A co-worker asked if I was doing a leprechaun trap with my children. After I looked puzzled, she explained it to me. Create a trap for your leprechaun. He can be lured by rainbows, potatoes, shiny objects like coins and foil, and even Lucky Charms cereal. As your child tries to trap the leprechaun, the leprechaun leaves traces of his visit and also leaves treats behind for your child.

So, if you are missing your Elf on the Shelf nightly duties or just looking for something fun for St. Patrick’s Day, you may want to create a leprechaun trap.

There are many ideas out there, but here are a few of my favorites:

• Leprechaun hat trap made with an oatmeal container and twigs
• A leprechaun trap made with a shoebox, a paper rainbow, and pipe cleaners.
• 

  Leprechaun trap from www.theclassroomcreative.com

  A leprechaun trap made with a coffee can, coffee filters, and glitter.
• A leprechaun trap made with a wooden box, glitter, and gemstones.
• A trap made out of Legos, which means that the possibilities are endless!

You may also enjoy making a rainbow cake with green icing, reading “The Leprechaun Trap” by David and Kelly Clinch, or completing some of these Evan-Moor St. Patrick’s Day activities:

Leprechaun Shape Book (Grades K–2)

Catching a Leprechaun (Grades 3–4)

St. Patrick’s Day Activities (Grades 3–5)

St. Patrick’s Day Cards (All Grades)

Please share your leprechaun traps; we’d love to see them and hear your stories. Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

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Contributing Writer

Trisha Thomas is the mother of two and serves on the board of directors at a co-op preschool. She has also been a marketer of educational materials for grades PreK–8 for more than 15 years.