Playsational

My girls love wearing headbands. They have all sorts of them, including ones that look like bunny ears for Easter and reindeer antlers for Christmas. So of course we had to make Irish shamrock headbands for St. Patrick’s Day!

What You Need to Make Irish Shamrock Headbands:

• Green pipe cleaners
• Green card stock
• Green construction paper
• Pencil
• Scissors
• Stapler
• Tape
• Stickers, markers, glitter glue (optional)

How to Make Irish Shamrock Headbands:

1. Cut strips of green card stock about 2-3 inches wide and as long as the piece of card stock.

2. Staple two strips of green card stock together.

3. Wrap these strips of card stock around your child’s head to measure how big the headband needs to be and then staple the strips together where needed to create a good fit.

4. Cut out two shamrocks for each headband from the green construction paper. You can trace this Irish shamrock to get the size of shamrock we used.

5. Take two pipe cleaners and coil each around a pencil, leaving a couple inches straight at the end.

6. Tape one Irish shamrock to the end of one pipe cleaner and then repeat with the other shamrock and pipe cleaner.

7. Tape the two pipe cleaners topped with Irish shamrocks to either side of the headband.

8. To make this Irish shamrock headband extra festive, kids can decorate it with stickers, markers or glitter glue.

For more shamrock crafts, check out painting Irish shamrocks with green peppers and how to make an Irish shamrock wreath.

In addition to doing easy crafts for kids and making treats to celebrate the different holidays, I also like to read stories with my kids about each holiday. This not only promotes a love of reading, but gives us time to cuddle on the couch. Since St. Patrick’s Day is the next holiday coming up, here a some stories about Irish leprechauns!

Stories About Irish Leprechauns:

St. Patrick’s Day Countdown

A Leprechaun’s St. Patrick’s Day

That’s What Leprechauns Do

Jack and the Leprechaun

The Leprechaun’s Gold

You don’t have to be Irish to enjoy reading stories about Irish leprechauns!

For more fun activities to do with kids, check out these other St. Patrick’s Day crafts!

I’m always on the lookout for simple, fun seasonal kids’ activities. So I was thrilled when my girls brought home this snowman craft from their Girl Scouts meeting. This winter craft is not only easy, but made from things you probably have around the house already since we all have socks!

Here’s What You Need to Make a Sock Snowman:

• White sock (preferably clean!)
• 2 cups of rice (uncooked )
• 2 rubber bands
• Small pom poms
• 10 ” yarn (any color)
• Markers
• Googly eyes
• Glue

Here’s How to Make a Sock Snowman:

1. Pour one cup of rice into the sock.

2. Tightly wrap rubber band around the middle of the sock to create the base of the snowman and keep the rice from falling out.

3. Pour another cup of rice into the sock to create the head. No middle on this snowman!

4. Tightly wrap the other rubber band around the top of the sock to create the snowman’s head.

5. Roll the edge of the sock down to create a hat for the snowman and cover the rubber band.

6. Glue on small pom poms to the snowman’s head to create the nose and mouth and use googly eyes to make the eyes.

7. Tie the yarn around the snowman’s neck for his scarf.

8. Use markers or pom poms to add buttons down the snowman’s middle.

This sock snowman is quick, easy and great for one kid or a group of kids to do. Even lots of Girl Scouts!

I can still remember the Jello jingle from the eighties.

Watch it wiggle . . . see it jiggle . . . Jello brand gelatin . . . Of all desserts you’ll love the one that tastes so light and makes such fun!

I just wish I could remember more substantive things from back then! But remembering how fun Jello is for kids is why I decided to make Jello Valentine hearts for my girls.

They turned out great and my girls loved them!

What You Need to Make Jello Valentine Hearts:

• Red Jello
• Shallow rectangular pan
  
• Heart-shaped cookie cutter
  
• Butter knife

How to Make Jello Valentine Hearts:

1. Make the red Jello according to the instructions and pour it into a shallow rectangular pan to set.

2. Press a small heart-shaped cookie cutter into the Jello.

3. Before lifting the heart-shaped cookie cutter out of the shallow pan, slide the butter knife under the cookie cutter to prevent the Jello Valentine hearts from slipping out when you transfer them to a plate.

These Jello Valentine hearts are simple, festive and . . . taste so light and make such fun! I couldn’t help myself.

If you liked this idea, check out Jello Easter Bunnies and other kid friendly recipes!

If you haven’t bought valentines yet, and you don’t have time to make valentines, don’t panic! There’s an easy way you can get valentines for your kids in time for their classroom parties . . . use printable valentines! There are a lot of different printable valentines to choose from so you’re bound to find some that your kids will like.

Printable Valentines:

Hopping Frog (shown above)

Chillin’ Penguin (shown above)

“Be Mine” Heart

Turtle

“Happy Valentine’s Day” with Hearts

So instead of running out to the store to buy valentines at the last minute, go to your computer and choose some free printable valentines!