St. Patrick’s Day is just around the corner. Check out these great ideas for celebrating with your children.

Make some traditional Irish Soda Bread together.

4 cups all-purpose flour
4 tablespoons white sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup margarine, softened
1 cup buttermilk
1 egg
1/4 cup butter, melted
1/4 cup buttermilk

• Preheat oven to 350-degrees. Lightly grease baking sheet.
• In a large bowl, mix together flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt and margarine. Stir in 1 cup of buttermilk and egg. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead slightly. Form dough into a round and place on prepared baking sheet. In a small bowl, combine melted butter with 1/4 cup buttermilk; brush loaf with this mixture. Use a sharp knife to cut an ‘X’ into the top of the loaf.
• Bake in preheated oven for 45 to 50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean, about 30 to 50 minutes. Continue to brush the top with butter as it bakes.

Decorate your home together.

• Cut shamrocks out of green construction paper. Punch holes in the top of each one. String onto green yarn. Hang it over doorways, windows, mantels as St. Patrick’s Day garlands!
• Get window markers and paint shamrocks on your windows and glass door panels.
• Tie big green bows around the trees in your yard.

Read some great St. Patrick’s themed books together.

• St. Patrick’s Day Alphabet
• St. Patrick’s Day
• The Everything Irish History & Heritage Book: From Brian Boru and St. Patrick to Sinn Fein and the Troubles, All You Need to Know About the Emerald Isle (Everything Series)
• The Last Snake in Ireland: A Story About St. Patrick

Listen to some great Irish music together.

• Ireland’s Greatest Hits
• Ireland
• Irish Jigs And Reels

And don’t forget to wear GREEN.

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