9 leprechaun trap ideas for a magical St. Patrick's Day
Make the holiday special with these festive toys and treats
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Tara Jacoby / Reviewed
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St. Patrick’s Day is just around the corner and if your kids are anything like mine, they’ve been building their leprechaun traps for weeks. Fueled by the hope that their DIY leprechaun traps will catch a sprite who will in turn lead them to his riches, the traps often include trap doors, false floors, and of course, bait.
A great STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math) activity craft for kids, leprechaun traps are a fun way to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.
Why build a leprechaun trap?
If you catch a leprechaun they'll grant you three wishes to escape.
Beyond being a fun family tradition, the idea behind leprechaun traps is steeped in Irish folklore.
According to legend, leprechauns are a type of mischievous fairy that finds and hoards gold that they stow away in pots. When a rainbow emerges it leads the way to their hidden stash. If you manage to catch a leprechaun they will grant you three wishes in order to secure their escape.
Leprechaun trap ideas
Here are nine leprechaun trap ideas to ensure that your child catches all the fun that St. Patrick’s Day has to offer.
1. A kit to help build their leprechaun trap
A magical trap fit for the most clever leprechauns.
Give your kids everything they need to build their leprechaun trap without having to run around to six different craft stores. This leprechaun-catching kit includes everything you need to craft a real, working trap including laser-cut wooden pieces, paints, and leprechaun bait!
It arrives all ready to assemble right at your door for a fun family craft. $46 at Etsy
2. A book on how to catch a leprechaun
Adam Wallace's How to Catch a Leprechaun will get your child's imagination stirring.
We are setting up these traps, but how do we catch a leprechaun? Luckily, there's a book on it.
A leprechaun’s night comes to life in the book How To Catch A Leprechaun and brings with it your child’s imagination. Written from the perspective of a leprechaun on the night before St. Patrick’s Day, kids will love being taunted, teased, and left giggling while he takes them on his mission of sneaking into houses, escaping traps, and leaving silly scenarios in his wake.
Available in hardcover, paperback, and in a Kindle version, How To Catch A Leprechaun is 32 pages of perfectly blended STEAM concepts, silly rhymes, and vibrant illustrations that will leave kids with ideas on how to build their own trap and the understanding of just who they are up against.
3. A hat that was left in a frenzy
Look the part this St. Patrick's Day!
When you escape in a hurry, you’re bound to leave something behind, and unfortunately for this little leprechaun, he dropped his trademark hat.
This festive leprechaun hat has a satin exterior, an upturned brim, and features a shiny gold plastic buckle. It's just the right size to create the perfect illusion that a leprechaun was definitely here and obviously made a speedy exit!
4. Footprints that show a path of escape
Your kiddos will enjoy tracking down where these stick-able footprints lead.
He may have gotten out of the trap, but where did he go? Your little one will have a blast following his trail with these Leprechaun foot decals.
Easy to use with their peel-and-stick design, you get 108 2-by-4-inch footprints; which is more than enough to lead your child from the trap, to a window, door, or any other fun route a sneaky little leprechaun may have taken to get out of your home.
Designed to adhere and be easily removed from a variety of hard surfaces including cement, the trail doesn’t need to end once the leprechaun has escaped the threshold of your house.
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5. A leprechaun pot that says “almost!”
The perfect place to store your lucky treasures.
They set the trap, they left the bait, but what was left where a leprechaun should be? An empty green pot where the gold once was!
Every parent is going to need this classically designed leprechaun pot, because it’s so on point, that it’s absolutely believable.
This plastic pot can be left empty or filled with the silly surprise of your choosing, but either way it’s pretty clear evidence that darn it, a leprechaun managed to escape with his gold.
6. Coins that will have your kiddo wondering if they found a treasure or a trick
These plastic coins are shiny and eye-catching.
If a leprechaun has been here, it only makes sense that we would also find some free gold, right?
St. Patrick’s Day green and gold coins are a pretty neat find for any child trying to catch a leprechaun. The set of green and gold leprechaun coins includes 300 1.3-inch coins that display “Happy St. Patrick’s Day” and a shamrock symbol.
Are these actually the leprechaun’s gold or is he just playing a trick? Your child will have to decide for themselves what they believe, but there’s a very good chance that the leprechaun had a few of his own tricks up his sleeve when he left these plastic coins behind.
7. Festive accessories for all-day smiles
Dress like you're searching for your lucky charms with this St. Patrick's Day accessories kit.
If there’s one thing we know about leprechauns, it’s that they enjoy getting everyone in on the St. Patrick’s Day fun. Why else would they make it a point to visit so many houses? So it only makes sense that even though they got away, they made sure to leave something fun behind for everyone, which is exactly what you will get with this St. Patrick’s Day accessories set.
From a top hat, beard, suspenders, and bow tie that allow your child to dress up like a leprechaun, to silly shamrock glasses, fun shamrock tattoos, and shamrock necklaces that include everyone in on the festivities, this set includes 19 pieces of holiday fun.
8. A tasty treat for a happy defeat
A sweet treat fit for St. Patrick's Day!
Victory was so close that your kiddo could almost taste it, but at least the little green guy was nice enough to leave behind a tasty treat.
Made by the famous Popcorn Factory, a retro tin emblazoned with “Happy St. Patrick’s Day” combines a trifecta of butter, cheddar, and caramel popcorn that will have everyone feeling a little bit Irish on St. Patrick’s Day.
Since the tin contains a whopping 1.75 gallons of popcorn, there’s plenty for everyone to share.
9. A magical letter
Capture your child's imagination with this personalized letter kit.
While silly tricks and fun little prizes make for wonderful childhood memories, some kids just need a little something extra to make their eyes light up with belief, and that’s where the Personalized Leprechaun Letter steps in to really make St. Patrick’s Day shine.
This adorable little set comes in a small drawstring pouch and includes a catchy rhyming note that is rolled up and tied with a shamrock ribbon, praising your child for their efforts and signed by none other than the leprechaun himself.
Although the note is adorable, the real standout is a tiny glass bottle of pretend gold that looks very realistic with its cork stopper. This set is sure to make your child feel as if they have hit the jackpot this St. Patrick’s Day, whether their trap worked or not.
When is St. Patrick's Day?
St. Patrick's Day is filled with fun, family-friendly traditions.
While the day of the week changes from year to year, St. Patrick's Day always falls on March 17, and it's celebrated all across the globe.
This year St. Patrick's Day will fall on a Friday, which will allow your kiddos to enjoy the silly mischief left behind by the leprechauns right through the weekend.
What is St. Patrick's Day?
St. Patrick's Day has always been a cultural and religious feast day meant to observe the death of St. Patrick, who is credited with bringing Christianity to Ireland.
The holiday as we know it, with parades, parties, and whimsical traditions, emerged from Irish Americans in the 1800s. While the celebration of St. Patrick's day originated as an Irish holiday, many of the traditions we've come to know were born in America. The jubilant festivities we enjoy each year are actually more American than they are Irish!
