Pumpkin Art Projects for Kids of All Ages

Pumpkins are fun! Their size, color, smell and taste make them perfect for children's observations and explorations. Pumpkins are more than just a variety of squash; they have come to symbolize both the vibrant color and also the spirit of the fall season. This is the best time of the year to utilize the endless possibilities of using pumpkins during your "together time" activities. Your kids may tend to associate pumpkins only with Halloween and jack-o-lanterns, however, if you wish, you can de-emphasize the holiday connections and still jump into a variety of pumpkin-related activities. Here are a few ideas to try.

Pumpkin Projects (Arts & Crafts):

For the wee ones-

Finger Paint A Pumpkin:

Make homemade finger paint by mixing condensed milk with red and yellow food coloring. Invite your little one to finger paint with this orange mixture. Precut a pumpkin shape from finger paint paper or freezer paper. Your child will love the feel of this paint and the fact that it dries shiny. This paint does take a while to dry but well worth the results.

Pumpkin Mosaic:

Give your child a paper plate and orange construction paper. Let him tear pieces of the orange paper (little ones really like to tear paper) and glue them onto the plate. Help him brush on the glue and after he is finished you make want to brush on a final layer to keep the pieces flat. Make a leaf shape from green or brown paper and glue this on top to complete the pumpkin.

Pumpkin Prints:

Buy pumpkin cookie cutters and let your child dip these into tempera (poster paint) and then press them onto paper. This makes really cool prints and good for eye/hand coordination. As a variation, buy a small fresh pumpkin and cut this in half. Invite your youngster to dip the pumpkin half into orange paint and make a print.

Coffee Filter Pumpkin:

Just use a white coffee filter and drops of food coloring. Invite your child to place some drops of yellow and red food coloring randomly on a coffee filter. Then with a squirt bottle, lightly spray some water onto the filter. The colors will bleed and mix together to make an orange tie-dye effect. When dry, add a green stem to finish the pumpkin shape.

For the Preschoolers---

Pumpkin Pie-

Cut pie shapes from orange construction paper. In small bowls, provide spices such as powdered cinnamon, ginger and a few whole cloves. After your child has spread glue onto the paper slice, he can sprinkle on spices. Let this dry and together smell the fragrance of "pumpkin pie" on this artwork.

Pumpkin Sun Catcher-

Place a piece of adhesive Contact™ paper down on the table sticky side up. You may need to tape this in place. Encourage your child to tear and place pieces of red tissue paper on one side and pieces of yellow tissue paper on the opposite side. When finished, fold the paper in half and see what happens when the red and yellow paper overlap. Cut a pumpkin shape from this now "orange" paper and hang in a sunny window.

Pumpkin Pulp and Seeds-

Cut two pumpkin shapes from orange construction paper. Invite your child to glue pieces of orange yarn (represents the pulp) and pumpkin seeds on one of the paper shapes. Then attach the other pumpkin shape on top with a brad or stapler. Label with the title, "What's Inside a Pumpkin."

For School Age Children-

Popcorn Painting-

Here's a new experience in painting! Place a cup of unpopped popcorn into a knee high stocking and tie the nylon stocking in a knot. Holding the top end of the stocking, dip the bottom (corn) into poster paint and then "bounce" it onto paper. Makes a neat design and so complimentary to the season. Cut the paper into a pumpkin shape and you now have a unique painting.

Milk Jug Pumpkins-

Take a clean empty milk jug and pour in some orange poster paint. Replace the lid (make sure it's secure) and shake, shake, shake. The paint will coat the inside of the jug and turn this clear jug into an orange pumpkin. Twist a green pipe cleaner around the lid for the tendrils and add leaves to make the pumpkin stem. For a jack-o-lantern, glue on black construction paper eyes, nose and mouth to the outside of the jug.

Paper Bag Pumpkin-

Take a lunch size paper bag and have the kids fill it with crumpled newspaper. Tie the top with string leaving about two inches of space for the stem. Paint the bag orange to make the pumpkin and green or brown for the stem. Make and cut some leaves from green construction paper and staple these to the stem. Older kids make wish to enhance the pumpkin with glitter. Make lots of these mini-pumpkins for decorations.

NOTE: There is no specific rule to the age limitations of these projects.

Source: Personal Experiences