Preview draft. Activities have not been tested with caregivers.
Celebrations · The activity desk
Día de Muertos paper banner
Cut a paper banner inspired by papel picado.
Let's play →
A little plan for play
Open interactive activity →Add to play journal →What you need
A full sheet of colored paper, child-appropriate scissors and paper tape
Age: 3–5 years; choose for the individual child.
Stay with the child throughout. Check the space and supplies, including anything within reach of younger siblings. Skip any activity that is unsuitable. Stop if a child puts non-food material in their mouth or becomes distressed. Use intact books, full sheets of paper, a large child-appropriate crayon and a clean, dry towel. Follow product labels; remove torn paper and keep broken crayons and caps away from children. Adult handles and stores supplies.
Set up: Fold the paper in half. Draw a few large half-circles or triangles along the folded edge, leaving space between them.
Adult's role: Explain that papel picado is cut-paper decoration used in some Día de Muertos celebrations. Help with scissors and invite your child to choose a design.
Let's make it happen
- Cut the drawn shapes out of the folded edge, leaving the rest of the sheet joined.
- Open the paper and notice how each cut became a whole shape.
- Tape the banner flat to a wall at adult height or set it on a table. Share what the shapes remind you of.
Make it simpler: Draw shapes on a flat sheet instead of cutting them out.
Clean up: Collect paper scraps and put scissors away.
Supervise child-appropriate scissors. Keep scraps and tape away from younger children and keep paper away from flames.