by T.C. Sert

Created on: March 01, 2010   Last Updated: March 02, 2010

Every year on the 5th of May, Cinco de Mayo, Mexico celebrates its defeat of the French in 1862. On this day there are many opportunities to join in a different variety of festivities. Fiestas are a common way to celebrate, but sometimes people throw their own parties, as well. This is a great time for family and friends to get together with children and enjoy different foods, live music and fun games. If you are thinking to hold your own Cinco de Mayo party, here are a few Cinco de Mayo party game ideas for children to enjoy.

Break The Piñata

This game is a favorite of many children, and great for those that have never played. All that is needed is a piñata filled with inexpensive candies and small party favors, and a long stick. After filling the piñata, hang it from a tree or a stable beam. Gather the children together in a circle around the piñata, but far enough away that they won't be hit with the stick as it's being swung. Decide what order the children will start swinging. Usually allowing the smallest child to swing first is the best idea, so that everyone possibly has a chance to swing at it before the bigger kids do. It will most likely break if the bigger kids swing first. Begin by covering the child's eyes with a blindfold, turning them around three times, and let them go to start swinging at the piñata blindfolded. Let each child take a turn swinging until it breaks. Once it breaks all the kids will enjoy diving in to grab as much candy and treats as they can.

Mexican Hat Dance

This Mexican hat dance requires a sombrero or similar style hat, and upbeat music from Mexico. Gather the children together in a circle around the hat, and have them hold hands. When the music starts the children can start walking or skipping in a circle around the hat. When a child's name is called from the circle, they should walk to the middle and start dancing next to the hat. As they continue dancing, one by one call a new child's name to join the child dancing in the middle, until all the children are dancing around the hat.

Cinco de Mayo Scavenger Hunt

Create a list of materials that have something to do with Mexico or even materials to make a Mexican cuisine, and make several copies. Section all the children off into groups of 2-3 children, and have one adult as a group guide for each group. Everyone has a set amount of time to gather their supplies, and return to the meeting place. After every one has gathered back together, and tallied who has gathered the most amount of items on the list, the winner receives a prize. If the materials gathered were to create a recipe, then everyone can have fun making the Mexican dish. A fun idea would also be to gather materials to decorate the party, and kick off the celebration with decorating for it.

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