“So go and make followers of all people in the world. Baptize them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach them to obey everything that I have told you. You can be sure that I will be with you always. I will continue with you until the end of the world.“ – Matthew 28:19-20
St. Patrick’s Day is a special holiday for Christians, as it’s a celebration of Saint Patrick, a fifth-century Christian missionary in Ireland. As such, it’s a great opportunity for us to teach our kids about the history and traditions of this special day. While St. Patrick’s Day is often associated with green drinks/food, parades, and leprechauns, there are plenty of fun and creative ways to celebrate this holiday with Christian activities for kids!
1. Crafts for Kids
Shamrock-Shaped Cards: Trace a shamrock onto a piece of cardstock. Have your children choose their favorite Bible verses and write them on cards. Then, have them decorate the cards with a variety of green decorations such as shamrocks, glitter, or stickers.
St. Patrick’s Day Wreaths: You can make these out of paper plates. Start by cutting a large shamrock shape into the center of a paper plate and then decorating it with green and yellow construction paper. Cut out a circle from the center of the shamrock and then attach a green ribbon to the back of the plate. Hang the wreath on the wall or door as a festive decoration.
Colossians 3:23-24 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward.
2. St. Patrick’s Day Recipes for Children
Shamrock Shake: All you need is vanilla ice cream, milk, green food coloring, and some peppermint extract. In a blender, combine the ice cream, milk, and food coloring until it reaches the desired color. Add the peppermint extract and blend until combined. Serve with a few extra drops of food coloring on top for a festive look.
Leprechaun Hat Cookies: You’ll need sugar cookies, green icing, mini chocolate chips, and a cookie cutter in the shape of a hat (this is optional)! Bake the sugar cookies (after cutting them into the shape of hats) according to the package directions. Once cooled, spread on the green icing, and place the mini chocolate chips in the center to create the leprechaun’s hat.
Psalm 34:8 Oh, taste and see the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!
3. St. Patrick’s Day Games to Keep Kids Entertained
Bible Scavenger Hunt: This game is sure to bring the Bible to life! Give each child a Bible verse to read. Then, ask them to “hunt” around the house or yard for objects that represent the verse. There are endless possibilities here, so get creative! The child who finds the most objects wins.
Bible Verse Charades: This game is a fun way to learn Bible verses. Split the children into teams and have each team come up with a list of Bible verses. Then, have one person from each team act out the verse for the other team to guess. The team with the most correct guesses wins.
Rainbow Relay: Divide the kids into two teams and draw a rainbow on the ground with chalk (this is a great way to teach them about Noah’s Ark!). At one end of the rainbow, play two “pots of gold” filled with stuffed animals/toys. Each team lines up then each child takes turns running to the pot of gold, grabbing one animal/toy, and running back to the start. The first team to empty their pot of gold wins.
Bible Verse Scramble: This game is a fun way to test your child’s knowledge of the Bible. Split the children into two teams. Give each team a set of Bible verses and have them try to unscramble them as fast as possible. The first team to unscramble all their verses wins.
Zechariah 8:5 And the streets will be filled with boys and girls playing.
Other Ideas for Celebrating St. Patrick’s with Kids
Host a Green-Themed Tea Party: Tea parties are always a hit with kids, especially when you include colorful decorations and treats. To make it extra special, you can ask your kids to dress up in green clothes and enjoy some of the fun activities listed above.
Learn About Irish Traditions: St. Patrick’s Day is the perfect opportunity to introduce your kids to traditional Irish culture. Read stories about Irish folklore and explore traditional Irish music and dance. You can also teach your children about the Irish language and encourage them to learn a few words and phrases.
Make a Rainbow Craft: Rainbows are iconic symbols of St. Patrick’s Day (and, as said before, a perfect segway to teaching Noah’s Ark!). Have your kids make their own colorful rainbows using construction paper, crayons, and glue. You can also make a rainbow out of tissue paper or colored cupcake liners.
With a little imagination, you can come up with even more fun and creative projects to celebrate this special holiday. So get your Bibles, craft supplies, and cookies ready and start celebrating St. Patrick’s Day with your children!
