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"669\" src=\"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/GettyImages-598086694-1024x669.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-53995\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/GettyImages-598086694-1024x669.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/GettyImages-598086694-300x196.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/GettyImages-598086694-768x502.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/GettyImages-598086694.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"><\/figure><p><\/p><p>Now that you&rsquo;ve crafted and baked, it&rsquo;s time to put together your ofrenda. Have kids scout a good location with a table (preferably with an additional stand or two &mdash; you want lots of space and levels to it, if possible). Next, have them gather up supplies including photos of the deceased, candles, the cempasuchil, the pan de muerto, papel picado, calaveras , fruits and the nichos, and have them arrange them on the altar space. Alcohol (like some mezcal or tequila) is also often left on the altar, but you can do that part yourself. You can look online for more D&iacute;a de los Muertos altar ideas as well!<\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-9-read-or-write-dia-de-los-muertos-poems\">9. Read &mdash; or write &mdash; D&iacute;a de los Muertos poems<\/h2><p>Consider reading or writing an <em>alavera&nbsp;literaria<\/em>&nbsp;(literary calavera), which is a playful, often humorous satirical epitaph done in verse format.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Here&rsquo;s an <a href=\"https:\/\/ideas.hallmark.com\/articles\/fall-ideas\/how-to-write-literary-calaveras-for-dia-de-muertos\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">example<\/a> of a funny one:<\/p><p><em>Here lies the famous TV chef<br>who came up with the dish<br>called &ldquo;Death by guacamole.&rdquo;<br>He finally got his wish!<\/em><br><\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-10-sign-up-for-a-class\"><strong>10. Sign up for a class<\/strong><\/h2><p>These days, you can do a lot of learning by simply logging onto your computer. If you&rsquo;re feeling like you need more guidance, companies like Outschool are already on it, hosting a slew of classes to help your children get a better understanding of the holiday.<\/p><p>&ldquo;As someone of Mexican heritage, I&rsquo;ve been actively celebrating D&iacute;a de Muertos with my family for the past few years and love to share my love for this special time of year with any student who is interested,&rdquo; says Sara Youngbar, a Las Vegas-based Outschool teacher, who&rsquo;s hosted classes about the holiday in the past.<\/p><p>Those who take Youngbar&rsquo;s class will learn about the history and misconceptions of the holiday and even learn a few Spanish words along the way. &ldquo;As a Latina teacher, my class provides an authentic look into the holiday and appropriate ways to celebrate, especially,&rdquo; she says, &ldquo;for those who do not have access to D&iacute;a de Muertos events in their local community.&rdquo; <\/p><p>You can also look and see if there are any classes to sign up for in your neighborhood. The San Antonio Botanical Garden is hosting an <a href=\"https:\/\/sabgtx.org\/event\/family-workshop-ofrenda-candle-making-decorating\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Ofrendas workshops<\/a> for D&iacute;a de los Muertos, including ones for making catrina worry dolls, flower wreaths and alebrijes (mythical creatures, popular in Mexican folk art), among other things. Check your local libraries, museums and cultural centers for info on classes in your area.<\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-11-enjoy-some-dia-de-los-muertos-movies\">11. Enjoy some D&iacute;a de los Muertos movies<\/h2><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/GettyImages-951851472-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-54000\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/GettyImages-951851472-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/GettyImages-951851472-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/GettyImages-951851472-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/GettyImages-951851472-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/GettyImages-951851472-1620x1080.jpg 1620w, https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/GettyImages-951851472.jpg 1800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"><\/figure><p><\/p><p>While movies are no substitute for reading about and experiencing D&iacute;a de los Muertos firsthand, we know that days of crafting and cooking might leave you and the littles looking for some downtime. Fortunately there are a few good films to watch about this Latinx celebration. Chances are you&rsquo;ve watched <a href=\"https:\/\/www.disneyplus.com\/movies\/coco\/db9orsI5O4gC\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Disney&rsquo;s &ldquo;Coco&rdquo;<\/a> at least once &mdash; but if you haven&rsquo;t, what are you waiting for?! The movie is absolutely gorgeous and features an incredible soundtrack to boot. Bonus, you can watch it in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.disneyplus.com\/movies\/coco-en-espanol\/SvWfRZO0Z3mF\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Spanish<\/a>, watch the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.disneyplus.com\/movies\/coco-sing-along\/4M9wtfJ9CfQm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Sing-A-Long version<\/a> and follow it up with the concert <a href=\"https:\/\/www.disneyplus.com\/movies\/a-celebration-of-the-music-from-coco\/1WkafUTAazmK\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">A Celebration of the Music from Coco<\/a>, featuring a number of Latinx actors, singers, and other celebs.<\/p><p>But if you are looking for more, we also recommend watching &ldquo;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.disneyplus.com\/video\/4cb95983-ae28-483d-9954-9b928bd82f16?distributionPartner=google\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The Book of Life<\/a>&rdquo; (on Disney Plus), &ldquo;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/video\/detail\/amzn1.dv.gti.88b747c6-9035-b729-573d-c896f4e85e76?autoplay=1&amp;ref_=atv_cf_strg_wb\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">D&iacute;a de Muertos<\/a>&rdquo; (on Amazon Prime) and the short film &ldquo;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=6Jaox1nnMc0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Hasta Los Huesos<\/a>&rdquo; (on YouTube), among others.<\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-12-visit-the-graves-of-your-late-loved-ones\"><strong>12. Visit the graves of your late loved ones<\/strong><\/h2><div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"724\" height=\"483\" src=\"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/GettyImages-1385541756.jpg\" alt=\"Activities for celebrating and honoring D&iacute;a de los Muertos for kids\" class=\"wp-image-87326\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/GettyImages-1385541756.jpg 724w, https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/GettyImages-1385541756-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 724px) 100vw, 724px\"><\/figure><\/div><p><\/p><p>One of the biggest aspects of D&iacute;a de los Muertos involves actually going to visit the final resting place of your departed loved ones. If you happen to live near a cemetery where a family member or friend was laid to rest, you can go spend some time there. Clean up their gravestone, leave offerings like favorite foods or beverages or small items, and simply spend time with them. If your loved one was cremated and had their ashes spread in a certain area, like a beach, under a tree or on an isolated mountain hike, you can do the same by visiting the area intentionally and spending time in your memories of them.&nbsp;<\/p><p>With younger children, you can visit these places and tell them stories about who these people once were and answer their questions about them. Even if you don&rsquo;t have loved ones in a nearby cemetery, you can still visit and take a quiet walk and have some honest conversations with your kids about the impermanence of life and how those who go before us always live on in our hearts and memories.<\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-13-honor-the-favorite-activities-of-your-dearly-departed\"><strong>13. Honor the favorite activities of your dearly departed<\/strong><\/h2><p>If it&rsquo;s not possible to visit the final resting place of those you have lost, that&rsquo;s also OK. This is part of why we create the altar. It&rsquo;s not just to have the offerings out but also to have a space near which to meditate and think on the lives of those who went before us.&nbsp; <\/p><p>Bianca Bergado, social media and community manager at <a href=\"https:\/\/tialupitafoods.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Tia Lupita Foods<\/a>, grew up celebrating D&iacute;a de los Muertos and believes this is a great way to share the holiday with children. &ldquo;Spending time to read books aloud with their ancestors is a way to practice reading skills, as well as spend time with those departed,&rdquo; says Bergado. &ldquo;Cooking the departed&rsquo;s favorite food, participating in a former favorite activity (like a game of sports or watching their favorite movie) would also be a fun way to connect with kids and keep traditions alive.&rdquo;<\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-14-attend-a-local-dia-event-put-on-by-the-mexican-latinx-community\">14. Attend a local D&iacute;a event (put on by the Mexican\/Latinx community)<\/h2><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/GettyImages-181216188-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Activities for celebrating and honoring D&iacute;a de los Muertos for kids\" class=\"wp-image-53944\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/GettyImages-181216188-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/GettyImages-181216188-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/GettyImages-181216188-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/GettyImages-181216188-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/GettyImages-181216188-1620x1080.jpg 1620w, https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/GettyImages-181216188.jpg 1800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"><\/figure><p><\/p><p>One of the best ways to celebrate this holiday, however, is by experiencing it yourself. If you&rsquo;re able to travel internationally with your family, going to Mexico to celebrate is unbeatable. If that&rsquo;s not in the cards, however, it&rsquo;s great to find U.S. cities that host festivities, such as Los Angeles, Phoenix, Dallas, even Ft. Lauderdale. Just make sure that the event you attend is being hosted by the Mexican, Chicanx, and\/or Latinx community, that they are represented and that the traditions are being respected. And then, of course, have fun!<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>These D\u00eda de los Muertos activities can help teach kids the cultural history behind the Day of the Dead, as well as how to celebrate and honor the holiday respectfully.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1330,"featured_media":87314,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"enable_toc":false,"care_reviewed_by":0,"care_post_updated_flag":false,"care_updated_date":"2026-09-09T17:43:55.980Z","last_update":"2026-09-09","view_count":16905,"footnotes":"","_members_access_role":[],"_members_access_error":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"member-type":[4],"vertical":[6,12],"platform":[2],"class_list":["post-53975","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","member-type-all","vertical-children","vertical-holidays-seasons","platform-resources"],"acf":[],"created":"2021-10-15","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53975","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1330"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=53975"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53975\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":230347,"href":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53975\/revisions\/230347"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/87314"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=53975"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=53975"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=53975"},{"taxonomy":"member-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/member-type?post=53975"},{"taxonomy":"vertical","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/vertical?post=53975"},{"taxonomy":"platform","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/platform?post=53975"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}