Mardi Gras Magic at Home: Fun & Easy Activities for Moms and Kids

2025/02/28

Mardi Gras Magic at Home: Fun & Easy Activities for Moms and Kids

Ah, Mardi Gras—where the colors are vibrant, the music is loud, and the kids are home from school (send help). While the parades and king cakes are iconic, keeping little ones entertained during the break can feel like an Olympic sport. But don’t worry, Mama—I’ve got you covered with some fun, easy-to-set-up Mardi Gras activities that bring the party home without the chaos.

These ideas are perfect for keeping the kids engaged, and maybe even sneaking in a little learning while they’re distracted by all the glitter (or not if that's not your style). Let’s get started!

1. DIY Mini King Cakes 

What’s Mardi Gras without king cake? Instead of tackling a full-blown bakery masterpiece (because, let’s be real, who has time for that?), grab a can of cinnamon rolls and let the kids make their own mini king cakes!

What You’ll Need:

  • A can of refrigerated cinnamon rolls
  • Purple, green, and gold sprinkles
  • Icing (usually comes with the cinnamon rolls—thank you, convenience!)
  • A tiny plastic baby (optional, but adds to the fun!)

How to Do It:

  1. Bake the cinnamon rolls according to the package instructions.
  2. Once they’re cool enough to touch, drizzle the icing on top.
  3. Let the kids go wild with the sprinkles—Mardi Gras colors symbolize justice (purple), faith (green), and power (gold). A little history and a sugar rush? Win-win.
  4. (Optional) Hide a small plastic baby under one of the rolls. Whoever finds it gets to be King or Queen of the Day!

💡 Bonus Learning Moment: Talk about patterns and sequencing by having your little ones sprinkle the colors in a specific order! You can even have them draw what they did on this sequencing worksheet!

2. Make Your Own Mardi Gras Float 

If you can’t take the kids to a parade, bring the parade to them! Have them create their very own Mardi Gras float using things you already have at home.

What You’ll Need:

  • A shoebox or any cardboard box
  • Construction paper, paint, markers
  • Stickers, glitter, feathers, beads (basically, any craft supplies that make it extra)
  • Small toys or figurines to ride on the float

How to Do It:

  1. Let your child decorate the box however they like—paint it, cover it in paper, bedazzle it with all the glue and glitter their little hearts desire.
  2. Add “riders” (small toys, action figures, or even paper cutouts).
  3. Line them up and have a mini parade around the house—bonus points if you play Mardi Gras Mambo and throw beads!

3. Paint & Decorate Mardi Gras Masks

Mardi Gras is all about the glitz and glam, and nothing says festive like a decorated mask!

What You’ll Need:

  • Cardstock printouts of mask shapes (grab a free one here)
  • Paint, markers, or crayons
  • Feathers, sequins, glitter (because Mardi Gras = extra everything)
  • Hole punch and string (so they can actually wear them!)

How to Do It:

  1. Cut out mask shapes from cardstock.
  2. Let the kids paint or color their masks however they want.
  3. Add all the fun embellishments—feathers, sequins, or even beads.
  4. Punch holes on the sides and tie a string or ribbon so they can wear them like real Mardi Gras pros.

🚨 Warning: This activity will involve glitter. Proceed with caution and a vacuum on standby.

4. Mardi Gras Sink or Float Experiment 

Sneaky science for the win! This simple experiment turns those parade trinkets into a fun STEM activity.

What You’ll Need:

  • A large bowl or container filled with water
  • Mardi Gras parade goodies (beads, stuffed animals, plastic coins, cups, balls, etc.)
  • A simple chart (paper and markers work just fine)

How to Do It:

  1. Gather a mix of Mardi Gras-themed objects.
  2. Have the kids predict which items will sink or float.
  3. Drop each item in the water and observe what happens.
  4. Talk about why some things sink and others float—hint: it’s all about density!

📚 Bonus Learning Moment: Turn it into a mini science lesson by discussing why beads sink but stuffed animals float!

5. Mardi Gras Sensory Bin 

For little ones who love to dig, pour, and explore, a sensory bin is the perfect hands-on activity to celebrate Mardi Gras!

What You’ll Need:

  • A large plastic bin or shallow container
  • Dry rice or pasta (dyed purple, green, and gold for extra fun!)
  • Mardi Gras beads, coins, small cups, scoops, or tongs
  • Plastic masks, mini king cake babies, or other themed trinkets
  • Measuring spoons or funnels for extra exploration

How to Do It:

  1. Color the rice or pasta: Dye it using vinegar and food coloring, then let it dry completely.
  2. Fill the bin: Pour in your base (rice or pasta), then add Mardi Gras goodies.
  3. Time to play! Let your child scoop, sort, and dig through the treasures.

💡 Bonus Learning Moment: Encourage color sorting, counting, and fine motor skill practice with tongs!

Laissez les Bons Temps Rouler… at Home!

Mardi Gras is all about celebration, and with these simple activities, you can bring the magic right into your home. Whether your kids are getting creative with crafts, making a mini king cake masterpiece, or conducting a science experiment with parade loot, they’ll be entertained (and maybe even learning a thing or two).

So, Mama, grab a coffee (or, let’s be honest, maybe your fave carnival drink), put on some music, and enjoy Mardi Gras at home!  💜💚💛