Alternatives to Pumpkin Carving

Carving pumpkins is such a fun, family tradition in many families. However, it can be frustrating for toddlers when they can't participate in the entire carving process. Here are a few alternatives to traditional carving that your toddler may enjoy.

• Painting pumpkins- Painting pumpkins is a fun, colorful alternative that allows your toddler to be in charge of the entire decorating process. You can use regular paint brushes, or get creative with sponges, Do-A-Dot paints, markers, etc.
• Sticker pumpkin- Use regular or foam stickers to decorate a pumpkin. They can be Halloween themed, or represent some of your child's interests. They get some fine motor practice from peeling and placing the stickers in the process. You can also use black contact paper to create a more traditional looking Jack-o-lantern.
• Pumpkin collage- Gather various items around the house or from outside, such as buttons, leaves, yarn, magazine clippings, pinecones, ribbon, etc. Glue them on your pumpkin to create a face, or simply a fun design. (Regular white glue may not be strong enough, so you may need to help by hot gluing the pieces on)
• Candy pumpkin- Have a variety of different types of candy available for your child, such as licorice, gumdrops, candy corn, life savers, etc. Let your child create a face or design out of the candy. Some candy may stick temporarily with a little lick. For a more permanent solution, hot glue the pieces on.
• Vegetable pumpkin- Go a little healthier and decorate your pumpkin with vegetables. Have a variety of veggies available along with some toothpicks. Stick the veggies on the pumpkin using the toothpicks. I still remember making a pumpkin like this in elementary school and winning "healthiest pumpkin" at the school carnival! Of course, I now know that everyone won some type of award, but I was still very, very excited =).
• Pumpkin shape sorter- Ok, this idea does require carving, but I thought it was a fun idea worth including! Make a pumpkin shape sorter for your child by cutting out basic shapes from the pumpkin. Save the pieces and let your child stick them back and forth through the correct holes (you probably want to shave down the shapes a little so they fit easily). You can also do this with a traditional Jack-o-lantern. Just save the pieces and have your child find the eyes, nose, mouth, etc. and place them in the correct spot.

If you have your own fun alternative to pumpkin carving, feel free to share!