Low-Cost Kwanzaa Activities for Kids

Kwanzaa is a holiday celebrated by African-Americans, that lasts from December 26 - January 1 of every year. The name "Kwanzaa" is a Swahili word that means "First Fruits of the Harvest". Each day celebrates a particular principle that strengthens the community and family. Here are some simple activities to accompany each day of your celebration.

December 26 ~~ "Umoja" ~~ Unity

This is the day to celebrate unity or togetherness. Get together with your family and friends and enjoy each other's company. Make the family tree craft found at Enchanted Learning. Remember to light the first candle in the kinara, the black candle.

December 27 ~~ "Kujichagulia" ~~ Self-Determination

Celebrate what makes each one of you special. Write a poem or story about your strengths. Interview older members of the family for their inspirational stories. Learn about other inspirational leaders in your community and throughout history. Remember to light the first red candle: the one to the right of the black candle.

December 28 ~~ "Ujima" ~~ Collective Work and Responsibility

This is a good day to become a mentor for someone. Even young children can teach another child how to master something. Have older children teach a younger child how to tie shoes, how to do a craft, how to ride a bike, etc. Plan some upcoming community service. Remember to light the first green candle: the one to the left of the black candle.

December 29 ~~ "Ujamaa" ~~ Cooperative Economics

This is the day that the focus is on supporting businesses run by African-Americans. Promote local businesses by designing your own flyers promoting them. Get approval to pass them out around your local neighborhood. Promote each other's businesses by hanging flyers in each other's locales. Let children also come up with their own ideas for their own positive ways to make money. Remember to light the next red candle.

December 30 ~~ "Nia" ~~ Purpose

This is the day to celebrate one's purpose. Find some time to volunteer in your community. Serve food to the homeless. Volunteer to walk dogs at the local Humane Society. Play with children at your local hospital. Read to the elderly. Sign up to help Habitat for Humanity. Remember to light the next green candle.

December 31 ~~ "Kuumba" ~~ Creativity

Traditional gifts given during this holiday period are books. Explore your creative side and make books celebrating your African heritage. Study and make your own versions of African art. This is also the day of the special Kwanzaa feast, known as "karamu". Become more creative through your Kwanzaa recipes and decorations. Remember to light the last red candle.

January 1 ~~ "Imani" ~~ Faith

This is the day to celebrate faith in the people of the community and the future of these people. Write letters to the inspirational people in your life, telling them why you have faith in them, and your wishes and hopes for their futures. Make some keepsake scrapbooks of the special times you have shared together, including your dreams of the future. Write poetry or paint pictures expressing those ideas. Worship with others at your local place of faith, be it church, temple, or otherwise. Remember to light the last green candle.

Official Website

Visit the official Kwanzaa website at http://www.officialkwanzaawebsite.org/index.shtml.

Other fun crafts and activities:

Check out these websites for other fun crafts and activities:

DTLK's Crafts for Kids http://www.dltk-holidays.com/kwanzaa/index.htm

Kwanzaa Crafts and Activities at Enchanted Learning http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/kwanza/

Crafts on Kaboose http://crafts.kaboose.com/kwanzaa-crafts.html

ChildFun http://www.childfun.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=21

HowStuffWorks http://home.howstuffworks.com/kwanzaa-crafts.htm