Irish or not, who can resist the fun that is St. Patrick’s Day? Between festive wear, shamrock crafts and kid-friendly reads there’s plenty of ways to spread green cheer with your little leprechaun.

Green Gear

No St. Patrick’s Day is complete without some green in your wardrobe – and this especially applies to kids. First stop for affordable holiday tees: Old Navy.  I love the Daddy’s Pot Of Gold shirt for the wee lasses (it shimmers… everyone say “ooooh”) and the Mom’s Good Luck Charm is perfect for every little one. At $7.50 a pop (plus 5% cash back from ShopAtHome) you can feel okay making this purchase even if your little one only wears it once or twice. If you insist on being more practical, a classic green polo or striped tee is perfect for the holiday.

Get Crafty

Anyone who knows me will agree that I am a bit challenged in the craftiness department. I just don’t have that gene. But, with a little inspiration even I can engage the kids in a little arts and crafts project.

Here’s an easy one that you can do with little to no skill and very few supplies: cut a piece of green construction paper into the shape of a shamrock. (If you’re as lame as I am, you can even print out a shamrock shape to use as a guide.) Have your toddler find green items from magazines and catalogs – he’ll love ripping the magazine up and you’ll love that this doesn’t require having actual craft supplies on hand – and then glue them onto the shamrock. I freely admit, this will not wow the neighbor when it’s hanging on your fridge, but it will cost next to nothing and is fun. And, of course, if you have actual crafty things, have your toddler decorate his shamrock with green glitter, felt, tissue paper or pipe cleaners. You can even raid your kitchen for green goodies like Fruit Loops.

Speaking of the kitchen, I prefer to eat my way through holidays so another great way to get your kids involved in St. Patrick’s Day is baking and decorating cookies. Grab an affordable shamrock cookie cutter, green food coloring, icing and sprinkles and you have an afternoon of messy fun with your kids. And, of course, all the fun that comes with eating your creations.

There are lots of amazing resources for crafts with kids online so my lame festive ideas are just a jumping off point.

Books o’ Fun

If your child is old enough to wonder why you’re suddenly celebrating all things green, there are a couple fun children’s books to consider adding to your library. And, as you know, the great thing about books is they’re relevant and fun to read year-round and regardless of the proximity to a holiday. The Luckiest St. Patrick’s Day Ever tells the tale of the Leprechaun family celebrating St. Patrick’s Day with a parade. The rhyming story and bright illustrations will delight preschoolers and young grade schoolers, in particular. Interactive, lift the flap books are always a hit, and Hooray For St. Patrick’s Day is no exception as your child searches for the hidden leprechauns.

I hope these ideas put a little spring in your step and get you in the St. Patty’s Day mood!