Pumpkin Fun For Little Ones!

Press release from the Cromaine District Library:

October 22, 2021

Pumpkin Fun for Little Ones!

Welcome to our very own Miss Bekah from the Youth Services Department for this special guest post on Cromaine's blog!

Fall just so happens to be my absolute favorite time of the year, and I would argue that October is the very best month of them all! The crisp air, the changing colors, and of course...PUMPKINS!! When I think of pumpkins, my mind doesn't go to pumpkin spice latte (like some of you basic boos). My mind thinks, “what kind of fun can preschoolers have with pumpkins?!" In honor of October being the tenth month, here are ten of my favorite pumpkin activities, in no particular order, that kids of all ages are sure to enjoy!

I. Pumpkin Goo Sensory Play

Gut a pumpkin, scoop out the goo, and plop it in a bowl with some spoons, scoops, and a potato masher-- and have a blast exploring the slimy, stringy, squishy textures. A less messy (but equally fun!) alternative is to separate out the seeds, wash them, and play with them wet. Have you ever played with wet pumpkin seeds? It’s an incredible sensory experience and when you are done you can roast the seeds for a snack.

If your child has sensory sensitivities or they just don’t like getting messy, you can put pumpkin goo into a quart or gallon Ziploc bag, let the air out, seal (consider adding tape for extra security), and let your little one squeeze, smoosh, and explore without getting their hands dirty.

2. Pumpkin Roll

I’m not talking about the dessert (although that would make a fun tie-in treat to the activity). For this activity you can take a pumpkin (I suggest the $1 pie pumpkins or the cute little mini pumpkins, but use whatever size you like) and roll it down a kiddy slide over and over again. If you don’t have a slide, put a flat piece of cardboard or a sled on the stairs to make a ramp and roll the pumpkin down that. This is one of those activities that is super simple to setup but it has the potential to keep your toddler entertained for a solid five minutes (and much longer if you are lucky)!

If you don’t want to use a real pumpkin, the Dollar Tree sells perfectly sized foam pumpkins that work great for this activity.

3. Melted Crayon Pumpkin Art

This is one of the messier activities on my list, but I couldn't leave it off because it’s so fun and beautiful! A white pumpkin, real or fake, is ideal, but the orange ones work great too. Tape or glue some unwrapped crayons to the top of your pumpkin, then use a blow dryer to melt the crayons and watch the wax drip all over the pumpkin. Don’t forget to protect your work surface and use adult supervision.

4. Hammer Time

Another activity that is super simple to set up, but tons of fun, is hammering golf tees into a scooped out pumpkin. I bought this pack of 100 Golf Tees from Amazon for $7, but I have also found them at second hand stores for much less. If your child has trouble getting the tees to break through the pumpkin, you can always prep the activity ahead of time by making the holes and then letting your child push the tees into the pumpkin.

5. Pumpkin Spice Playdough

Okay, so I guess I lied when I said I’m not on that pumpkin spice train. I don't drink it, I just play with it! If you want an activity that smells great and gets everyone in that fall spirit, I highly recommend you make yourself some pumpkin spice playdough. I like to use this Playdough Recipe and add pumpkin spice or cinnamon to the dry ingredients when I make it to take my playdough to the next level.

6. Pumpkin Wash Sensory Play

Have you ever noticed how small children will flock to a water table when given the chance? We recently purchased a water table for the Library and the Toddler Time crowd loved it! You don’t need a fancy water table for this activity. All you need is a pan, bucket, bowl, or container big enough to hold your pumpkin and some water, soap, and some sort of washing instruments (washcloth, toothbrush, bottle brush, etc.). And if your little one splashes enough, you’ve got bath night out of the way!

7. Glowing Ring Toss

This is a great nighttime outdoor party game for kids. Grab a pumpkin and a get a pack of glow necklaces (these can be found at the Dollar Tree) and encourage the kids to throw the glowing hoops onto the pumpkins. Simple, mess-free, and fun!

8. Mummy Pumpkin

If you are looking for a no-carve, less-mess method to decorate a pumpkin this year, check out this cute little creature! This was actually one of the crafts for Homeschool Book Club this month in honor of our “Spooky Stories” theme. All you need is a pumpkin (real or fake, of any size, I like to use the $1 pie pumpkins), gauze (or masking tape), googly eyes, and glue!

9. Erupting Pumpkin

For this activity you will need:

• A pumpkin (hollowed out)
• Vinegar (this is your acid)
• Baking soda (this is your base)
• Dish soap (optional for extra foaming action)
• Warm water
• A tray, pan, or something to catch the mess

Fill your pumpkin most of the way with warm water. Add 4-5 drops of dish soap and about 1/3 cup of baking soda. Add about 1/2 cup of vinegar, stand back and watch the eruption. Adjust your quantities depending on the size of your pumpkin. Add food coloring or liquid watercolor for a burst of color.

This activity also works great with apples-- just use a lot less baking soda and vinegar.

10. Pumpkin Smash

I got this idea from a coworker who recently told me about her family’s after Halloween tradition of taking their old jack-o-lantern out to the back yard and demolishing it with a baseball bat. Why have I never done this?? You can let your child get out some of their energy, feed the local wildlife, and create compost--all from the same pumpkin! Sounds like a win-win-win situation to me!

Let me know if you try any of these Pumpkin Fun activities: I would love to hear all about it!

Happy Fall, Y'all!

~Bekah :)

This press release was produced by the Cromaine District Library. The views expressed are the author's own.