We all need a little fun in our lives, especially military families.  Every month, there is something to celebrate.  March…. St. Patrick’s Day, gold, green, and trying to catch a leprechaun.

So, every year, since my children were young, we have tried to catch the leprechauns that come into our house to steal all our gold and shiny things! 

About a week before St. Patrick’s Day, we gather all our recyclables, tape, rulers, shiny lures, string, anything that each kid believes will help to catch a leprechaun. I take the time to reinforce measuring skills while they build. 

We read leprechaun books to get ideas. We talk about what colors the leprechauns will be attracted to and discuss how levers and latches work.

 They take the week to put things together, decide where to place their trap, configure their lures and set everything up on the evening of March 16th.  

That night, I plan to put the kids to bed early, so I can help the leprechauns do their gold gathering.

I gather my tools: green food coloring, a pencil with an eraser, gold chocolate coins, shiny confetti, green cloth, and Lucky Charms.

I go to each trap, determine which house door is closest to it, dip the pencil eraser in the green food coloring and make a trail of Leprechaun steps all over their trap and out the closest door. 

I take a bit of green cloth and catch it on part of their trap and through the door jam. 

I sprinkle confetti all over the house. I place gold coins in their traps and throughout the house for the kids to find. 

On the morning of March 17th, the kids are up bright and early to see if they caught a leprechaun!

After the house is thoroughly searched, we celebrate with a bowl of Lucky Charms! I hope you catch your leprechaun this year! They are sneaky little devils!

Happy Saint Patrick’s Day and may the luck of the Irish be with you in 2024!

*For more posts from Laura, visit her M:M Author Page. 

*To learn more about Saint Patrick’s Day (to include military celebrations), check out Veteran.com