Learn How to Make a Mola!

Today, let’s learn a little bit about traditional textiles and clothing in Panama.

Specifically: Mola, which comes from Panama’s San Blas Islands.

Molas are a type of woven textile made by the women of the Kuna people in Panama’s San Blas Islands. The word mola actually has two meanings: it is a Kuna word for clothing but it also refers to an important type of textile that features colorful panels sewn by the women of the native Kuna people. Traditionally, molas depicted the geometric shapes women painted on their bodies in ancient times. Molas have such importance for the Kuna and their traditional identity that even the school children have mola patterns as part of their school uniform!

As you begin today’s project, you can look online by searching the term “Kuna Molas” for images of the traditional clothing of the Kuna women to see examples of what molas look like. You will also notice other beautiful details that complete the outfits, including a patterned wrapped skirt (saburet), a red and yellow headscarf (musue), arm and leg beads (wini), a gold nose ring (olasu) and earrings, and the mola blouse (dulemor).

Today, color a pattern to make your own paper mola! You can use your mola as a piece of artwork on your wall, or give it as a gift to someone you love!

Fun fact: Did you know? The tradition of molas as textiles go back to over 175 years!

Fun Fact: Did you know? The San Blas Islands are a group of islands in the archipelago de San Blas, located in the Northwest of Panama facing the Caribbean Sea. There are 378 islands within the San Blas archipelago. An archipelago is a group of islands surrounded by water.

Download Activity Sheet:

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Ask a Bilingual Expert

Benefits of Bilingualism (FAQs):

Any advice on managing two Spanish dialects in the household? Does this cause confusion for kids?

Now that our world is more interconnected than ever, there are plenty of families where each parent could be from a different country in Latin America, with distinctive dialects, vocabulary, slang, and culture. And that’s totally ok for kids to be exposed to. Their perspectives are broadened and they learn to communicate cross-culturally, it’s something to be celebrated. Sometimes kids may switch vocabulary when talking to different parents, which is absolutely fine. They’re not confused; if anything this shows their flexibility.

What do you recommend if I’m not completely fluent and my child’s school doesn’t have an immersion class?

I always encourage as much Spanish exposure as possible. Don’t worry about immersion classes availability or not being completely fluent as a parent. Use the Spanish you know, even if you may need to speak Spanglish, which is totally okay. This won’t be confusing to your child, in fact, you’re giving them more opportunities to practice Spanish.

Do you recommend teaching different subjects in different languages?

Parents who live in an English-speaking country need to remember that children are always going to learn English; their world is in English. However, it’s important to give kids as much education as possible in the home in Spanish. Teaching specific subjects in Spanish will provide them with vocabulary that they wouldn’t get in everyday conversation.

We speak Spanish and English in our home but my child almost always answers or talks back in English. How can I go about encouraging her to respond and speak more in Spanish?

Many kids may be in a classroom where they hear English all day, but encouraging them to respond in Spanish can be approached in a low-pressure way. Show excitement when they do things right and consistently use these strategies to foster their Spanish usage.

Should I set aside time or create activities for each language or is it okay to mix them both together?

Providing authentic opportunities for children to speak both languages is important. While it might seem beneficial to separate language times, allowing kids to pursue their interests in both languages will enable them to explore joyfully.

Any advice for households where one parent speaks Spanish and the other English?

It is fine if there are different languages spoken in the household, it’s crucial that parents freely speak their native language around their kids. This is not confusing; in fact, it helps provide a foundation in each language.

What are the cognitive benefits of bilingualism?

Research shows that bilingual brains have better executive functioning, such as focus, mental multitasking, and working memory.