Shiver me timbers! What ho mate!? Did ye hear the news? You Scally Wag. September 19th is Talk Like a Pirate Day!
I have teamed up with Pirate’s Booty, the gluten-free baked rice and corn puff snack, to set sail on a day filled with adventure with your little buccaneers.
My boys love Pirate’s Booty. I love it too! When we are out shopping they are always wanting to add it to our cart. As a mom, I love that it is baked, not fried and does not contain any artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. It also has 0 grams of trans-fat per serving and is certified gluten free.
Earlier this week, I was able to briefly speak with Billy Bones (David Engel), the head pirate at My Pirate School. I was so excited to speak with a professional pirate that I was nervous and I only wished that my boys could have been listening in on the phone too! During our phone conversation, I was able to ask him some important talk like a pirate questions to prepare you (and me) for this super fun day!
During Pirate School! the bumbling professor Billy Bones teaches youngsters how to be good pirates with zany lessons on how to stand, talk, sing and laugh like Buccaneers; cannons boom, skulls talk, cutlasses drop and pets run amok. It is loads of pirate-y fun!
For Talk Like a Pirate Day, what are the key pirate phrases and lingo for children to learn and use on Sept. 19th?
Engel- The classic ones are, Shiver me timbers! and A-hoy Mate!
If you are wanting advanced pirate talk on Talk Like a Pirate day, you start with an exclamation like, ‘Eh gad or A-hoy’. You always change I=me. You always end with a slur like “Scurvy dog, Chum Bucket, Scaly Wag”
“What ho mate! Me is hungry. Pass me a bowl of pirate’s booty, you scally wag! Cheerio!”
Why do you feel it is important for children to learn how to be good pirates?
Engel – The most important thing is that we are all in this crew together, and life is a long ocean voyage. We as pirates are from all walks of life. We are all different and it is important to learn how to work together as a team. It’s important that curiosity and teamwork are the real treasures in life. It’s the golden rule in plundering.
What is Billy Bones’ advice on staying healthy?
Engel – The best way for me mini buccaneers to stay healthy is to eat their fruit and veggies, get outside and get active with dramatic play or games.
I’ve compiled some activities and crafts that you can do with your little Pirate’s to make it the best Talk Like a Pirate Day ever!
Pirate Games
Obstacle Course: A classic backyard game! Get creative ye piratical parents and set out an active quest for your little buccaneers. They’ll not only get their bodies moving and roar with team spirit, but will work up an appetite fit for a whale! Good thing you have Pirate’s Booty snacks awaitn’!
Split yer crew into two teams or have one single riotous rabble, sit ‘em in a line and have them race thru the course one at a time. Simple stations spread out in a circle route will do nicely: Hop over a pool noodle, shimmy under a blanket held by two adults, crawl under a chair, walk the plank and race back to the finish line! Then conduct a contest about how much Pirate’s Booty Aged White Cheddarpuffs a buccaneer can carry in two hands.
Sea Sick Spin: Object of game is a race against time and dizziness. Two teams line up in parallel lines and sit at a start/finish line. Twenty or so paces distant are two items (examples: a whiffle bat, an orange cone, cut down pool noodles, etc). Each runner will hold on to its top point with their hand, place their forehead down on the back of their hand and then spin around it, bent over at waist, three full times and attempt to run back to line. Dizziness or “Sea Sickness” makes for a challenging and hilarious game, where the runner must tap the hand of the next runner. All kids take turns until last participant makes it back to line, and that team wins! Hooray!
Pi-Pi-Pirate: A jaunty pirate version of “Duck, Duck, Goose!” Winner gets Pirate’s Booty.
If you are a crafty Pirate Mama, I have found some amazing craft ideas, recipes, and lots more games on pinterest.
14 Ideas that ‘Arr’ Fun for a Preschool Pirate Theme
30 + Pirate Activities: Games, Crafts, Food and Costumes
Pirate Freebies: Printables
25 Pirate Crafts Kids Can Make
Pirate Party Crafts and Activities
25 Pirate Books for your Little Matey
Crafts
Decorate a Treasure Box: Let your crafty nature get the best of ye! Provide washable markers, crayons, rhinestones, plastic jewels, feathers, marine life figurines, Pirate’s Booty etc., with school glue or paste. Give each little rogue a plain cardboard box or mini-paper treasure chest available online and step back to observe the magic! A great craft at the start of the “Best Pirate Party Ever!” and a smart solution to fill up with favors, coins, or other giveaways as a treasured take-home favor. Pun intended!
Image Source: iKatBag
Design your own Jolly Ranger or Treasure Map: If’n ye parental types prefer a more moderate sized craft. Professor Bones suggests havin’ the little guppies devise their very own Jolly Roger flag or personal Treasure Map. A pile of parchment paper and a tub of crayons will do to help your mini-miscreants dream up their own artwork, which’ll double as a take-home keepsake of the “Best Pirate Party Ever!” Historically, a pirate captain came up with a distinct, customized Jolly Roger so as to be recognized from afar. Kids can use symbols of their own strengths and interests: for example crossed bones, or crossed swords can become crossed ballet shoes, or crossed baseball bats, savvy?!
Photo Source: AMomstake
Pirate Lingo
I think this is probably one of the most important key elements of Talk Like a Pirate Day. Are you a land lubber and wish you knew more pirate lingo? Check out arrr pirate glossary and share yarr pirate speak with ye mates!
| Ahoy! = Hello! | Lad/Lass = A younger person |
| Avast! = Stop and give attention | Land Lubber = A land lover; someone who does not go to sea |
| Ayo, ayo = Yes, sir! | Seadog = Old pirate or sailor |
| Blimey! = Exclamation of surprise | Shiver me timbers = an expression used to show shock or disbelief |
| Booty = Treasure | Tharr she blows! = An expression used when a whale is spotted from the ship |
| Buccaneer = A name for a pirate | Yo Ho Ho = Cheerful |
| Swashbucklin’ = Adventurous fun |
I hope you and your little Buccaneer’s participate, enjoy and have fun with Talk Like a Pirate Day! Remember it is tomorrow, Saturday September 19th!
Thank you to Pirate’s Booty for sponsoring this super fun conversation.
What a fun idea! My girls would love to decorate those treasure boxes!!
What a fun idea! Pretty sure my nephews are doing something on tomorrow . They actually introduced me to Pirate’s Booty! Love those snacks! It will be a fun day!
Oh, my boys used to love Pirate’s Booty when they were little. We ate the green version–?spinach booty? because my oldest was allergic to dairy, so the cheese flavor was out. Arrrrrr we there yet?
It cracks me up that Talk Like A Pirate Day is a thing.
i love your crafty ideas. I used to love making treasure maps as a little girl. The treasure chests are really nice, I think I might try making them when my niece and nephew come to visit.
lol this is so cute! I am so bad at anything involving being dizzy omg. A few weeks ago my friend had a “beer olympics” and one of them was dizzy bat, then running to the other side of the yard. Needless to say my team came in last because of how slow I was spinning lol. All of these activities look like so much fun for children!