Spring is nearly here! For some of us, ok – many of us, we are eager to welcome warmer temperatures, budding plants, and saying goodbye to winter for another year. It’s perfect then that St. Patrick’s Day is coming so we can celebrate the green of spring! Here are a few ideas to get the party started.

Shamrock Treasure Hunt – This game can be played outdoors or in. It has the advantage of being adapted for multiple ages and can grow with the children. At its simplest version, it’s a matter of following the shamrocks to either a clue or another activity or a fun snack. You decide what suits your children. Cutting shamrocks from craft foam will allow you to keep the shamrock trail from year to year. If you use clues, great for preschoolers and older children, you can lead them locations or have them solve riddles ending up with a special activity or treat. As children get older they may enjoy creating the experience for younger siblings. Remember to include everyone babies, toddlers, preschoolers, and grade-schoolers. If you have preteens and teens at home, why not let them take charge of this activity for their younger siblings or other younger family members.

St. Patty’s Parade – If you have a parade in your area why not dress up and go to enjoy the full experience. If you don’t have a parade in your community create your own. Dress up in green, decorate the children’s bikes or wagons or sleds (if need be) and enjoy parading in your neighborhood. Better yet, encourage neighbors to join you for this special event. If the weather doesn’t permit an outdoor parade then put on some great Irish music and high-step it indoors. Add in musical instruments and create your own band.

Crafts and Creativity – There are so many craft options out there but here are a few that you might enjoy including Potato Prints, Shamrock Rubbings, and Hand-Made Four Leaf Clovers. Check them out at Family Education. Even things as simple as open process creativity with green slime, green paint, green paper tear art, and exploring all the colors of green crayons can be oh so satisfying! Don’t forget to check out the Shamrock Sensory Box idea in this blog for some tactile exploration.

Homemade Shamrock Shake – This lighter version of the well known “shamrock shake” allows you to control the ingredients. Using frozen vanilla yogurt rather than ice cream is a great place to start. You can also use a milk that is appropriate for your children which could be regular milk or alternatives such as almond or coconut. There are mint syrups available or mint extracts, but you can also use mint itself. Simply start with your frozen yogurt (or ice cream if you prefer), enough milk of your choice to loosen up the shake and a splash of mint flavoring. Bananas or other fruits can be excellent sweeteners if needed. Also, if you’d like it to be a bit more green there are food coloring options. Blend everything together and serve. This is a treat, so a small cup goes a long way. You could also add other ingredients to get a “shamrock shake” by making green smoothie version. It would be fun to see what the children thought would be great as ingredients for their special treat.

Whatever you do for St. Patrick’s Day enjoy this opportunity to spend creatively welcoming spring! Enjoy!