Sticky pumpkin and toddlers are a combo meant to be together. Watching a young child’s expression as their hand sticks and slowly peels off the paper is hysterical. Sticky pumpkin is a fun fall activity to explore this adhesive as you hopefully get to enjoy it from the sidelines. Prep time for this easy toddler activity is less than five minutes.
RELATED: Looking for more ideas for fall? I have 50 activities for autumn here!
My toddler’s reaction
I taped the sticky contact paper, and my 16-month-old and three-year-old came running over.
What is this?
It’sticky!
Hey, look! My hand is stuck!
My three-year-old had so much to say and experience as he took his first look. See that? Not only are we introducing new textures, but we are also inviting new conversations and vocabulary.
And yes! This activity is similar to sticky paper color sorting and sticky nature hunt. So when you get that contact paper, you can come back for more ways to use it!
Remember, toddler activities do not have to be complicated. Simple setups and easy explorations to play are best! Bonus: Picking up these small pieces of paper helps preschoolers prepare for pencil grip!
Craving a calmer morning?
Breakfast Invitations are simple learning games that begin the day with play.
Supplies:
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Just like our toddler toy list, these supplies have many uses!
- Contact paper
- Marker
- Tissue paper squares – This is the best pack for fall!
Related: Visit our toddler category page with our best ideas!
Setting up Sticky Pumpkin
- Hang: First, cut your contact paper into a large rectangular shape. Remember to hang the contact paper where your toddler can reach.
- Tape: We want the sticky side of the paper facing us. (Promise, this is the only part you have to think about) Before peeling back the sticky side, tape it to the wall using painter’s. I tape the four corners.
- Peel: Now it is time to peel back the sticky protective sheet!
- Draw: Using a permanent marker, draw a simple pumpkin. IMPORTANT: Test to ensure the marker does not bleed into your wall. Use a washable marker or draw your pumpkin before taping it to the wall.
- Quick Tip: Look at a favorite fall book for guidance on drawing your pumpkin. This always helps me.
- Invite: Place your tissue paper squares in a small bin next to the sticky paper and invite your child to begin!
RELATED: Are you ready to paint with your toddler? This genius idea will get you started.
What is important about this toddler activity?
Your child is also discovering new textures. Here is an idea from the Smithsonian that demonstrates how texture relates to artwork.
According to Loose Parts TWO, “Touching is the most fundamental means of contact with the world.”
The book continues to state:
Since our skin is one of the most sensitive parts of our body and provides much information about the world and its messages, it makes sense that young children spend so much time exploring how touch feels to their bodies.
Isn’t that powerful?!
Touch and texture need to be integrated into more daily preschool activities. We also included more sensory activities in 31 Activities for Halloween.
Make this easy toddler preschool activity for fall today!
Next, poke around for more fall ideas:
- Fall Leaf Painting – Does your child enjoy painting? Take it outside to learn the names of the leaves on different trees.
- Fine Motor Pumpkin Patch – Gather the Target mini erasers! This is an enjoyable way for toddlers to play with tongs and collect pumpkins.
- Glue the Fall Leaves – A simple way to improve gluing skills and investigate color changes in fall leaves.
Start with these 50 fall activities for kids. Inside, you will find a sticky pumpkin activity, pumpkin balance, tissue paper pumpkin art, apple scoop and sort, apple oobleck, pumpkin cloud dough, pumpkin wash, apple dot to dot, a pumpkin color math game, and many more fun fall activities for toddlers, preschoolers, and big kids!
Toddler activities need to be hands-on and simple to set up. This list of toddler activities has many easy ideas that kids enjoy.
No. Hang this activity somewhere you don’t mind having up. Allow your toddler to visit it throughout the day or week to add more tissue paper squares.
We hang most of our art activities in the kitchen or in our child’s bedrooms. When then change of seasons happens, we replace the art with something new. This sticky pumpkin works well for hanging on the child’s bedroom door.
