There are loads of things you can do with Pumpkins this Autumn.
Pumpkins available from lots of places around or near to Doncaster. See a list of Places to Pick a Pumpkin nearby HERE.
Otherwise most supermarkets are selling them at the moment.
I have picked out my 10 favourite Pumpkin Related Activities to try with the kids this Halloween at home. Do share your photos on the Doncaster Mumbler Chat Group
Pumpkin Slime
Ingredients:
- 1/2 Cup White PVA Glue
- Unscented Shaving Cream
- Orange Food Colouring
- Mason Jar
- Black Paper
- Scissors
- Saline Solution
- Baking Soda
- Add 1/2 cup of white school PVA glue and 4 cups of shaving cream to a bowl. Mix well and then add in a some drops of your orange food colouring. Stir to mix in the colour.
- Next stir in 1/4 tsp of Baking Soda. Then add saline solution about 1 Tablespoon at a time and mix.
- Keep adding a little more saline solution and mixing until your slime begins forming into a ball-like form as you mix. You’ll notice this is when it starts to turn into slime and becomes less sticky. It will begin coming off the sides of your container and sticking together.
- If your slime is still sticky add some more saline solution by starting small and adding a little as you go and continue to knead it. The slime will take on a fluffy marshmallowy consistency that is so addictive to play with!
- When you’re finished you’ll want to store your slime in an air tight container. Or have the kids create their own jack-o-lantern jars by cutting out the faces from black paper and using some PVA glue to glue their faces to the mason jars. This can be a super fun family activity, and perfect for a Halloween Party! (Photo from Pinterest)
Traditional Pumpkin Carving
I find the best thing to do is draw on your design with pencil (then you have the chance to alter if required!). Personally I hate scooping out the seeds so see this as a great thing to keep the kids occupied. It is slightly down to you though to cut away the stringy bits! Another job for the adults that I never knew(tip from Ryedale Mumbler) is to wipe the pumpkin out with bleach as it stops the pumpkin going mouldy quite so quickly! Also if you have glow sticks in the house these are safer than candles, especially if children are so proud of their creation they want to use them as a night-light!
Pumpkin Painting
If you don’f fancy carving, younger or odler children will enjoy painting them instead. They can get as creative as they like!
Toasted Pumpkin Seeds
A great healthy snack for all the family.
- Preheat the oven to 140 C / Gas mark 1. Line a baking tray with baking parchment or aluminium foil.
- After removing the seeds from the pumpkin, rinse with water, and remove any strings and bits of pumpkin. Pat dry, and place in a small bowl. Stir the olive oil and salt into the seeds until evenly coated. Spread out in an even layer on the prepared baking tray.
- Bake for 15 minutes, or until seeds start to pop. Remove from oven and cool on the baking tray before serving.
Paper Lantern
We’ve made these lanterns for Chinese New Year before and they are really simple to do and can be adapted for Halloween.
- Fold the A4 orange paper in half.
- Cut approx. 1.5cm slices the whole way leaving approx. 2cm at each end.
- Glue the two short sides together.
- Staple on green hand on.
- Draw on the face!
Paper Plate
- Stick on orange tissue paper.
- Use green feathers for the stalk.
- Stick eyes, nose and mouth into place.
- Ta Da…easiest Halloween Craft!
Pumpkin Troll
If you hate digging out the seeds, this is the type of pumpkin activity for you!
- Fan out several different colours of paper to make the hair.
- Tie together near the bottom with a pipe cleaner or rubber band. Glue into position using PVA glue
- I had some giant pipe cleaners which I used as a “hairband” to hide the “hairline”
- Cut out ears and cover with glitter.
- Glue ears into place. To make them stick out, I placed cocktail sticks behind them wedged into the actual pumpkin.
- Glue eyes and nose into position.
- Glitter and glue tear drop detail into place.
- Draw on extra facial expression detailing!
Pumpkin Stamps
- Cut an apple lengthways in half.
- Cover in orange paint and use as stamps.
- Paint on green stalks and black face detailing. (Photo from Pinterest)
Mini Pumpkin Faces
Use Satsumas to draw on scary faces! Look great in the fruit bowl.
Pumpkin Drip Art
- Start by dripping poster paint in different colours over the pumpkin to make a lovely coloured background.
- Using either a black pen or black paint, make the face and put into position. Quick and easy. Allows all ages to partake in the pumpkin fun!
For more ideas of what to do this Halloween see the What’s On Guide.