Smiles seemed contagious yesterday at the Hispanic and Latino/a Student Council's Children's Day in the HUB-Robeson Center's Heritage Hall.
Open to the public and free of charge, Children's Day provided an alternative to typical children-focused events.
At the entrance, children were given nametags and dipped their hands in paint to make a handprint onto a white banner that will later become a mural.
Inside, multicolored balloons hung from the ceiling, and tables lined the perimeter of the hall. Each table was transformed into a station for face painting, arts and crafts, games, music, reading and snacks.
Among many arts and crafts, sponge painting, sand art, creative picture frames and balloon shapes were some of the most unique stations.
In the center of the floor, chairs in the shape of a semi-circle gave parents and children time to relax, though few were seated.
As part of the Hispanic Heritage Month celebration, Children's Day focuses on children while learning more about the Hispanic and Latino culture in a fun environment.
"As a part of family, children are very important to our culture. It brings children together from different backgrounds and offers them an opportunity to be part of our university community," said Melissa Landrau-Rodriguez, HLC advisor and coordinator for Hispanic Heritage month.
For the seventh consecutive year the HLC, along with many Penn State Hispanic organizations, sponsored the event. Volunteers from the various organizations worked at the tables and interacted with the children.
Clowns played with the children and adults along with an added guest — the Nittany Lion. Penn State cheerleaders were also in attendance. Their presence gave children ideas for their brown paper bag puppets. Girls made cheerleader puppets, gluing blue and white feathers to represent their skirts.
Landrau-Rodriguez said one of the highlights of the day was giving kids the opportunity to express themselves at the different stations.
The cheerleaders agreed with Landrau-Rodriguez.
"We like to hang out with the kids and we're always willing to go out into the community," said Steph Saner (senior-public relations).
The Penn State Magicians entertained the children, and stories were read in Spanish and English. A caricaturist also was available to capture faces.
The University Libraries also displayed Hispanic children's literature for parents to get information about reading material for their kids.
Parents not only received information about children's literature, but they were also able to watch children of different backgrounds interact.
As stated in the program, "(Children's Day) is meant to encourage healthy interactions between children of different cultures, in the hope that they will learn to appreciate and celebrate each other."
But Eddy Chacon (freshman-electrical engineering) said the kids made the day great. "Seeing their smiles is the best part of the event," Chacon said.
