
10 Family Friendly St. Patrick’s Day Activities
St. Patrick’s Day is a day to celebrate the Irish. If your days of drinking green beer with friends on St. Patrick’s Day are over, and you are spending the day with the kids, there are a few activities that the whole family can enjoy.
Attend a St. Patrick’s Day Parade
St. Patrick’s Day parades are a great way to spend the day. Most big cities have an annual parade. A simple Google search will help you find the parade closest to you. The whole family can dress up in green, including green clothes, green wigs, and green shoes. You can even paint shamrocks and rainbows on your childrens’ faces. Depending on where you live, mid-March can be cold. Be sure to dress your children appropriately. You do not want to hear them whining about being cold the entire time.
Drink Root Beer Floats
Obviously, your children are too young for a glass of green beer. However, they are not too young for a root beer float. It is a treat that the kids will love. You should serve the floats in a clear beer stein, and make sure that the root beer is cold enough to prevent the ice cream from melting.
Make St. Patrick’s Day Crafts
There are plenty of St. Patrick’s Day crafts which your whole family can enjoy.
Cereal Rainbows: This is a great craft for children 4 years and up. All you need is green construction paper, a glue stick, and a box of Fruit Loops. Have the children create a rainbow, using the cereal. This activity should keep the kids busy for about 30 minutes.
Decorative Shamrocks: This is a great craft for children old enough to hold a crayon. You will need green construction paper, scissors, and markers or crayons. Cut a shamrock for each child, and have them decorate their shamrock however they like.
Prepare an Irish Dinner Together
Preparing an Irish dinner is a great way to spend time with the whole family. Corned beef and cabbage is a St. Patrick’s Day tradition, and there is something for everyone to do. When the kids help prepare the feast, it makes them feel proud when you all sit down and eat together.
Bake St. Patrick’s Day Treats
Every kid loves to eat sweet treats, and most kids love to prepare them. You can make green cookies, green cupcakes, or an entire green cake for the children to decorate. If you can find them, purchase leprechaun and shamrock cookie cutters, and make festive cookies for the kids to decorate.
Teach Your Children About St. Patrick
Teaching your children about St. Patrick is a great activity to add into your plans for the day. You can find information online, or books in the library, to read to your children. They may appreciate St. Patrick’s Day, more if they understand the story behind it.
Read Books Together
Snuggling up with the kids and a good book is a great way to spend the day. There are several St. Patrick’s Day stories available at your local library. A few examples of great books to read to your children include:
Tales From Old Ireland
Patrick, Patron Saint of Ierland
Finn McCool and the Great Fish
A Pot O’ Gold
Magic Tree House Fact Tracker #21: Leprechauns and Irish Folklore
The St. Patrick’s Day Shillelagh
Plant Shamrocks
Weather permitting, a great way to spend St. Patrick’s Day with the kids is to plant shamrocks. You can visit your local nursery to get everything you need. Caring for the plant will give your children a sense of responsibility. You can also buy a kit to plant them that comes with everything you need here
Have a Child-Friendly St. Patrick’s Day Party
Having a party is a great way to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with the kids. You can let your children help you decorate the house with St. Patrick’s Day decorations. Serve green pastries and green gingerale. Let the kids dress up in green clothes, wigs, and makeup. Your party should be a time to allow your children to have fun and let loose.
Have a St. Patrick’s Day Film Festival
Having a film festival is a great way to spend the day with the kids. You can snuggle up on the couch, enjoy your favorite green treats, and watch St. Patrick’s Day themed movies.
The Secret of Kells
Darby O’Gill and the Little People
The Magical Legend Of The Leprechauns
A Very Unlucky Leprechaun
Finian’s Rainbow
St. Patrick’s Day is not just a day for adults to drink all the green beer that they can hold down. There are several ways to enjoy this day with the kids, making it a magical day for the entire family.

