Living in New Orleans gives me the opportunity to attend many parades. Now that Mardi Gras is over, my favorite parade will be rolling out.
My family loves going to the St. Patrick’s Day parade. Filled with families wearing green, this is one parade that will send you home with goodies to eat! Besides beads, they throw cabbage, carrots, potato and vegetables wrapped in small sacks.
If you don’t have a parade where you live, you might want to do some fun St. Patrick’s Day crafts and activities with your kids. Here are some ideas to celebrate at home.
1. Search for Shamrocks
Go to a local park and find a clover patch. See if your kids can find a four leaf clover! As a full-time working mom of three, let me tell you, this activity can be very relaxing for mom. I might have to pull them apart every once in awhile but something about searching for a special four leaf clover has the kids thinking they’re on some kind of adventure. Fine with me! When you get home see if your kids can find a way to incorporate the shamrocks into their St. Patrick’s Day crafts.
Read Related: Celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day Latino Style!
2. Decorate a Shirt
You can find a plain shirt at a local craft store and decorate it together. I have found that sometimes homemade shirts end up being my kids’ favorites. Not only is it fun to make your own shirt, but even months later I’ll find that they remember when and why they made it. It becomes a part of the memories that they hold.
3. Make a Green Smoothie
Green smoothies are the perfect way to start any day. However the sound of spinach in a drink isn’t always so appetizing to my kids. I mix a few handfuls of spinach into a smoothie filled with lighter colored fruits such as apples, pineapples, grapes, and/or bananas. I then add some orange juice, green tea, or milk and blend. Your green smoothie will be delicious and healthy and I guarantee you that your kids won’t be able to taste the spinach!
4. Make Green Pepper Shamrock Stamps
Cut off the bottom of a green pepper. Then paint the bottom of the pepper and stamp it on paper. This is a fun and easy craft for kids of all ages! With three kids I try to find some activities and crafts they can all do together. Stamping is something even my 1-year old can have fun with.
5. Make a St. Patrick’s Day Bookmark
All you need are green paint chips (found at your local home improvement store), a circular hole punch and some ribbon. Have your kids decorate their paint chips with stamps, stickers and markers. Then use your circle hole punch on the top to make a hole for the ribbon. Tie your ribbon through the hole and you now have a wonderfully made bookmark!
