Games and Activities

Piñata

What's a Mexican fiesta without a piñata? Nada! A piñata can be the main event at your party. Piñatas are available in all different shapes and sizes—from a sombrero or cactus to a favorite character such as Dora the Explorer, Clifford the Big Red Dog, or Barbie. Some piñatas come filled with candy and trinkets; others will need to be filled by you before the festivities start.

A piñata is best played with outside where there's plenty of room. An adult should always supervise. Before the party starts, hang the piñata from a sturdy tree branch. When it's time to crack it open, have the kids form a line to take their turn. The child whose turn it is can be blindfolded, given a plastic bat, and led to the spot from which he or she will hit the piñata.

Give each child three hits before removing the blindfold and having him or her pass the bat to the next child. Children who've already taken their turn or who are waiting for their chance should stand at a safe distance from the piñata.

If the idea of kids swinging a plastic bat makes you nervous, you can opt for a pull-apart piñata. How it works: rows of strings hang from the bottom of the piñata, with one rigged to open it. Have each child take a turn pulling a string. One child's tug will split it open.

Cap Your Fiesta with a Hat Dance

Put on some Latin music and have your guests dance. Hand out maracas and let the kids shake them. Young children will get a kick out of this noisy fun! A great and easy group dance you can try is the Mexican Hat Dance. Simply place a large sombrero on the ground, crank up the music (toy and party stores often sell tapes or CDs of the music to the Mexican Hat Dance) and let the kids circle around the hat while they clap to the beat. Olé!