Guess what? Pumpkin Faces for Halloween do not have to take hours to set up. This fun pumpkin prep took precisely 7 minutes.
(Yes, I time them to share exactly what to expect!)
This post explains the benefits of making pumpkin faces for your little ones and answers frequently asked questions. I’ll also give you the supplies you need and how to make this super fun, super spooky Halloween activity.
RELATED: 31 Halloween Ideas are here, and I cannot wait for you to dive in!
Making Pumpkin Faces for Halloween
The other night as we were all reading, It’s Pumpkin Day Mouse! by Laura Numeroff, I had a huge light bulb moment.
Wouldn’t it be awesome to wake up and create pumpkin faces?! I love simple fall activities for kids like this!
Supply List for Pumpkin Faces
You don’t need much to make pumpkin faces!
We like to keep our activities easy and breezy for fast setup and execution with a simple list of supplies.
- It’s Pumpkin Day, Mouse! – This is a classic children’s book we read every Halloween season.
- Elmer’s Non-Toxic Glue Stick (Disappearing Purple) – it’s excellent and easy for your little ones to use.
- Melissa & Doug Easel Paper Roll – you can use this paper for many activities.
- Construction Paper – different colors give children plenty of chances to experiment.
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How to Set Up This Pumpkin Faces for Halloween Activity
Pumpkin faces are easy to set up and help your little ones learn!
This Halloween activity is excellent for a kid’s language and cognitive skills development (and it doesn’t hurt that this activity is an easy setup).
Add it to your list of Breakfast Invitations and watch the fun unfold!
Step 1. Invite Children Into the Create Space
I always begin by laying down my white paper roll.
What this does is create a Breakfast Invitation “boundary.” It shows a dedicated space that invites preschoolers to develop.
Step 2. Cut Pumpkin Face Features
I then cut different shapes out of the black paper for the eyes, nose, and mouth.
Set the shapes below your pumpkins.
Step 3. Upgrade Your Breakfast Invitation
Add It’s Pumpkin Day, Mouse! by Laura Numeroff to give your child more to explore.
Step 4. Observe!
Watch and see what your preschooler creates.
Tips for Making Pumpkin Faces for Halloween
Do you know why the activity took 7 minutes to set up?
Here’s the secret. – You don’t have to cut perfect pumpkins.
- Cut quickly.
- Cut two at a time.
- Don’t aim for perfection.
Your preschooler will still adore this Breakfast Invitation, and you can see who can make the funniest pumpkin faces for Halloween!
Benefits of Shape Play and Storytelling
By Kindergarten, children will be asked to model shapes in the world by building and drawing them from components (e.g., sticks and clay balls).
This study found that toddlers’ shape recognition predicts language and cognitive skills at 6-7 years!
“When children learn to “tell” the story as they see it and teachers transcribe what the students say, children see how storytelling connects to writing stories. This is literacy learning at its most authentic.” – the importance of storytelling to improve literacy and cultural connection.
Supports language and cognitive skills – did you know that moving and manipulating shapes and lines help children understand that there are also shapes and lines in their environment?
Helps with shape recognition – Preschoolers will begin to see how shapes come together to make larger objects. Your child will also recognize shapes all around them. Take a look around the room. Which shapes can you find? Do you see any straight lines? How about curved lines?
Craving a calmer morning?
Breakfast Invitations are simple learning games that begin the day with play.
More Activities for Shape Play
- Book Roundups have some great books to help reinforce shapes and pattern recognition.
- Colors and Shapes Math Activity
- Introduce 3D Shapes
- Shape Graph: a great introductory shape graph activity if they need to start.
- Shape Play Activities: Save this Pinterest Board for easy access later!
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! This is a great idea. I like to precut a few shapes and leave some scraps for my child to cut his shapes and designs to add to the pumpkin.
Yes! Practice with liquid glue (don’t worry, it dries and peels right off) along with opportunities to use a glue stick. Reviewing how to put the cap back on the glue stick after use is also helpful.
We adore Room on the Broom, Creepy Carrots, Spooky Pooky, and The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything.
