Parents across the country often don’t even know the meaning or reason behind National Hispanic Heritage Month. It has been celebrated for 39 years since September 17, 2007. Signed into law on that day in 1968, the United States set aside a week to honor our Spanish-speaking citizens. Subsequently, the 100th Congress enacted a public law that increased the celebration period to 31 days. This year, National Hispanic Heritage Month runs from September 15, 2007 through October 15.
The National Hispanic Heritage Month initiative is a recognition of the more than 44.3 million Americans of Hispanic origin, who represent more than 15% of our population. The 31-day observation period honors the Independence Day of many Latin American countries, including El Salvador, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Guatemala, and Honduras, who celebrate September 15 as their Independence Day. September 16 is Independence Day for Mexico, September 18 for Chile, September 21 for Belize, and El Día de la Raza (Columbus Day) is on October 12.
The Spanish language is an integral part of family life, and 32.2 million families speak Spanish at home. We find Texas leading the nation with 29% of residents speaking Spanish at home. Twenty-two states now report that their largest minority group is Hispanic: Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode. Island, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Washington, and Wyoming.
Why is it important to know and impart this to your children? Because the truth is that we live in a very global society and it is our responsibility as parents and as educators to bring appreciation and understanding of the cultures and languages of others into the lives of our young children.
National Hispanic Heritage Month is the perfect opportunity to introduce children to the language and culture that surrounds them every day in their homes, preschools, daycares, and elementary schools. Research shows that children who learn a second language, even before they master their own, are better readers and that sets them on the path to academic success.
For National Hispanic Heritage Month, there are many activities that will bring the message of understanding, unity and community as all ethnic groups raise their voices in song and fun. Read on to find four that focus on food, exercise, language, and arts and crafts.
Food is an integral part of Latin American life. Cooking is a social time in Latin American families, and following specific Latin American recipes will bring Spanish to life for your child. Continuing the exercise fun, let you and your child get up, move, and enjoy a bilingual song about not eight, not twelve, but twenty body parts in Spanish and English!
Counting and learning languages combine to make this activity a favorite for parents, teachers, and homeschooling families! Children create their own bilingual number book while singing a popular bilingual children’s song about counting. The activity turns your home into a classroom immediately. The children learn about the maracas, an instrument of our Hispanic friends. In an activity where children make their own maracas and celebrate birthdays with a bilingual version of the Happy Birthday song.
Repetition and fun are the keys to learning. When you add a little rhythm and a lot of movement, learning becomes magical for our young children.