KIDS & EDUCATION

by Camy Reynolds

Give your pumpkins a playful twist this year with easy, kid-friendly decorating ideas that make holiday prep as fun as the festivities themselves.

Chalkboard Pumpkin

• Pumpkin (real or artificial)

• Black chalkboard paint (or spray paint version)

• Paintbrush or foam brush (if not spraying)

• Chalk (regular or colored)

• Damp cloth or eraser

Around The House Pumpkin

Choose Your Pumpkin: Pick one with a flat side so decorations will stick better. Wipe it clean and dry.

Plan the Face: Before gluing, lay out googly eyes, a pom-pom nose, and a felt mouth to see how it looks. Move pieces around until you like the expression.

Choose Your Pumpkin: Pick a pumpkin with a smooth surface. The smoother it is, the easier it will be to write and draw on.

Prep the Surface: Wipe the pumpkin clean and dry. If it has a glossy finish, lightly sand it so the paint sticks better.

Apply the Chalkboard Paint: Brush or spray on a thin, even coat of chalkboard paint. Let it dry completely (usually 1–2 hours). Apply a second coat for solid coverage.

Cure the Surface: Once dry, rub a piece of chalk sideways all over the pumpkin, then wipe it off. This “seasons” the paint so drawings erase cleanly.

Decorate & Redecorate! Use chalk to draw faces, doodles, or messages. Wipe off with a damp cloth and start over as many times as you like.

Variations

• Use colored chalk for extra fun.

• Add stripes or shapes by taping off sections before painting.

• Write countdowns like “Days Until Halloween!”

• Attach the Eyes: Glue on googly eyes or buttons. For a silly look, try different-sized eyes or place them crooked.

• Make the Nose: Use a pom-pom, bead, or rolledup piece of felt. Glue it in the center under the eyes.

• Add a Mouth: Cut a smile, frown, or silly teeth from felt/foam. Glue below the nose.

• Create Hair or Accessories: Glue yarn, feathers, or pipe cleaners on top for crazy hair. Bend pipe cleaners into mustaches, glasses, or whiskers. Add a little hat, bow, or crown for extra fun.

• Final Touches: Use paint pens or markers to add freckles, eyebrows, or rosy cheeks.

• Let It Dry: Give the glue time to set before moving the pumpkin.

Variations

Animal Faces: Cat with pipe cleaner whiskers, dog with felt ears, or owl with big button eyes.

Silly Monsters: Add multiple eyes, zig-zag mouths, and wild pipe cleaner “antennae.”

People Faces: Yarn hair, pom-pom noses, paper glasses, even mini hats.

Drilled Pumpkin

Cut the top or bottom with a serrated knife and scoop seeds and pulp until the inside walls are fairly smooth and thin (~ 1 inch thick).

With washable marker, draw dots or outlines—simple shapes (hearts, stars, circles) or patterns (spirals, constellations, nature).

Choose Drill Bits: Small bits = pinprick twinkle lights • Larger bits = bold circles of light. Mix sizes for visual interest.

Place pumpkin on a steady surface, hold the drill straight and gently press through at each marked spot. Wipe pumpkin skin clean as you go (it may become damp or slippery).

Create Patterns: For geometric: evenly spaced rows or spirals. For nature-inspired: outline a leaf or flower with drilled holes. For freestyle: random dots give a starry night look.

Light It Up: Place a candle or LED light inside. For brighter glow, cluster multiple battery tea lights or use a string of fairy lights.

Display: Turn off surrounding lights to really see the glowing patterns. Perfect for walkways, porches, or as a table centerpiece.

Variations

Use painter’s tape: Stick tape to the pumpkin, draw your design on it, then drill through. When you peel it off, the pumpkin looks cleaner.

Colored light: Try LED lights in orange, purple, or green for extra Halloween flair.

Double-layer pattern: Drill larger holes first, then fill the spaces with tiny pinholes for depth.

Shaving Cream Ghost Pumpkin

• Small pumpkin (white works best, but any color will do)

• Foaming shaving cream

• Bowl or tray (for the mess!)

• Plastic spoon or Popsicle stick

• Black construction paper, felt, or googly eyes

• Glue or tape

Prepare the Pumpkin: Wipe pumpkin clean and dry. Place on a tray or plate for easy cleanup.

Make the Foam “Ghost” Coating: Spray shaving cream into a bowl. Kids can stir with a spoon or stick for extra fluff.

Cover: Spread the shaving cream all over the pumpkin to create a ghostly, puffy look. (The mess is part of the fun!)

Add the Face: Stick on googly eyes, or cut out big oval eyes and a mouth from black paper/felt. Lightly press them into the shaving cream so they stay in place.

Optional Sparkle: Sprinkle glitter on top while the shaving cream is still wet for a magical ghost effect.

Display & Play: Let kids admire their ghost pumpkin!

Note: shaving cream will dry out in a day or two, so this is more of a temporary, sensory project than a long-lasting decoration.

Give your pumpkins a playful twist this year with easy, kid-friendly decorating ideas that make holiday prep as fun as the festivities themselves.