MEXICAN FIESTA PARTY GAMES
It's fiesta time and that means it's time for some Mexican games and activities!
Tie these fiesta games and activities in with a Mexican Fiesta Theme and you are onto a winner.
It's fiesta time, not siesta time - so don't sleep on this party idea!
An escape room party is the best party idea we've got. They get everyone involved, they're easy to plan, and kids will be talking about it for years to come. It's the ultimate immersive party experience. Check out this guide to see how you can run your own at-home escape room party for any occassion!
Jumping Beans
Add this game to your list of fiesta party games for the younger kids and they will definitely use up a lot of energy!
Explain that a Mexican jumping bean has a type of caterpillar pupa inside. When it gets warm the caterpillar starts to twitch and fidget, which makes the beans jump.
Put on some Mexican music and get the kids to jump around like the beans, but when the music stops, everyone has to stand very still.
Any 'bean' caught twitching is out and can then be your helper in spotting the next twitching bean.
Pass the Sombrero
A bit like 'pass the parcel' but instead the kids have to pass a sombrero. Sit the kids in a circle, put on some Mexican music, and get them to pass around the sombrero. Each time it is passed to them they have to place it on their head for a second. When the music stops, the kid wearing the sombrero is out of the game or they have to do a dance in the middle of the circle.
La Pirinola
This is a well known traditional Mexican game popular among all ages using a Pirinola (6 sided spinning top).
Sit the kids in a circle on the floor and give each of them 10 beans or candy. Each kid must put 1 token in the middle of the floor and then they take turns spinning the pirinola. They then have to follow the instructions on the pirinola which might be as follows:
| Take 1, (the player takes 1 tokens from the middle of the circle) Take 2, (the player takes 2 token) Put 1, (the player puts 1 token in the middle of the circle) Put 2, (the player puts 2 token) Take All (the player takes everything from the middle of the circle) All Put (everyone places a token in the middle of the circle |
If there are only 2 tokens left in the middle then all players must add another token to the pile. Keep taking turns until 1 player has collected all the tokens and wins.
Bean Blast
Give each child a set number of kidney beans (any big dried beans will do) plus a straw and a bowl. On the blow of the whistle, the kids have to use the straw to suck up a bean and then place the bean in the bowl. The first one to suck up all their beans and place them in the bowl is the winner.
Mexican Kick Ball
This is a traditional game played in Mexican villages and is a great outdoor fiesta game for teams and large groups of kids. The aim is for each team member to kick a ball around an obstacle course and the first team to have all its members fully complete the course is the winner. Set the obstacle course to reflect the age of the kids. It could involve going round logs, tables and chairs, up a slide, around a tree, through a tunnel, kicking over a low net, through a paddling pool and so on.
Tip: Give each team a colored badge or sash to wear in red, green or white.
Spanish Word Game
Give each kid a list of Spanish words - they should all have the same words. The aim of the game is to guess the meaning of each word and whoever guesses the most correctly is the winner.
Tip: Try not to make the words to difficult and pick ones that have some sort of link to English words e.g. bicicleta (bicycle), camello (camel), delicioso (delicious).
With all the fiesta games listed here everyone is guaranteed to have a lot of fun!
MEXICAN FIESTA ACTIVITIES
Here are a few additional activities to go along with the party games.
Painting or coloring paper plates
Choose bright colors for the paints and once dry you can then hang the plates on the wall or string them into a big banner. This activity should be done at the beginning of the event so they have a chance to dry.
Maraca's painting
Get two empty plain white paper cups and fill one halfway with dried beans. Tape the two cups together around the open ends so you have a rattle. If you have a wooden BBQ skewer, insert one into the end of one of the cups and tape it to secure. Then let the kids have fun with paints and markers to customize their very own maracas, which they can take home with them. Alternatively you could buy some ready-to-paint maracas for the kids to decorate.
Mexican flowers
Mexicans love flowers and what better way to start your fiesta than by making beautiful flower garlands to hang around the room.
In advance, cut out circles or squares of colored tissue paper. Give each child 2-3 pieces of paper for them to place one on top of the other. Carefully pinch the layers in one go in the center and secure with a twist tie. Then open out the different layers to reveal a beautiful multicolored flower.
Learn some Mexican dance moves
A Mexican fiesta is all about music and dance so teach the kids how to do the Mexican hat dance or the Macarena dance.
Piñata
A piñata is the ultimate addition to any Mexican-inspired party and something the kids will love. Especially when they finally break it open and get to eat all the treats that explode from it! If you think the kids are going to have too many sweets you can always fill it with small toys instead.
If you are feeling adventurous trying making one of your own.