Let’s face it, the month of March can be dreary. It’s that in-between, muddy, often gray time of year. Enter March 17th: St. Patrick’s Day! This fun holiday is a bright (green?) spot in the middle of the month. But why DO we celebrate St. Patrick’s day?
The holiday once began as a religious observance, because St. Patrick is credited with bringing Christianity to parts of Ireland. Now, the day has become a celebration of the Irish culture. Below, I am sharing some ideas for celebrating St. Patrick’s Day with your kids! Spoiler alert: you don’t have to be Irish!
Activities + Games
We love a fun holiday game! Get the kids in the St. Patrick’s Day spirit by kicking off the morning with one of these activities, or as a fun way to decompress after school.
- Pin the Tail on the Leprechaun game: here’s a game that’s fun for kids of all ages!
- Printable St. Patrick’s day activity sheets: These are so cute and fun for a variety of ages! I love the coloring pages for younger kiddos. Older kids will love the word scramble and crossword puzzle!
- Roll a Rainbow dice game: I love this one because all you need is a set of dice! The cute printable game cards are an added bonus. If you don’t want to use the game cards, just assign each number on the dice to a color of the rainbow (a 1 would equal red, 2 is orange, 3 is yellow, etc.) and try to be the first player to roll all the colors of the rainbow.
Books
We’re big readers in our house, and I love having a reason to pick out a new book!
- How to Trap a Leprechaun by Sue Fliess: A fun read for the kiddos! The suggested age range is 2-6 years old.
- St. Patrick’s Day by Gail Gibbons: This book can help kids understand the tradition behind St Patrick’s Day, as well as learn some Irish history and culture. Recommended for ages 3-7
Crafts
Festive crafts and projects are some of my favorite things to do with my kids! These can work for a range of ages, and you can make it as simple or involved as you like. My daughter’s preschool class made a leprechaun trap last year, and it was a huge hit with the kids!
- Leprechaun Hat: Make this adorable leprechaun hat out of popsicle sticks! This one calls for craft foam, but I think you could use construction paper instead.
- Leprechaun Hand Print: You can try this one with even the littlest of kiddos, provided they don’t mind paint on their hands! I love how the fingers and thumb become the fringe of the leprachaun’s beard.
- Leprechaun Trap: Legend has it that if you capture a leprechaun, he must grant you three wishes in order to be released. Why not build a leprechaun trap with the kids?! A trap can be as simple or as involved as you want. We hear that the best way to lure a leprechaun into your trap is with anything gold and shiny! And, don’t forget rainbows! You can make a trap from materials you have at home, or check out this easy kit.
Food + Snacks
Try one (or all!) of these goodies to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with your kids! You could even pop one into a lunchbox for a festive surprise at school.
- Lucky Charms treats: Is it even St. Patrick’s Day if we don’t break out the Lucky Charms cereal?! If you’re looking for a fun treat, try this twist on the classic rice crispy treat recipe.
- Rainbow fruit parfait: Cut up fruit in the colors of the rainbow (strawberries, oranges, pineapple, kiwi, blueberries, purple grapes) and layer into clear cups. Top with a dollop of whipped cream or yogurt to look like a cloud!
- Soda Bread: A fun way to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with kids is to make soda bread, which is a traditional Irish quick bread. The key to making a soda bread that isn’t dry is to not overmix the ingredients. (For a soda bread with some flair, try this one!)
- Spinach pancakes (for the green color without food coloring!): Wanting to try something different? Give these pancakes a try! The recipe states that the spinach gives a very neutral flavor, but lots of great green color. Add your favorite toppings for a festive St. Patrick’s Day breakfast!
You don’t need to be Irish in order to have fun this March 17th! I hope you and your family enjoy some of these ideas for celebrating St. Patrick’s Day with kids. What things would you add to this list?
