St. Patrick’s Day Activities for Kids - post

St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated every year on March 17. Many people wear green, look for shamrocks, and enjoy fun stories about leprechauns. In child care, you can use this holiday as a simple theme for play, movement, and learning—without needing to focus on any one belief. #StPatricksDay #EarlyChildhoodEducation

What is St. Patrick’s Day?

St. Patrick’s Day began as a day to remember St. Patrick, who is connected to the history of Ireland. Today, many families celebrate it as a cultural holiday with:

• Green clothes and decorations

• Shamrocks and rainbows

• Parades and music

• Fun “luck” themes

For children, you can keep it simple: “Today we are learning about a holiday from Ireland, and we are doing green, rainbow, and shamrock activities.”

How do St. Patrick’s Day activities build skills?

Holiday activities can do more than look cute. They can help children practice important skills.

Gross motor skills (big body moves) help with:

• Balance, jumping, climbing, and coordination

• Strong muscles for running and playing

• Focus and self-control during active games

Fine motor skills (small hand moves) help with:

• Pencil grip and writing later on

• Cutting, pinching, and using tools

• Buttoning, zipping, and feeding skills

When children do themed play, they often stay engaged longer—because it feels special. #GrossMotorSkills #FineMotorSkills

What supplies do I need for easy St. Patrick’s Day activities?

You don’t need fancy materials. Try simple items you may already have:

• Green paper, markers, and crayons

• Pom-poms, buttons, or green beads

• Pipe cleaners and glue sticks

• Painter’s tape (for floors)

• Paper plates and cotton balls

• Sensory bin fillers (rice, oats, or water beads—only with safe supervision)

• Gold “coins” (plastic, paper circles, or bottle caps)

Tip: For younger children, choose large pieces that are not a choking hazard.

Which St. Patrick’s Day activities work for babies (birth to 12 months)?

Babies learn through safe sensory play and simple movement. Keep activities short and calm.

Fine motor + sensory ideas

• Green sensory scarf peekaboo: Use a soft green scarf. Hide a toy and let baby pull the scarf away.

• Shamrock texture board: Tape green fabric scraps (felt, ribbon, soft sponge) to cardboard. Baby touches and explores.

Gross motor ideas

• Rainbow reach: Place 2–3 bright toys slightly out of reach during tummy time. Encourage reaching and rolling.

• Green “crawl path”: Use painter’s tape to make a short path on the floor. Babies can crawl across it.

For more infant and toddler planning help, this course is a great fit:
https://www.childcareed.com/courses-baby-play-planning-infant-and-toddler-activities.html

What St. Patrick’s Day activities help toddlers (1–2 years)?

Toddlers love to move, carry, dump, and repeat. Give them safe choices and simple directions.

Gross motor ideas

• Leprechaun hop: Put green paper circles on the floor. Toddlers hop from one to the next.

• Rainbow march: Play music. March while holding ribbon streamers (or paper strips).

Fine motor ideas

• Coin drop: Cut a slot in a container lid. Toddlers drop “gold coins” in (large plastic caps or big cardboard circles).

• Shamrock sticker play: Give green stickers and a paper shamrock outline.

Talk while they play:

• “In, out!” “Hop, hop!” “Green circle!”
  This builds language, too.

What are fun St. Patrick’s Day activities for preschoolers (3–4 years)?

Preschoolers are ready for simple steps, art, and beginner games. This is a great age for both motor types in one activity.

Gross motor ideas

• Rainbow obstacle course: Crawl under a table, jump over a rope, balance on a taped line, then “find the gold.”

• Shamrock freeze dance: Dance to music. Freeze when you hold up a shamrock card.

Fine motor ideas

• Torn-paper shamrock collage: Tear green paper (great hand strength!) and glue onto a shamrock shape.

• Leprechaun beard lacing: Punch holes around a paper leprechaun face. Lace yarn through the holes.

Add easy learning:

• Count shamrocks

• Sort coins by size

• Name rainbow colors

What St. Patrick’s Day activities work for ages 5–8 (kindergarten to 2nd/3rd grade)?

Older children like challenges, team games, and creating their own ideas. You can add more problem-solving and planning.

Gross motor ideas

• Gold coin relay: Children carry coins on a spoon to a “pot.” Make it harder by adding obstacles.

• Rainbow tag (color call): Call a color. Children run to touch that color in the room, then freeze.

Fine motor + thinking ideas

• Build a leprechaun trap: Use boxes, tape, craft sticks, and string. Let kids design it and explain how it works.

• Shamrock symmetry drawing: Draw half a shamrock. Fold paper and trace to make a matching side.

• Coin rubbings: Place coins under paper and rub with crayons to make textures.

Try adding a writing prompt:

• “If I found a pot of gold, I would…”
  Keep it short and fun.

How can activities support each age in a simple way?

Here’s a quick guide you can share with families or staff:

• Babies: Safe sensory play + tummy time reaching (builds early strength and coordination)

• Toddlers: Carrying, hopping, dropping coins (builds balance, hand control, and focus)

• Preschoolers: Cutting, gluing, dancing, obstacle courses (builds school readiness skills)

• Ages 5–8: Games with rules, building projects, writing/drawing (builds teamwork and planning)

What if the weather is bad and we’re stuck inside?

St. Patrick’s Day is perfect for indoor movement. If you need fresh ideas for active play indoors, this course can help:
https://www.childcareed.com/courses-engaging-indoor-activities-for-inclement-weather-1.html

Indoor tip: Use painter’s tape to create:

• Lines to balance on

• Hop squares

• “Rainbow roads” to follow

Where can I find more St. Patrick’s Day activity ideas from ChildCareEd?

If you want a ready-made list, use this ChildCareEd resource:
https://www.childcareed.com/r-00772-st-patrick-s-day-activities.html

And here’s a related ChildCareEd article with fun ideas for kids, parents, and teachers:
https://www.childcareed.com/a/st-patrick-s-day-activities-for-kids-fun-educational-and-easy-ideas-for-parents-teachers.html

How do I keep St. Patrick’s Day activities respectful and inclusive?

It’s okay if not every family celebrates this day. You can keep the theme focused on learning and culture.

Try saying:

• “We are learning about a holiday from Ireland.”

• “We are doing rainbow and shamrock games today.”

Offer options:

• Let children choose green, gold, or rainbow colors

• Avoid scary tricks or “naughty leprechaun” messages that may worry some kids

• Keep activities flexible and fun for all learners

#InclusiveClassroom

Want more holiday activity ideas all year?

Follow ChildCareEd for quick activity tips, training reminders, and early childhood support.

👉 Follow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/childcareed