Lucky Charm St. Patrick’s Day Scavenger Hunt
One thing we love about holidays is that they offer us the chance to learn and teach about topics and events in history that would normally never come up around the dinner table. Even better, our kids are so excited about the upcoming festivities for each holiday, they seem to be extra inquisitive and excited to learn as well.
This scavenger hunt is a nice little nudge and reminder to stay active throughout the day – one of our favorite parts of the Together CountsTM program, and also take breaks doing things that matter together. At times our days can be such a whirlwind that before we know it we’ve had the TV on all morning, and having a planned activity to jolt us out of that is sometimes needed.
So here’s what you’ll do:
Cut out your favorite charms – four leaf clover, wishbone, star, lucky penny, ladybug – out of craft foam. It’s a little sturdier than cardstock so excited hands won’t rip or damage them as you play. Then, hide them around the house while the kids are pre-occupied and then go about your day as normal. Your kids can stumble upon these charms, or find them excitedly one after the other, but they’ll soon realize that each charm comes with a price.
With each one, you’ll find a little bit of history behind each charm, a physical activity to do together, as well as a way to connect throughout the day. Print the accompanying scavenger instructions and enjoy!
Four Leaf Clover:
Why it’s lucky: Every 1 in 10,000 clovers has four leaves, versus the common three.
When you find this clover, do 20 jumping jacks, and then read a favorite book together.
Lucky Penny:
Why it’s lucky: Metal, specifically copper is a long-standing ancient tradition of the gift of luck. Finding a penny face up on the road is a cultural representation of luck. “Find a penny, pick it up, and all day you’ll have good luck.
When you find this penny, stretch out your arms by pulling each arm across your chest to the opposite side, and stretch your legs by bending at the waist and touching your toes for 20 seconds each.
Wishbone:
Why it’s lucky: Chickens were considered sources of prophecy and information in ancient times. The Romans started cracking this clavicle piece as a way to promote good fortune. Each person holds a side, pulls it apart and whoever gets the bigger piece gets their wish.
When you find this wishbone write and deliver a thank you note to someone who has been especially nice to you this week.
Lucky Star:
Why it’s lucky: Wishing on shooting stars is a long time tradition started from the Greeks. They believed the gods sent shooting stars as a way to warn of good or bad things coming.
When you find this wishbone have a dance party in your kitchen, waving your lucky star in the air.
Horseshoe:
Why it’s lucky: This is arguably the most Irish of all the lucky charms. Ancient Irish story-telling included stories of leprechauns that would cause mischief. People believed these elves feared metal weapons, so to ward off their trickery, they would hang a metal horseshoe over their doorway to ward them off.
When you find this horseshoe hop on one foot for ten seconds then switch and repeat on the other foot.
Ladybugs:
Why it’s lucky: Ladybugs became lucky for farmers when they realized that they would eat as many as 5000 aphids in their lifetime. Aphids are pests to farmers because they eat and destroy crops. Having these beetles around was comforting to them, so the saying that squashing a ladybug brings bad luck was born.
Other lucky charms you could include:
Dandelions, pot of gold, rainbow, or the number 7.
Small Fry Blog is a children’s lifestyle blog that highlights the food, adventures, parties, make it yourself fun you can do with your kiddos! Nicole, Emily and Jenna make the daily decision to look past the things they did not check off the list, but focus on the simple things they can do to illuminate their lives.