DIY Little Passports: Mexico

¡Hola! Our Little Explorer has made her way to Mexico this month in our DIY Little Passports project. We hope this project empowers our kids with a love and appreciation for the people and places all over the world. Mexico this month works out great since we’ve celebrated Cinco de Mayo and have been eating Mexican food regularly. Everyone in our home loves tacos. Ever since the movie Coco came out, I’ve been looking forward to learning more about this beautiful and colorful country. My husband (and therefore children) have some heritage in Mexico, so it’s even more special hearing about what it’s like there. This is also one of the rare places we’ve studied that I can actually tell her about because I’ve been there. Check out what came in her package!

In this Package

• Coloring pages
• Real Mexican Stamps
• Mexico Activity Book, including Mosaic Mask Craft and easy recipes
• Coconut Patty treat

Though a souvenir was not included in this package, I wanted to find her a woven necklace from Mexico since she loves that kind of thing. There are also brightly colored patterned woven bracelets personalized with your child’s name I’ve seen online for about $12, but you can get them in Mexico for $5.

Additional resources

• Mexico Kit from Library, including folk tales, children’s books, and maracas
• Colors of Mexico book
• Movie ideas: Coco

Receiving the Mail

The Mexico Kit from the library arrived a couple of weeks before her package did, so she asked me every day if her package came or checked for it in the mail with her Daddy. I knew what I wanted to do for this month for weeks prior and had it all set up except for the letter and the souvenir. I never found what I was looking for or had time to shop or do my normal research, so it kept getting pushed back. Finally I couldn’t take one more day of disappointing L when she asked me if anything came in the mail for her, so I decided to wrap it up without a souvenir and got the letter done today before she came home from school. Baby and I planted it in the mailbox, and she was thrilled when she found it.

The Letter

Things mentioned in the letter:

• Quetzal bird
• Mayan and Aztec
• Mexican food to try: carnitas, tacos
• Dia de los Muertos, Cinco de Mayo
• Guacamole recipe
• Mosaic Mask craft
• Soccer
• Migrating butterflies

Cost Breakdown

• Postcard, Stamps, Stickers: included in initial cost
• Print Coloring Pages: $0.16
• Coconut Patty Treat: $1.50
• Library Books: FREE

Total cost this month: $1.66

How it’s Going

Little Explorer is excited about the activities mentioned and going through her books from the library, but I did notice that she mentioned there was less stuff in it and wondered why it came late. Since we’re a bit behind in the month, I might have to return the Mexico Kit before she’s done reading all of it. Ah, the unintended consequences of mistiming. Little Brother is just as excited, actually! He wouldn’t let go of the Colors of Mexico book before bedtime.

Check out all the other places we’ve explored in this DIY Little Passports project here!