I’m feeling SO darn lucky to have Aleisha from She Calls me Mama Leisha here with us today to share some of her St. Patrick’s Day Family Fun ideas!! She’s got a ton of fun ideas for you to share with your kids or grand kids- I’ll let her take it from here…
Here’s a “Mama Leisha Fun Fact” for all you boyos and colleens: I’m Irish!
Okay, okay! I’m not really
Irish. (And “boyos and colleens” is slang for “boys and girls” in Ireland!) I am married to an Irishman, though, which makes me Irish by marriage.
Come to think of it…that’s just a snappy way of saying I’m not Irish
at all! But my man is. Our clan is. I think that calls for reason to celebrate! Right?
Do you celebrate St. Patrick’s Day? Do you go all out and make corned beef and cabbage, and eat Irish soda bread? Or are you like my family, and have Lucky Charms for dinner on the 17th? What do you like to do?
Here are a few of the things we enjoy doing with our little “leprechauns.” (Most of our activities are based around children’s books!)
1.) We start off the month by reading a couple of books about St. Patrick’s Day. I love “St. Patrick’s Day,” by Gail Gibbons. It tells the story of St. Patrick’s life in a way that is appealing for young children. It’s easy to understand too. We also read, “Hooray for St. Patrick’s Day,” by Joan Holub. It’s a Lift-The-Flap-Book that explains all the different ways people celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. Afterwards, we decorate the house for the holiday and hang shamrocks on all the doors.
2.) We read the delightful book, “That’s What Leprechauns Do,” by Eve Bunting. I adore this leprechaun book! It’s a great way to introduce children to those happy, mischievous, mystical creatures.
My children know that the “reading of this book” signifies that a leprechaun is on his way to our house soon! Trace a baby shoe, or draw little feet on a piece of paper. I use clip-art to fill a sheet full of “leprechaun feet,” then make several copies on green paper. Cut out the feet. One night, while your children are sleeping, place the feet in a trail around your house. Because leprechauns are mischievous, turn over chairs or toss pillows off of couches–make it look like he was up to no good. When your kids wake up the next morning, they’ll flip! (Occasionally, our leprechaun will leave treats or prizes at the end of his trail!) Have yours visit regularly until St. Patrick’s Day!
3.) The last book we read together is the zany, “There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed A Clover,” by Lucille Colandro. For a book-related activity, we swallow our own clovers. Meaning, we make shamrock sugar cookies and decorate them!
Other activities: Cut shamrocks out of green card stock. Let your children decorate them with glitter, buttons, markers, pipe cleaner, etc. Or punch holes around the edges and have them “lace” the shamrocks with string. Also, check your craft stores or local wood-craft specialty stores for wooden shamrocks. Paint them with your kiddos!
On St. Patrick’s Day, wear green! Prepare a meal entirely of green food. Play some Celtic tunes. Buy chocolate gold coins and stash them around your house. (Or, if weather is permitting, hide them outside.) Have your children hunt for the leprechaun’s gold, comparable to an Easter egg hunt! (I found little green buckets at Joann–perfect for holding the gold coins during the hunt.) Whatever you do with your children, grandchildren, or nieces and nephews, “kick up your heels” and have fun! Make some memories with your loved ones. I know I will!
After all, I’m lucky to have them!
How fun! Thanks Aleisha for sharing all these wonderful ways to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day Family Fun style! I really am Irish and we love St. Patrick’s Day around our house too… once I found a four leaf clover with my oldest daughter AND she still has it! Luck of the Irish, I guess 😉
Look at these other awesome posts from She calls me Mama Leisha…
Thanks so much to Aleisha for sharing with us today!! I love this girl and her adorable blog… make sure to jump over and visit her 🙂
You can laugh, and learn, and cry along with her at www.callsmemamaleisha.com or connect with her on Facebook// Pinterest// Google+
Happy Friday!! yay!
Come back Saturday morning at 5am to party with me at Super Saturday Show & Tell!! I love to see all your latest and greatest projects 🙂
xoxo~ Ruthie
Related Posts
Leave a Reply