6 Ways to Celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day with Kids
by Sarah Lyons
Each holiday brings the opportunity to participate in unique celebrations with your kids, and Saint Patrick’s Day has no shortage of fun festivities. Whether you are lucky enough to be Irish or just love celebrating the holiday, try these fun and educational ideas to bring some luck to your home.
Eat all things green
Celebrate the day by feasting on all things green. For breakfast, try some green eggs and ham while reading the Dr. Seuss book to your kids or dye your pancakes green just for fun. For lunch, try serving up a buffet of green foods – broccoli, celery, salad, guacamole, and grapes. Wash it all down with some green juice. Who knows? Maybe your child will try some new foods trying to get good luck on St. Patty’s Day.
Attend a parade
Check your local listings for a Saint Patrick’s Day parade and attend as a family. Go green by painting your face or picking up some silly hats or headbands at the local dollar store. See which family member can dress in the most green for the event.
Set a leprechaun trap
The night of the 16th, have your kids set a leprechaun trap using a box or laundry basket. Put gold coins inside to attract your leprechaun, but remember, leprechauns are very sneaky and do not like to be seen. In the morning, your child may awake to see that the leprechaun has taken their gold coins and left them a small gift or treat.
Scavenger hunt
Create a scavenger hunt for your kids (or let the leprechaun leave the first clue in the trap). Make it educational by asking kids to answer a question or riddle to figure out the next clue or leave an interesting fact about Saint Patrick to learn more about the holiday. Have your kids follow the clues through the house to find a pot of gold coins at the end.
Make a rainbow
Saint Patrick’s Day wouldn’t be complete without a rainbow. Have your kids use watercolors or finger paint to create their own rainbow. Vanilla pudding with food coloring makes for a fun and edible finger paint. Put food coloring in cups of water and let kids experiment by mixing them to see what colors they can create. Using eye droppers and ice cubes trays lets you sneak in a little fine motor practice too. Make sure to offer some Lucky Charms cereal as a snack for a little inspiration.
Explore the Irish culture
Learn about the Irish culture by checking out books or movies about Ireland and the history of Saint Patrick’s Day from your local library. Have the kids watch a video of an Irish dance performance (YouTube is a great place to find one) and have the family try some of the dance moves themselves. This activity will get the whole family moving and probably produce some giggles, too. For the crafty, try painting or drawing an Irish flag or four-leaf clover. Make a family tree and discuss your heritage—maybe you’ll find some Irish heritage in your tree! For dinner try serving a traditional Irish meal like corn beef and cabbage. If this isn’t a family favorite, Reuben sandwiches may be a good alternative.
There are so many ways to celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day. Parents can get creative with crafts and activities that are family-friendly and sure to become well-loved traditions for years to come.
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