St. Patrick's Day O'FUN

Individually wrapped treats in the pot

Don't let this St. Patrick's Day go by without a hunt for the gold with your kids.  There are so many different ways you can do it and they are ALL fun!  Here are some ideas to put in your pot of gold.  I take my black cauldron from Halloween and fill it with bright yellow tissue paper.  Then I wrap up treats in yellow tissue paper and tie.  That way each child gets the same number of coins/treats.  Some treat ideas include plastic gold or green coins, small bottle of bubbles in colored containers, chocolate coins wrapped in gold foil, Hershey kisses or nuggets (most contain almonds so check for nut allergies), Reese's Rollo (chewy caramel inside), peanut butter cups.  Just check out the candy isle for other ideas.
*NO suckers or hard candy.  Children are excited and the last thing you want them to do it run around with hard candy - CHOKING HAZARD!

 

Leprechaun Disguise

1.  Follow the Green String:  Each child has their own string that they have to follow.  Along the way you can place coins on the string, wrap it around trees, under chairs, or over benches.  At the end will be the surprise.  If it is a larger group, you can do one string and all the kids follow.  This is good your younger kids.
2.  Have clues written on green shamrocks and the kids have to follow them to get to their pot of gold.
3.  The Letter Hunt:  perfect for ages 4-6 and they LOVE IT!   http://mrsodaniels.blogspot.com/2011/03/hunt-for-golden-letters-st-patricks-day.html

Easy Decorations:  Hang party streamers the color of the rainbow from your doorways.  The kids have to walk "through the rainbow"! (more ideas for using the streamers: http://www.blogger.com/posts.g?blogID=5912000420279799351&searchType=ALL&txtKeywords&label=St.+Patrick%27s+Day

Easy activity:  Rainbow Bracelets:  use pipe cleaners and kids string fruit loops on the pipe cleaner for make a bracelet.  Good thing to do until everyone is ready for the hunt.

Snacks:
Snap peas, green grapes, lucky charms/fruit loops, kiwi, cucumbers, rainbow sherbert or mint and chip ice cream.  Be sure to serve ice cream in "wee" sized bowls and "wee" spoons found at your local ice cream store (the ones used when you sample the flavors).  I have been looking for mini ice cream cones, but have not found any yet. 

Have Fun!