St. Patrick's Day - How to Trap a Leprechaun

by Lauri Griffin | More from this Blogger

02 Mar 2007 06:49 PM

St. Patrick's Day is coming! That means two things - that leprechauns will soon be on the loose - and that my boys will be busy designing traps to catch them.

Did you know that if you build a trap for a leprechaun that sometimes they will leave prizes behind, even if you don't catch them? Years ago, my oldest son learned about this in preschool and came home determined to catch a leprechaun. Their trap hadn't worked at school, but the leprechaun did leave behind some gold wrapped chocolates. My son spent hours building the trap. He was delighted to find some coins and sparkling rocks in it a few hours later.

That started a family tradition. I love to see what the kids come up with every year. It's a great exercise in simple machines and physics as they try to outsmart those leprechauns by getting pulleys to work, cups and baskets to drop, and dominoes to fall. They sort through the project box and break out all their building toys, the legos, the K'nex, and even the tinker toys. Every year the traps get a little more complicated. To entice the leprechauns to visit, they bait their traps with sparkling gemstones, a shining coin or two, and anything green or clover-leafed.

The leprechauns don't leave much, just a few things. Sometimes they leave chocolate coins, or gold wrapped rolos, green jelly beans, or green and yellow (gold) gumdrops. One year the leprechaun left tiny shamrock and rainbow stickers. One year the prize was small green leprechaun hats that the teddy bears got to wear. Another year it was shiny quarters sprinkled with green glitter. Once it was multi-colored glass "gemstones".

The boys really do have a great time building their elaborate traps. And they are always excited to find the small prizes. But they haven't caught a leprechaun yet.

More St. Patrick's Fun:

The Importance of Family Traditions

St. Patrick's Day Family Fun

Learn more about Lauri Griffin

Lauri lives in Colorado with her husband and three sons. Amidst all the laundry and packing of lunches, she tries to keep parenting fun.

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Heather Long (16954) 02 Mar 2007 07:36 PM

This sounds like a neat idea! I may have to see what my husband can come up with for our daughter and what she might come up with -- I have to admit, I'm not that good at the mechanical tricks.

Lauri Griffin (2703) 03 Mar 2007 08:15 AM

The trap doesn't have to be complicated. I think the first one was an upside down basket, propped open with a couple of blocks. I hope she has fun building one, and maybe gets a surprise or two.

manzanillaross (5) 12 Mar 2007 10:21 PM

Don't forget the "revenge" the leprechauns will want to exact upon your household once they've escaped your intricate traps! We've found our milk and toilet water tinted green. Things are often turned upside down and even our kitchen chairs were once neatly stacked ATOP our table! Last year the beloved family cat was discovered with glittery green "fingerprints" on her head and ears. The anticipation and discussion leading up to this holiday event each year are moments with my children that neither they nor I will ever forget.

Lauri Griffin (2703) 14 Mar 2007 03:33 PM

Oh what fun! I bet our leprechauns pull something like that this year!