By Ligia Noemi Cushman, M.A., an employee of Raise the Future

Every year in America, we celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15th - October 15th. National Hispanic Heritage Month is an excellent opportunity to observe, educate, and honor the contributions of an often underrepresented and marginalized group of people. As an Afro-Latina, I view this month as a time to celebrate our courage, beauty, and history.

Why is it important?

Hispanic Heritage Month is important because representation does matter. When foster and adoptive parents embrace the notion of representation, it can help children in their care thrive.

Hispanic Heritage Month amplifies the second-fastest-growing racial or ethnic group in the U.S. It requires a heavy lift from parents of all walks of life, and it is necessary.

How do we honor Hispanic Heritage Month with the children in our home?

It's easy for many caregivers to get caught up in a checklist of things to do that will help their Hispanic/Latinx child feel celebrated during this month (and every day). This article is in no way a checklist of what to do for your child to feel amplified and validated; however, it is a great place to start. I hope some of the books, music, movies, and activities below help parents find new ways to integrate this month into their daily lives.

1. Books - Stories are a great way to help children begin to paint a picture of who they are, learn about the history of other Hispanic/Latinx* people, and see themselves represented in beautiful ways. For young readers, there are some colorful books like Lil' Libros board books. Children will learn about Hispanic heroes like Salsa queen Celia Cruz and the iconic singer Selena. Islandborn, a book by Junot Díaz, celebrates one child's island memories' diversity, creativity, and imagination. Older youth can read Hispanic poetry that encourages learning from other cultures, like "'Mexican' Is Not A Noun," a poem by Francisco X. Another great read is from author Yesenia Moises, an Afro-Dominican toy designer and illustrator. She is the author of Stella's Stellar Hair, a book about a young Afro-Latina† girl with natural hair who travels the solar system in search of hairstyles. Finally, teens and parents can read books like Drown by Junot Díaz, which tells the story of young Hispanic teens redefining their American identity.
2. Music - One of the most incredible things about growing up in a Hispanic household was listening to salsa, merengue, or bachata on any given Saturday morning as we cleaned the house. Although I didn't know it then, this was a special time for my parents to teach us about salsa's rhythmic tones or the African influences in merengue and bachata. Songs like "El Farolito" by Juan Luis Guerra or "Quimbara" by Celia Cruz provide beautiful melodic Caribbean storytelling. Younger children may enjoy Sesame Street and Gina Rodriguez's songs in Spanish. Younger children will also enjoy the Merengue Freeze Dance activity by Spanglish Baby. One of the most heartfelt and inspiring songs celebrated throughout the Latinx community is "Vivir Mi Vida" (Live My Life) by Marc Anthony. The song encourages the world to find joy in life no matter what they may be facing, pointing to the resilience of the Hispanic community.
3. Movies - Introducing children to film to connect the whole family with Hispanic culture is always fun for all kiddos. Movies like Coco are jam-packed with culture and an excellent film for authentic storytelling. Lin-Manual Miranda's In the Heights is a beautiful musical that the entire family can enjoy while taking in all the pieces of Hispanic culture. Kids will also enjoy Zipi y Zape y la Isla del Capitán, a film based on two popular, mischievous Spanish comic book characters. Older teens will enjoy movies like The 33 or Real Women Have Curves, with actress America Ferrera playing a Mexican-American teen navigating the balance between her college dreams and cultural heritage. And we can’t forget Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse featuring Miles Morales, the first-ever Afro-Latino as Spiderman. Netflix also has a long list of great movies and shows that celebrate Hispanic heritage to choose from.
4. Activities - One notable thing all caregivers can do with their children is be intentional about their time together. Activities are an excellent way to pass along the rich beauty of Hispanic culture. In addition, this time together can help non-Hispanic children in learning about different cultures. Melanie Edwards has a great list of activities to do with children during Hispanic heritage month on her blog: Modern Mami. The list includes everything from free printables to crafts and delicious recipes. One fantastic activity is the Celebrate Hispanic Heritage interactive whiteboard by Scholastic. In this activity, children can click along to learn about Hispanic historical figures – from artists to scientists. A great printable to explore is the Hispanic Heroes Trading Cards by Mami Maestra. This activity is an easy and exciting way for young children to learn about Hispanic heroes.
   

No matter which activities you choose to do this month with your child(ren), the most important thing is to do something. Normalizing this celebration for children is not just good for them, but it will also be good for parents. Most importantly, find ways to celebrate, embrace and amplify your child's culture every day. Happy Hispanic Heritage Month!

* "Latinx' And Gender Inclusivity," Latinx' And Gender Inclusivity, September 9, 2019, https://businessrex.info/words-at-play/word-history-latinx.

† Victoria M. Rodriguez, Alex Perez, and Allie Yang, “What It Means to Be Afro-Latino: 'We Are Diverse in Every Single Possible Way',” ABC News (ABC News Network, 9, 2020), https://abcnews.go.com/US/means-afro-latino-diverse-single/story?id=71681988.