Irish Fun for Families
St. Patrick’s Day is actually a feast day celebrating one of Ireland’s most prominent saints. People from most English-speaking nations (mainly in Ireland and the United States) celebrate this distinctly Irish holiday. But you don’t have to be of Irish descent, or even religious, to take part in a St. Paddy’s Day celebration, as this is a good time to have some quality family fun.
Tasty Food and Drinks
Green colored cakes, pies, and cookies are always a great option, but don’t be afraid to think outside the box! Try Irish soda bread or toffee shortbread, both of which are authentic Irish recipes. These recipes are fairly easy to make plus your kids will probably want to help you bake. You could plan an entire Irish themed meal for dinner or lunch. Think a corned beef pizza (which would be a child-friendly version of the classic corned beef and cabbage), coddle (made of potatoes, bacon, and sausage), and a key lime pie. Just add a tall glass of iced limeade or perhaps a green mint milkshake.
Fun Crafts
Since St Paddy’s Day falls on a Wednesday, give your kids something fun to come home to after school or the weekend before. Try having them make green shamrocks out of construction or stock paper. Another great idea is to purchase some blank wooden frames, non-toxic artist pants in various colors, including green, and some paint brushes so they can paint their own frames to keep and use.
Game Ideas
Try a fun Irish themed treasure hunt. Buy a large green box with a lid (or a large wooden box that you can decorate yourself), and store a few gifts inside. The gifts can be small, and don’t necessarily have to be Irish related. You can use toys, books, or candy. Hide it somewhere in the backyard. Write clues on green shamrock shaped Post-it style notes, and hide them in various parts of the backyard. Have the children look for the hidden treasure box and find the clues that will lead them to it. If you want, you can invite some neighborhood kids to join in and make a party of it. At the end of the party, you can serve them something special like a slice of Irish soda bread and a glass of limeade.
