15 Cinco de Mayo Crafts for Preschoolers
Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with kids! Discover 15 Cinco de Mayo crafts for preschoolers—from easy crafts like handprint cactuses to homemade maracas and tissue paper flowers. A fun way to teach history and culture.
Looking for Cinco de Mayo crafts for preschoolers? You’re in the right place! These easy Cinco de Mayo crafts are a fun way to teach kids about a different culture while celebrating this vibrant holiday. From handprint cactuses to tissue paper flowers, these festive crafts are engaging, colorful, and the perfect opportunity to add a festive touch to your May 5th activities.
Art activities are one of the best ways to spark curiosity in preschool students while also supporting fine motor skills. This collection of fun Cinco de Mayo activities is full of engaging activities for classrooms, at-home learning, or family celebrations. They’re also easy to set up, often using simple supplies like paper plates, popsicle sticks, brown paper bags, or even leftover plastic Easter eggs.
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What Is Cinco de Mayo?
Cinco de Mayo (the fifth of May) is often confused with Mexican Independence Day, but it actually commemorates the Battle of Puebla in 1862. On May 5th, the French army, led by Napoleon III, tried to take control of Mexico. Despite being outnumbered, the Mexican army fought fiercely and won a stunning victory over the French forces. This victory of the Mexican army became a symbol of resilience and national pride.
While Cinco de Mayo is only a minor national holiday in Mexico, Cinco de Mayo today is widely recognized in the United States, especially in places like Los Angeles and other cities with large Mexican-American populations. It has become a celebration of Mexican culture and Mexican heritage.
The day is typically marked with mariachi music, colorful piñatas, bright colors, festive maracas, and delicious foods like shredded chicken, Mexican street corn pasta salad and guacamole. For families, it’s a great time to learn about Mexican history and traditions through fun crafts, stories, and of course, food.
Why Cinco de Mayo Crafts Are a Great Idea for Kids
Preschool crafts are a creative way to:
- Teach the meaning of Cinco de Mayo in an age-appropriate way.
- Explore the colors of the Mexican flag with construction paper, red paint, and markers.
- Encourage critical thinking by comparing holidays like Día de los Muertos or the Fourth of July.
- Provide a fun activity that doubles as decoration for bulletin boards, the dining room, or the classroom.
- Keep kids of all ages entertained with lots of fun and engaging activities for the whole family.
These fun crafts aren’t just art—they’re a festive way to spark conversations about culture, history, and traditions.
15 Easy Cinco de Mayo Crafts for Preschoolers
From free coloring pages to printable templates, cactuses, festive flowers and more, this collection of Cinco de Mayo crafts for preschoolers is sure to be a hit at your Cinco de Mayo celebration. Even though this list was curated for preschoolers and toddlers, these crafts are all a great way to keep kids of all ages engaged and having fun.
Which of these easy crafts is your favorite?
Cinco de Mayo Crafts for Preschoolers
Art activities are an excellent way to engage children in learning about different cultures and historical events. This collection of Cinco de Mayo crafts for preschoolers is full of fun and creative ways for your children to participate in this holiday, too.
This easy and festive handprint cactus craft is the perfect hands on activity for preschoolers, kindergartners, and early elementary kids this Cinco de Mayo.
Choose any accent color you want for the flowers and end up with a colorful set of paper bag puppets using the free template.
These tissue paper fiesta flowers are perfect for bringing a burst of color and cheer to any occasion, and are a budget-friendly craft to celebrate Cinco de Mayo or any fun fiesta. Plus, these cute flowers are easy to make!
Snag six free printable templates that turn little hands into festive crafts like maracas, piñatas, cacti, and even the Mexican flag.
Kids get to design their own vibrant sombrero and then practice writing their name, making it both creative and educational. This fun craft also supports important early learning skills like name recognition and fine motor development.
Enjoying a good book with your littles this Cinco de Mayo? They can color one of these fun printable bookmarks!
Kids can never have too many coloring pages! Just choose your favorite to print at home.
These festive coloring sheets are perfect for kids and classrooms. With 15 pages to choose from, there's something for everyone.
These coloring pages not only provide entertainment but also serve as a tool to educate children about the significance of this cultural event.
This simple cactus craft for is perfect for kids 2 and up and includes a free cactus template. Little artists will love coloring their cactus and gluing on flowers or hearts as details.
Playdough mats are simple ways to add hands-on fun to your holiday celebration with kids of all ages. Who doesn't love creating some magic with play doh?
This cute DIY felt cactus finger puppet is great for imaginative play and is an easy project for beginners as you can make it without a sewing machine.
Coloring is such a good activity for adults and kids alike. Set these free coloring pages up at any outdoor art station!
Practice vocabulary and learning new words while unscrambling words and learning about this festive Mexican holiday.
These free printable Cinco de Mayo do a dot pages are a fun, no-prep activity for toddlers and preschoolers. Turn them into a completely mess-free activity by using round stickers instead of makers.
More Crafts for Kids
You might also enjoy these crafts:
- Easy Farm Animal Paper Plate Crafts for Toddlers and Preschoolers
- Free Mother’s Day Handprint Craft
- All About My Dad Printable and Coupons
More Fun Cinco de Mayo Activities
Looking for more fun ideas? Pair these Cinco de Mayo crafts with:
- Making sombrero cookies or taco cookies for dessert.
- Listening to Mexican music or mariachi music while crafting.
- Playing a classic game like musical chairs with a festive touch.
- Decorating bulletin boards or spaces around your home with finished art.
- Sharing your creations on social media to spread the holiday spirit.
Final Thoughts on Cinco de Mayo Crafts for Preschoolers
These easy Cinco de Mayo crafts are a fun way to teach about the history of Cinco de Mayo, celebrate Mexican heritage, and bring lots of fun to your Cinco de Mayo celebration. Whether you’re making Easter egg maracas, tissue paper flowers, or a paper plate sombrero, these festive crafts are the perfect opportunity for kids of all ages to learn, create, and celebrate together.
Happy crafting, and ¡Feliz Cinco de Mayo!
If you enjoyed this craft, be sure to pin it on Pinterest using the image below to make it easier to find next time!
