How To Celebrate St. Patrick's Day with your Children

“May your blessings outnumber the shamrocks that grow,
And may trouble avoid you wherever you go.” – Irish Blessing

St. Patrick’s Day is on its way! So what can you do with the children to help them celebrate? There are so many ways to honor the day with food, dress, games/crafts, music and, of course, history. So find something to do and get your kids involved to. But most importantly, Have fun!

Food – There are so many things that you can do with either choosing only green food or using green food dye to color all of your food green. Be sure to get the green dye early as the stores tend to run out right before St Patty’s Day.

1. Shamrock cookies – Use a shamrock shaped cookie cutter and sprinkle with green sugar or cover in green frosting. You can also make a green cake with green frosting and cut it out in the shape of a shamrock.
2. Green eggs and ham – Use food coloring to make your eggs green.
3. Lucky Charms – The cereal with the leprechaun on it.
4. Green Milk – Dye a glass of milk green to drink with the shamrock cookies. YUM!!
5. Other foods – Choose to eat only green foods or use green food coloring on most of your food to show spirit.

Dress - There are so many different ways you can change your attire to reflect your celebration of St. Patrick's Day.  Go green from head to toe.

1. Green Hair – Dying your hair or even a strand of your hair green is a fun way to honor of St Patrick’s Day, just make sure that the coloring is washable.
2. Green Makeup – Wearing green makeup is also fun.
3. Paint a Shamrock on the cheek – Get some fun face-paints and paint a shamrock, pot o’ gold or a rainbow on your child’s cheek.
4. Green Clothes – Wearing green clothing is also a way to get into the spirit. You can wear one item of clothing or make your whole outfit green for the day.
5. Green accessories or jewelry – Find green accessories such as hats, a vest or buttons and pins. Also green/shamrock earrings can be fun to wear.

Games/Crafts - Whatever you choose to do have fun. You can make all kinds of games and crafts keeping the St. Patrick's Day ideas in mind.

1. Leprechaun Hunt – Plan a leprechaun hunt, this can be done in so many different ways. You can hide leprechauns you make. Or you can have your kids put out a trail of pennies leading to a pot o’ gold before they go to bed. When they wake up they will see goodies (of your choice) both along the trail and in the pot o’ gold. Making the leprechauns and the pot o’ gold is also fun for the kids to do.
2. Make Leprechauns – Make a leprechaun; there are so many different ways to make a leprechaun with your children. Make a pillow, a drawing, make him out of felt, the list goes on and on.
3. Make a Pot o’ Gold – Make a black pot and decorate it black then your children can draw clovers and rainbows or whatever they choose on the outside. Fill it up with gold coins (the chocolate coins are fun to have) and fake jewels.
4. Make up a game – Make up a game for St. Patrick’s Day that your kids will enjoy playing it can be anything; a combination of an Easter egg hunt or other games.
5. Make a St. Patty’s Day picture – Have your child draw what St. Patrick’s Day means to them. Again this can be anything you child imagines; just make sure you have enough green whether it is paper or crayons.

Music - There are different types of music and dance with an Irish flair. Check them all out and have a good time. Nothing says celebration like music and dance.

1. Listen to Irish Music
2. Sing Irish Tunes
3. Write an Irish Limerick
4. Do an Irish Dance
5. Sing, “Its not Easy Being Green” by Kermit the Frog

History - Learning about history is great for both children and adults.  Broaden your minds and learn about what this day is truly about.

1. Learn about St Patrick
2. Learn about what St. Patrick’s Day means and how it go started
3. Learn how St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated all over the world.
4. Learn how the celebration changed over the years.
5. Learn about some traditions your family can follow.

There are truly so many different things that you can do with your kids for St Patrick’s Day just use a lot of green and have a vivid imagination. Make up your own traditions with your children. Ask your children for their own thoughts and have fun thinking up new ideas. Whatever it is that you choose to do make sure you have fun doing it and try and learn something new.