After a brutally hot summer, it’s time for pumpkin spice everything and a visit to a local pumpkin patch with your kids! Pumpkin carving is an ooey-gooey way for kids to have fun, but that’s not all there is to pumpkin season. Here are 9 creative pumpkins activities to do this fall!
Where to Buy Pumpkins in Birmingham
First, you must secure your pumpkins!
Trader Joe’s always has a great variety of colors and sizes, especially if you need tiny pumpkins for tiny hands. You can also visit local farmers markets or pumpkin patches!
Creative Uses for Pumpkins
1. Pumpkin Bowling
Use a smooth, round pumpkin with the stem removed as a bowling ball! Set up plastic water bottles as pins.
For an extra bit of fun, put glow sticks inside the plastic bottles and paint the pumpkin with glow-in-the-dark paint for cosmic pumpkin bowling!
2. Pumpkin Family
Buy enough pumpkins to represent everyone in your family. Have your kids paint and decorate the pumpkins to look like each family member!
3. Pumpkin Gifts
Pair a small pumpkin with a fall scented candle or lotion to give to a neighbor, teacher, or friend.
4. Pumpkin Snacks
After scooping out the insides, roast the seeds by seasoning them and roasting on a baking sheet until crispy.
Or cook the flesh for muffins, purees, pancakes, or pies. Share your homemade goodies with neighbors and teachers!
5. Pumpkin Volcano
First, scoop out the insides. Add baking soda, then pour in vinegar to watch a foamy eruption!
6. Ring Toss
Using large pumpkins and hula hoops for a game of ring toss.
7. Sensory Play
For the little ones, scoop out the insides and place in a bowl for your child to explore the slimy, stringy textures.
For a less messy activity, get a tub of soapy water with some sponges or washcloths so they can wash their pumpkins! This works best with tiny pumpkins.
8. Storybook Pumpkin
Decorate the outside like your child’s favorite book character. Go knife-free with googly eyes, pipe cleaners, fuzzy pom poms, stickers, or foam shapes.
9. Tic Tac Toe
Use sidewalk chalk to draw a large Tic Tac Toe board on the sidewalk or patio. Use two different colors of pumpkins as your X and O game pieces.
What other creative ways do you use pumpkins with your kids?
Be sure to check out these local pumpkin patches for all of your pumpkin needs!
