So, St. Patrick’s Day is creeping up again. You know the drill—you want to do something fun with the kids, but you’re fresh out of ideas that don’t involve just buying a bunch of green-themed junk from the dollar store. I’ve been there. Staring at a blank calendar, wondering how to make the day feel special without losing my sanity.
I’ve put together a list of 15 activities that actually deliver on the “fun” promise. Some are crafts, some are games, and a few are just plain silly. But they all have one thing in common: they’re easy to pull off and the kids will absolutely love them. No leprechaun required (though we do have an activity for that).
1. Rainbow Treasure Hunt
This isn’t your basic Easter egg hunt. This is a rainbow treasure hunt, and it’s the perfect way to burn off some of that endless kid energy.
How to Set It Up
You’ll need seven pieces of construction paper (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet). Hide them around the house or yard in order. Give the kids the first clue that leads to the red paper. On the back of the red paper is a clue to find the orange paper, and so on.
- At the final violet paper, leave a small pot of gold. Chocolate coins work perfectly here.
- I made the mistake of using real gold foil wrapped coins once. The dog thought they were for him. Spoiler: they were not. Stick with the chocolate kind. :/
Ever wonder why kids love this so much? It’s the combination of the physical movement and the mental puzzle. It keeps them engaged way longer than just handing them a treat.
2. DIY Leprechaun Traps
This is a St. Patrick’s Day rite of passage in our house. The premise is simple: leprechauns are tricky little guys, and you need to catch one to get his gold. The kids go absolutely bonkers for this.
Building the Perfect Trap
Gather your supplies. Think shoe boxes, popsicle sticks, green paint, glitter, and anything else you have in your recycling bin. The more ridiculous, the better.
- The Bait: Leprechauns love shiny things. Coins, glitter, or a “gold” watch work great.
- The Mechanism: A box propped up with a stick (think old-fashioned bird trap) is a classic for a reason.
- The Result: In the morning, the trap will be “sprung,” but the leprechaun escaped, leaving behind a small mess and some chocolate coins. He always leaves a note in our house, complaining about the trap design.
3. Shamrock Suncatchers
These are stupidly easy to make and look amazing hanging in the window. Plus, it’s a craft that works for toddlers and big kids alike, which is a win in my book.
What You Need
- Contact paper
- Green tissue paper, cut into small squares
- Black construction paper
- Scissors
Cut a shamrock shape out of the black construction paper to create a frame. Peel a sheet of contact paper and stick the frame onto the sticky side. Now, let the kids go to town sticking the green tissue paper squares all over the contact paper. Cover it with another sheet of contact paper, cut off the excess, and hang it up.
FYI, the stickiness of contact paper is directly proportional to how much pet hair is currently floating in your house. But that’s a problem for Future Me.
4. Green Food Mania
Let’s be honest, the easiest way to make the day feel festive is through food. And I’m not talking about a complicated, multi-layer cake. I’m talking about taking normal food and turning it green.
The Green Menu
- Green Pancakes: Just add food coloring to your regular batter. The kids will act like they’ve never seen a pancake before in their lives.
- Green Milk: A drop of green food coloring in a glass of milk. It’s a scientific marvel to a five-year-old.
- Leprechaun Limeade: Mix limeade, lemonade, and a splash of Sprite. Add a scoop of lime sherbet and watch it fizz.
5. Potato Stamping
This is one of those activities that feels a bit like magic. You cut a potato, dip it in paint, and suddenly you’re a printmaking factory. It’s messy, but it’s a good messy.
Making Your Stamp
Cut a potato in half. On the cut side, help your child carve a simple shape. A shamrock is the obvious choice, but a simple circle or X works too.
- Pat the potato dry with a paper towel. This stops the paint from getting too watery.
- Pour some green paint onto a paper plate.
- Let them stamp away on paper, fabric, or even an old t-shirt.
6. Read St. Patrick’s Day Books
I know, I know. Reading isn’t exactly a high-energy activity. But after a morning of running around hunting for treasure, sometimes you need to hit the brakes. There are some genuinely great picture books for this holiday.
Our Favorite Reads
- “There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Clover!” by Lucille Colandro. The kids love the absurdity.
- “How to Catch a Leprechaun” by Adam Wallace. This one pairs perfectly with the leprechaun trap activity.
- “The Night Before St. Patrick’s Day” by Natasha Wing. It builds the excitement just like the Christmas version does.
7. Handprint Leprechauns
This is more of a keepsake craft than a toy, and honestly, I’m a sucker for anything that captures how tiny their hands used to be.
Creating Your Little Guy
Paint your child’s entire hand with peach or white paint. Press it firmly onto a piece of paper. Once it dries, it’s time to decorate!
- The thumb becomes the face. Draw on eyes and a smile.
- The fingers become the leprechaun’s hat. Paint the fingers orange for a beard? Wait, that doesn’t work. Better to just draw a black hat with a gold buckle over the fingertips.
- Add a fluffy orange cotton ball beard around the thumb face.
IMO, these make the best gifts for grandparents. They act like they love them, anyway. 😀
8. Lucky Charm Bingo
If you have a box of Lucky Charms cereal lying around, you’re halfway to an afternoon of entertainment. This game is perfect for killing time on a rainy afternoon.
How to Play
Give each kid a small bowl of the cereal and have them sort the marshmallows by shape. Then, instead of calling out numbers, you call out the shapes.
- “Hearts!”
- “Clovers!”
- “Blue Moons!”
- “Unicorns!”
The first one to have all their marshmallows match the called shapes wins. The prize? They get to eat their bowl of cereal, obviously.
9. Melted Crayon Shamrocks
Do you have a pile of broken green crayons at the bottom of your craft bin? Me too. Don’t throw them away! This is the perfect way to upcycle them.
The Process
Peel the paper off all your green crayons (and maybe a yellow one for variety). Break them into small pieces and sort them by color shade into silicone molds shaped like shamrocks.
- Preheat your oven to 230°F (110°C).
- Place the molds on a baking sheet and bake for about 15-20 minutes, until the wax is completely melted.
- Let them cool completely (this takes a while) and then pop them out.
You now have new, multi-colored shamrock crayons. It’s like recycling, but artsier.
10. Dance a Jig
This requires zero prep. None. And it’s the perfect way to get the wiggles out. Put on some Irish folk music and just let loose.
Finding the Music
Head to Spotify or YouTube and search for a “Celtic Music for Kids” playlist. You’ll find plenty of options.
- Show them a quick video of Irish step dancing. They will try to imitate it. It will be hilarious.
- Have a family dance-off. The rules are simple: the last person dancing wins.
- Don’t worry about looking cool. The goal is to look ridiculous and laugh at each other.
11. Skittle Rainbow Science
This is technically a science experiment, but it feels like magic, and the end result is a pretty picture. Plus, you get to eat some of the Skittles.
The Experiment
Grab a white plate. Arrange Skittles in a rainbow pattern around the edge of the plate. Carefully pour warm water into the center of the plate until it just touches the candy.
- Watch as the color dissolves off the Skittles and runs toward the center, creating a gorgeous rainbow.
- The kids will stare at this in silence for a solid three minutes. That’s three minutes of pure, blissful quiet for you.
12. Sensory Bin with Green Rice
If you have a toddler, a sensory bin is a must. It keeps them occupied for ages. The trick is to dye the rice green first. It’s easier than you think.
Making the Bin
Put some dry white rice in a ziplock bag. Add a tablespoon of white vinegar and several squirts of green gel food coloring. Seal the bag and shake it until the color is even. Spread the rice on a baking sheet to dry overnight.
- Pour the green rice into a plastic bin.
- Add scoops, spoons, small plastic gold coins, and maybe a few plastic bugs.
- Let them scoop, pour, and dig to their heart’s content.
13. Make Irish Soda Bread
This is a baking activity that doesn’t require yeast or rising time. It’s basically a quick bread, which means it’s nearly impossible to mess up. Perfect for little helpers.
Keep It Simple
The traditional recipe is just flour, baking soda, salt, and buttermilk. But for the kids, I usually add a handful of raisins or currants.
- Let them do the mixing. It’s a great arm workout.
- Cut a deep cross in the top of the dough before baking. Legend says this is to let the fairies out. Or to help it bake. Either way, it’s a fun step.
- Serve it warm with butter. It’s simple, but it tastes like you actually tried.
14. Recycled Jar Leprechaun
Don’t throw away that pasta sauce jar. Wash it out, because it’s about to become a cute little leprechaun friend. This is a great way to teach kids about recycling while also making a cute decoration.
Crafting the Face
Paint the jar with green acrylic paint. You might need two coats. Once it’s dry, it’s time to accessorize.
- Use a black marker to draw on a belt with a gold buckle.
- Glue on googly eyes.
- Use orange yarn or construction paper to make a beard.
- For the hat, you can use a small paper cup painted black, or craft one out of construction paper.
15. Go on a Nature Walk
If the weather is nice, just go outside. Seriously. St. Patrick’s Day is in March, and sometimes you get those perfect, sunny, almost-spring days. You have to take advantage of them.
Look for Green
Turn it into a mission. Give the kids a list of green things to find.
- Find a four-leaf clover (good luck with that).
- Spot something green that is alive.
- Find something green that is not a plant.
- Collect a small bouquet of “shamrocks” (which are really just clover leaves).
It gets them outside, it’s free, and they’ll sleep better that night. It’s a win for everyone.
So there you have it. Fifteen ways to make St. Patrick’s Day feel special without turning your house into a chaotic, glitter-covered disaster zone (okay, maybe a little glitter). Pick one or two, or try to cram them all into one day if you’re feeling ambitious.
The main goal is to have fun and maybe create a few memories that don’t involve crying over a broken toy. Good luck, and may the luck of the Irish be with you—especially if you attempt the leprechaun trap. You’re gonna need it. 🙂
