Leprechauns, shamrocks, rainbows, and of course lots of green! These are the images that come to mind when most of us think of St. Patrick's Day... but did you know this is also a day to celebrate the life and times of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland?
As you make plans to celebrate St. Patrick's Day with your children, here are a few ideas to help you get creative and incorporate fun activities into the March 17th holiday.
1. Go on a leprechaun scavenger hunt!
Get up and move about hunting for gold as your children try to find items on this free printable scavenger hunt. You can time the hunt, hunt in groups, or even take the fun outside! To extend the activity, you can have your little ones decorate old tissue boxes as treasure chests in which they can save their treasures.
2. Make your own green slime
Who doesn't love to play with homemade slime?! It's even more fun when you add confetti and glitter. Here are 4 easy and basic slime recipes to choose from. For an added activity, talk to your children about what their senses are experiencing while they play with the slime. How does it feel? What does it smell like? Is it wet or is it dry? Oh! And most important... get ready for some ooey-gooey fun!
3. Learn how to say colors in Gaelic
Using the Irish Community Services YouTube channel, teach your children how to say different colors in the ancient Gaelic language. For even more fun, you can learn seasons, days of the week, and even animal names, too! Click here to start learning.
4. Make a shamrock stamper out of a bell pepper
Using fresh produce to make art? Sign me up! Simply cut the pepper, pull out the center (or you can leave the seeds on the inside if you're in a hurry), and dip the shape in some green paint to make your shamrock. Try different shades of green to add texture and dimension to your art. And If you want something more challenging, you can also try your hand at using a potato!
5. Take a walk and find green things
When in doubt, head outside! Take a walk around your yard and point out all of the green you can find. If you want to explore a bigger area, check out a local park or your neighborhood for other green items you can add to your list. For younger children, keep things simple by asking "is this green?" and having them reply with a yes or no. Knowing what isn't green is just as much a part of the learning experience.
6. Listen to Irish music
Purchase a CD or Irish jigs or pull up your favorite music streaming platform and look for Irish-themed playlists. Simply planing Irish music is likely to get your children jumping, spinning, and dancing along. The upbeat tempo certainly asks for it! And if you won't get too dizzy, you can interlock arms and spin in a circle. Dancing together is always more fun.
7. Cook an authentic Irish dinner
Corned beef and cabbage can be made in the slow cooker, giving you tender veggies and meat. It's perfect toddler fare and easy on the budget, too. Many of the best Irish foods follow that line of thinking as they're frugal, simple, and filled with delicious nutrients! From soda bread to a classic Irish stew, there are many great authentic Irish recipes to try.