As March treads on and we await the full-blown onset of spring, along comes St. Patrick’s Day to put a spring in our step. Whether your family is of Irish descent or not, Ireland’s cultural heritage warmly invites everyone to join in the celebration. Traditional holidays like St. Patrick’s Day offer fun learning opportunities as well as a great excuse to throw a party. Here are nine simple ways to make St. Patrick’s Day fun for your children.
Build a Leprechaun Trap
A fun and creative project, set out cardboard boxes of varying sizes along with plenty of crafting supplies and have the kids devise the perfect trap for a leprechaun.Decorate the House
Make things festive in your home by adding touches of green, some shamrocks, and perhaps a St. Paddy’s Day tablecloth or green throw pillows.Wear Green
Of course, make sure the whole family has their green clothing to wear on St. Patrick’s Day, whether that be a simple graphic tee, shamrock socks, a green tie, or green hair accessories.Morning Surprise
In the morning, check the trap. Perhaps there’ll be evidence of some wee folk having been there. Leprechauns tend to leave behind chocolate gold coins and a bit of a mess around the trap.The children will likely enjoy theorizing what may have occurred during the night. If you’d like to incorporate small gifts, how about “green” gifts—things like green notebooks, green matchbox cars, or green hair ties.
Cue the Ditties
It wouldn’t be St. Patrick’s Day without some good Irish music to clap along with. Some kid-friendly classics include: “The Unicorn” by the Irish Rovers, “Danny Boy” by Celtic Woman, “When Irish Eyes Are Smiling” by The Irish Tenors, “The Wild Rover” by The Dubliners, and “The Rocky Road to Dublin” by The High Kings.Additionally, you can find volumes of beautiful, traditional Irish folk music via your favorite streaming service that would make for the perfect background to the day.
See a Parade
Check your local activities calendar to see when the Saint Patrick’s Day parade will take place. Don your green and take part in this quintessential St. Patrick’s Day activity.Read St. Patrick’s Day Books
There are many lovely children’s books fit for Saint Patrick’s Day, including: “The St. Patrick’s Day Shillelagh” by Janet Nolan, “The Leprechaun’s Gold” by Pamela Duncan Edwards, “Tim O’Toole and the Wee Folk” by Gerald McDermott, and “St. Patrick’s Day in the Morning” by Eve Bunting.Enjoy an Irish Dinner
When it comes to dinner on Saint Patrick’s Day, the obvious choice is some delicious corned beef and cabbage. If your kids aren’t into that, anything green will do. Did you know you can make a natural green food dye with spinach? Green pasta is always a hit!For dessert, Irish soda bread is a classic. Shamrock-shaped cookies are always fun. Looking for something really easy? How about some green mint-chocolate-chip or pistachio ice cream?
