With the fall season in full swing, it’s time to plan a family pumpkin decorating night, if you haven’t already. Carving pumpkins is a seasonal activity that’s perfect for showcasing your creative (and artistic) abilities, but it can be challenging for younger kids. Not to mention it can be stressful for parents who are trying to supervise children using sharp objects.
If you have young children, you may choose to skip pumpkin carving this year; but that doesn’t mean you have to skip decorating pumpkins altogether! There are many alternatives to carving pumpkins that are perfect for little ones.
Finger Painting
If you’re willing to get messy, this is a sure winner. Get out the finger paints, cover the kitchen table with newspaper, or go outside with this craft. Let your kids use their fingers to paint their pumpkins.
Sharpies
Looking for a little less mess during your pumpkin night? Use Sharpies or markers instead of paint. Kids can draw faces on the pumpkins, or they can draw whatever they’d like!
Stickers
If you have really little ones who haven’t mastered holding paint brushes or markers, try stickers instead. Pick up some Halloween-themed stickers or stickers with your kid’s favorite character/movie, and let your kid go sticker crazy! This is the perfect no-mess alternative to carving pumpkins, and it doesn’t require long attention spans for little ones.
Other Ideas
Keep pumpkin decorating interesting by picking out non-traditional pumpkins. Use mini pumpkins, white pumpkins, or even different types of squash (spaghetti, acorn, etc.) instead! Decorate with glitter, sequins, glow-in-the-dark paint, pom-poms, dry noodles, or anything else you can think of. The pumpkin possibilities are endless!