Looking for some Halloween fun that is safe for the littles? Have I got the answer for you!
When Griff and Owen were young I found pumpkin carving stressful. Big knives, sharp tools and toddlers don’t really mix. Adam and I would have to divide and conquer, each taking a child to watch like a hawk during the carve.
Owen was fine to let me handle the big knife and most of the carving. But Griff wanted to be the one holding the knife starting at age one and a half. Boy does he love his independence!
When I had mom group events where Adam wasn’t there to help, I needed an easy and safe alternative to an actual carve. Introducing two alternatives: painting and hammering.
Painting pumpkins is so much easier these days with paint markers! There is no need to break out the squeeze bottles, paper plates, brushes, water cups, etc. Just buy a pack of paint markers and your kids can have just as much fun, with little to no work involved.
The kids still get to use their creative minds to come up with a brilliant design, and the pumpkins can still be used as a decoration for the Halloween festivities. But there is no mess involved whatsoever. It’s perfect!
After the pumpkins have been beautifying your house (inside or outside thanks to the no carve) and amplifying your Halloween decor for the season, you can get an additional use out of them post-Halloween.
Welcome to alternative number two: Pumpkin Hammering! Grab a bag of golf tees and a mallet or heavy rock and you have another activity. Let your littles go crazy hammering the tees into their pumpkin creations.
They can make a pattern out of the golf tees or even just see how many they can fit in their pumpkin. There is no wrong way to do it! The kids get some aggression out, work on their fine motor skills and get to have a ton of fun. All while you watch from the sidelines, with little involvement!
There you have it! Two safer and easier alternatives to pumpkin carving with kids, that still bring the Halloween magic! Go give them a try and report back on your experience.
