Teaching Children About Día de los Muertos: A Family Celebration

I’ll never forget the first time my son saw my daughter’s face painted for Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). It was 2013. At five years old, he was terrified. He has always been afraid of clowns, and seeing a white-painted face made him think of one — he ran away, hysterical.

We had prepared for the holiday with books and traditional dishes, but I hadn’t taken the time to sit and explain the holiday properly. It wasn’t until I showed him an animated short film about Día de los Muertos — a story about a little girl who visits the land of the dead — that he really understood the meaning behind the celebration. After watching, his eyes lit up and he wanted to learn more. If you plan to introduce the holiday to children, sharing a gentle animated film can make the ideas come alive.

How to Celebrate Día de los Muertos with Kids

You don’t need to be Mexican or Catholic to teach children about Día de los Muertos. The celebration is accessible and meaningful to families of any background. It’s especially comforting for children who have experienced a loss, because it turns grief into a chance to remember, celebrate, and talk about the life of someone who mattered.

Each year we set up a home altar, filled with photos, flowers, and favorite foods of loved ones who have passed. A home altar is a visual and tactile way to involve children: they can help choose items, arrange flowers, and share stories about the people being honored. This hands-on approach helps children understand memory, respect, and the idea that love continues even after someone is gone.

The Children Who Brought This Celebration to Life

This year we made a video to document our family altar and to let the children tell the story. My son, now eight, narrated the piece. He practiced his lines for a week and was nervous when he first watched the finished edit — he even cried. I’m so proud of him. He chose to honor his great grama Anita, my paternal grandmother, who loved cooking and tending her garden. Blake remembers her as elegant and kind; though his visits were few, he still holds a warm memory of her.

My daughter Maya honored her big grandma, Jesusita — the woman who inspired this blog and our cookbook. She was known for her hospitality and her recipes, and though Maya was only one when her grandmother passed, it’s easy to imagine Maya sitting at that kitchen table someday, learning the same recipes and traditions.

Danica, my cousin Brenda’s daughter (I usually call her my niece because Brenda feels like a sister), honored her grandpa Wolfgang. Though he was German by birth, Wolfgang embraced his wife’s Mexican culture — he sang Spanish songs, danced, and loved celebrating with the family. His warmth and enthusiasm made him the life of the party, and his memory continues to bring joy.

Zeta, my friend Karen’s daughter, honored her great-grandpa Gabriel. Though she never met him, family stories revealed a creative, helpful man who loved his garden and his family. Those memories connected Zeta to a past she can celebrate and carry forward.

Alycia, who is my daughter’s age and whom they treat like sisters, honored her grandpa Frank. He passed when she was very young, but the stories about his kindness and smile keep his memory alive in the family.

Why This Celebration Matters

Día de los Muertos is full of color, beauty, and meaningful rituals. It offers families a chance to gather, tell stories, and pass on memories to the next generation. Children respond well to the sensory elements — the paper flowers, the scents, the food, and the act of creating an altar. These practices teach respect, remembrance, and gratitude.

If you’re wondering whether to introduce a joyful Day of the Dead tradition in your home, consider how it can help children frame death as part of life and give them a way to actively remember and celebrate loved ones.

Special thanks to everyone who helped make this day possible.

Video: Pure Cinematography / Photography: Abby Watkins / Children: Blake, Maya, Danica, Zeta, Alycia / Song: El Haru Kuroi / MUA: Jill Scott & Christina Acosta-Montoya / Hair Design: Karen & Brenda / Costume Design: Yvette & Karen / Set Design & Decor: Thrifty Rehab, Yvette, Karen / Falconer: Rylan Stone / Production Assistants: Bill & George