FAMILY FUN
6 Ways St. to Patrick’s Celebrate
Day with Kids
BY SARAH LYONS
E ach holiday brings with it the oppor-
tunity to participate in unique
celebrations with your kids, and St.

Patrick’s Day has no shortage of fun festiv-
ities. Whether you are lucky enough to be
Irish or just love celebrating the holiday, try
these fun and educational ideas to bring some
luck to your home..

trap). Make it educational by asking kids to
answer a question or riddle to figure out the
next clue, or leave an interesting fact about
Saint Patrick to teach them about the holiday.

Have your kids follow the clues through the
house to find a pot of gold coins at the end.

Make a rainbow
For breakfast, try some green eggs and ham
while reading the Dr. Seuss book to your kids,
or dye your pancakes green just for fun. For
lunch, try serving up a buffet of green foods—
broccoli, celery, salad, guacamole and grapes.

Wash it all down with some green juice. Who
knows? Maybe your child will try some new
foods while trying to get good luck on St.

Paddy’s Day.

St. Patrick’s Day wouldn’t be complete with-
out a rainbow. Have your kids use watercolors
or finger paint to create their own rainbow.

Vanilla pudding with food coloring makes for
a fun and edible finger paint. Put food color-
ing in cups of water and let kids experiment
by mixing them to see what colors they can
create. Using eye droppers and ice cubes trays
lets you sneak in a little fine motor practice,
too. Make sure to offer some Lucky Charms
cereal as a snack for a little inspiration.

Attend a parade
Explore the Irish culture
Eat all things green
Check your local listings for a St. Patrick’s
Day parade and attend as a family. The Alex-
andria St. Patrick’s Day Parade is the largest
one-day event in Old Town Alexandria, with
authentic pipe bands and performances by
Irish dance schools, community groups and
more. Beginning at 12:30 p.m. at 300 King
Street, festivities last until 3 p.m. Go green
by painting your face or picking up some silly
hats or headbands at the local dollar store.

See which family member can dress in the
most green for the event.

Set a leprechaun trap
The night of the 16th, have your kids set a
leprechaun trap using a box or laundry bas-
ket. Put gold coins inside to attract your
leprechaun, but remember, leprechauns are
very sneaky and do not like to be seen. In the
morning, your child may awake to see that the
leprechaun has taken their gold coins and left
them a small gift or treat.

Scavenger hunt
Create a scavenger hunt for your kids (or
let the leprechaun leave the first clue in the
10 Washington FAMILY
MARCH 2023
Learn about Irish culture by checking out
books or movies about Ireland and the his-
tory of St. Patrick’s Day from your local
library. Have the kids watch a video of an
Irish dance performance (YouTube is a great
place to find one) and try some of the dance
moves themselves. This activity will get the
whole family moving, and probably produce
some giggles, too. For the crafty family mem-
bers, try painting or drawing an Irish flag or
four-leaf clover. If you are lucky enough to
be Irish, make a family tree and discuss your
heritage. For dinner, try serving a traditional
Irish meal like corn beef and cabbage. If this
isn’t a family favorite, Reuben sandwiches
may be a good alternative.

There are so many ways to celebrate
St. Patrick’s Day that do not involve the ste-
reotypical party that comes to mind. Parents
can get creative with crafts and activities
that are family-friendly and sure to become a
well-loved tradition in years to come. 1
Sarah Lyons is a mom of six kids, including
7-year-old triplets. She enjoys reading, writing
and spending time outdoors with her family.

(Heather M. Ross contributed to this story.)
Connect Through
Local Libraries
The D.C. Public Library has a
wealth of titles to help you and your
children celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.

“Lucky Tucker” by Leslie McGuirk
(Best for ages 2-5)
Tucker, a terrier pup, is having
a horrible day, but a roll around a
patch of clover changes his luck.

A quick and fun story with simple
and charming illustrations.

“St. Patrick’s Day” by Anne F.

Rockwell (Best for ages 3-5)
A classroom celebrates St. Patrick’s
Day by wearing green, learning the
story of St Patrick, dancing, music,
and more. An Irish student shares
traditions from his family in Ireland.

“Fiona’s Luck” by Teresa Bateman,
illustrated by Kelly Murphy
(Best for ages 5-8)
“Luck’s all well and good, but
myself? I’d rather depend on my
wits.” A clever heroine restores
luck to Ireland by beating
leprechauns at their own tricks.

Beautiful, dream-like illustrations
accompany this original folktale
that embraces the message
of making your own luck.