Lone Star Nannies St. Patrick’s Day Crafts
Lone Star Nannies St. Patrick’s Day Crafts
Happy St. Patrick’s Day from Lone Star Nannies! In the late 4th century, a teenage boy named Patrick was kidnapped from his home in modern day Great Britain and taken to Ireland as a slave. After his escape, he returned to Ireland to tell the country about Christianity. Today, Patrick is known as the patron saint of Ireland and March 17th still stands in his honor. Thanks to many Irish immigrants, St. Patrick’s Day has become a famous American holiday with 5K fun runs, shamrocks, parades, and wearing green…at least, if you don’t want to get pinched! There are so many legends surrounding St. Patrick and the activities we traditionally associate with his feast day, but for the sake of time, we’re going to devote this blog to one of the most engaging for kids - the legend of leprechauns!
What is a Leprechaun?
We all know that person who lights up when you give them a compliment! If your child can’t stop smiling when you give them praise or feedback, there’s a high probability that they crave words of affirmation. Kids who deeply desire validation and recognition often thrive on the power of words. Whether you’re a nanny who makes sure this child overhears you speaking highly of them to their parents or a mom who writes a poem for every child on their birthday, your words will be ingrained in their memory.
Dinner Question: If you caught a leprechaun, what would your three wishes be?
Hold that thought and keep reading for a few of our favorite trap ideas. With landscapes of Ireland playing in the background and a dinner of roast beef and cabbage…this may be the year you outwit a leprechaun!
Leprechaun Traps
One of our favorite compilations of leprechaun traps comes from Kiwi Co, a company that helps parents bring creative, hands-on projects to their front door through a monthly subscription. Their website is overflowing with incredible problem solving activities and ideas for families to encourage STEAM exploration at home. Check out the About page on their website to learn more about their founder (also a mom) and skim the blog for free resources. There’s a wealth of information worth checking out on their website for parents and nannies who want to encourage curiosity but don’t have the time to develop their own projects. The leprechaun trap ideas on their DIY List have everything from garden pots to hot air balloons! Check them out here.
If you don’t have time to gather extensive materials but have a shoebox and a backyard, this simple video from She Knows How To is a great way for kids to spend time outdoors on a Saturday afternoon. The video is less than seven minutes long and the process can be easily replicated for a wide range of ages. Send everyone to the backyard for grass and rocks instead of searching for store bought moss. Watch the instructional video here.
This leprechaun trap from Crafting a Fun Life requires a few more supplies, but can still be easily implemented with little preparation. The author recommends setting the trap out the night before St. Patrick’s Day, but creativity has no time frame! This is a great activity for a nanny to complete with kids after school.
For families with wide age ranges or interest levels, Today’s Creative Life has a list of 40 trap ideas that will motivate all the little innovators in your home! Some of our favorite ideas include repurposing a birdhouse, converting a bug catcher, and decorating a treasure chest. Looking at this blog may inspire kids to come up with their own ideas based on activities they love, such as baseball or playing with dolls. We’ve yet to see a dollhouse trap! Tag us on social media if your daughter wants to accept the challenge.
For fathers and sons who want to engage in a serious pulleys and levers operation, check out The Learning Hypothesis for a brief overview of simple machines.
Little Bins for Little Hands has a free leprechaun trap guide for junior engineers and includes additional trap challenges (such as building a maze or a ladder). Click here for a free design page and instructions for how to build a leprechaun trap using legos.
Maybe you’re a rookie to hunting for leprechauns and the best fit for you is Amazon Prime and an all-inclusive supply kit. If so, we’ve got you covered! There are lots of inexpensive kits available for purchase online, but be sure to check the reviews! This automated working trap from Vecacosic is currently on sale and has 3.6/5 stars. Check it out here. Etsy also has a wide range of printable leprechaun traps on sale, such as this instant download from Riverbridge Designs. For downloads less than $5, skim these options from Teachers Pay Teachers. This is a great resource for nannies who want to invest in last minute activities that can be saved and printed from home. Visit their website for more educational options.
With all the legends and mystery surrounding St. Patrick’s Day, trying to catch a leprechaun may just be the start to discovering more about Ireland and a man with an incredible story. If you’d like more information about the life of St. Patrick, visit Voice of the Martyrs.
…and if you’d like one more tip for your leprechaun hunt, take note of this final piece of Celtic legend. As a kid, you may have spent hours on the playground searching for four leafed clovers. During the Middle Ages, many people believed finding this natural charm gave you good luck and the ability to see fairies!
While we haven’t found any four leafed clovers this year, we always feel lucky to have great nannies and clients. We know you want the best care possible for your children, and with Lone Star Nannies, you don’t need a leprechaun to have that wish come true! Give us a call.
With care,
Lone Star Nannies