Pumpkin Crafts for Kids: Harvest and Halloween Ideas

Pumpkins are fun! Their size, color, smell and taste make them perfect for children's observations and explorations. Pumpkins are a type of squash that symbolize both the bright orange color and lead us into the spirit of the fall season. This is the best time to experience the numerous possibilities of using pumpkins during your "together time" activities. Your kids may consider pumpkins only with Halloween and jack-o-lanterns; however, you can de-emphasize the holiday connection and use this variety of pumpkin-related activities for fall and harvest.

Pumpkin Sun Catcher-

Place a piece of adhesive paper down on the table sticky side up. You may need to tape this in place. Encourage your child to tear and place pieces of red tissue paper on one side and pieces of yellow tissue paper on the opposite side. When finished, fold the paper in half and see what happens when the red and yellow paper overlap. Cut a pumpkin shape from this now "orange" paper and hang in a sunny window. 

Popcorn Painting-

Here's a new experience in painting! Place a cup of unpopped popcorn into a nylon knee high stocking and tie the nylon stocking in a knot. Holding the top end of the stocking, dip the bottom (corn) into poster paint and then "bounce" it onto paper. This makes a neat design and so complimentary to the season. Cut the paper into a pumpkin shape and you now have a unique painting.

Pumpkin Mosaic - 

Give your child a paper plate and orange construction paper. Let him tear pieces of the orange paper (little ones really like to tear paper) and glue them onto the plate. Help him brush on the glue and after he is finished you make want to brush on a final layer to keep the pieces flat. Make a leaf shape from green or brown paper and glue this on top to complete the pumpkin.

Pumpkin Prints - 

Buy pumpkin cookie cutters and let your child dip these into tempera (poster paint) and then press them onto paper. This makes really cool prints and good for eye/hand coordination. As a variation, buy a small fresh pumpkin and cut this in half. Invite your youngster to dip the pumpkin half into orange paint and make a print.

So, whether you use pumpkin projects for harvest or Halloween -- just have fun and do these activities with your children. It's the bonding time that really counts!

Pumpkin photo property of Tania Cowling, all rights reserved

Halloween is Coming! Who Wants to Be Cinderella?

How many little girls dream of becoming a princess and little boys who want to be a prince? The story of Cinderella, a young girl who unexpectedly becomes a maid to her stepmother and stepsisters after her father dies, finds her way to the gallant ball with a little help from her fairy Godmother.  But, at the stroke of midnight she must leave the ball and her prince. This is a tale that many of us remember as children. Today, this story comes alive with new movies to entertain us. The question remains: will the prince find the lady who fits the glass slipper?

This isn't a costume, but I’m sure your little artists will enjoy making this craft. This simple project will bring the story of Cinderella into your home.

Materials:

• Card stock paper (pink or your child’s favorite color)
• Gray construction paper (or white)
• Safety scissors
• Heavy-duty glue or low-temperature glue gun
• Silver enhancements (sequins, glitter, faux gems, foil)

Directions:

Step 1 – This cut and paste craft is not the messiest we have done before, but covering your table with newspaper is wise to prevent glue from marring your tabletop.

Step 2 – Invite your child to choose their favorite color for the background paper. Using a heavier construction paper or card stock will give substantial weight to hold the materials that the children will eventually glue on this page.

Step 3 -- Parents can draw the shape of a lady’s high heel shoe on gray or white paper. Challenge your child to carefully cut on the lines to make this shape. Then, glue the shoe to the background paper.

Step 4 – Now the fun begins, as your child will turn this paper shoe into a glass slipper. Think about all the baubles that will give the illusion of shiny glass. I took a trip to a craft store and purchased some clear faux gems and silver sequins. At home, I had silver glitter and ran to the kitchen for some heavy-duty aluminum foil. The foil can be cut into shiny circles or any other shape your child desires.

Step 5 – Begin to glue the shiny enhancements randomly on the shoe shape. Use glitter in between for sparkle.

Hang the Cinderella slipper craft in your child’s room to remind your princess/prince of this famous tale. This may be a good time to bring out the classic book or video and review the story together.

Photo courtesy of Tania Cowling, all rights reserved

Fun Halloween Crafts for Kids

Get ready, as Halloween is coming on the 31st of October. What a wonderful family holiday; a perfect time for parents and children to spend time together carving pumpkins, designing costumes and planning trick-or-treat activities. Kids can lose themselves in fun without having to worry about normal, proper behavior. They can act out their fantasies, dreams and imaginations, it's OK because it's Halloween. Spend good days together making these fun Halloween crafts for children.

Make a Bat with Hands
Make use of a child's hands to make this fun Halloween bat. Trace each hand onto black poster board, heavy construction paper or fun foam. Then cut out a headpiece with pointed ears. Assemble the pieces with glue or tape. The handprints are the bat's wings. Decorate the head with googly eyes (or paper ones), a pompom nose, and a freaky mouth cut from white paper. Add a yarn or ribbon loop at the top to hang this bat decoration around the house.

Halloween Tic-Tac-Toe
Take the traditional tic-tac-toe game and give it a Halloween flair. Cut a large pumpkin from a sheet of orange poster board. Draw the game grid with a black marker. Cut game markers (in Halloween shapes) from construction paper. Another good tip is to use your computer and find clip art that would serve as markers, you need at least five markers of two different shapes. Preserve your game board and pieces covering them with clear plastic adhesive paper if you wish. Enjoy playing this game with the children and think about how this game can be made for other holidays too.

Photos courtesy of Tania Cowling, all rights reserved

Use the month of October to make crafts and decorate the home or classroom. Have fun bonding with your children and give them big hugs!

Tania

Halloween Projects to Craft With Your Kids

Let's get crafting for the upcoming Halloween holiday. Here are some published clips I wrote a while back for your viewing. Crafts and instructions are included per article.

• Decorate your room or use these ideas for make and take projects. The materials are probably in your art closet or easy to find. So let’s get started on these “boo-tiful" crafts.

• Your children (and students) will love to make these theme projects for Halloween. Ghosts do not have to be scary (especially for young children) – make them a friendly part of this holiday season.  Click Here

• How about some awesome monsters using paint chip pages that you can obtain free at your favorite paint store.  Click Here

Have a great week. I'll be posting more "spook-tacular" projects soon!

Happy Parenting,

Tania

Halloween Craft Via Colortime Crafts & Markers

Hello Friends,

I wanted to introduce you to a company who provides the cutest and fun fabric coloring crafts. For Halloween I was provided a cotton tote, just in time for trick-or-treating. The kit contains a preprinted tote, three fabric markers, and an instruction sheet. If your child can color inside the lines, this craft is for you. My family found it easy to make and a “spook-tacular” addition to our Halloween accessories. 

ColortimeCrafts and Markers has kits for all seasons and reasons. Your child can color tee-shirts, bandanas, head wraps, totes, and pillowcases. The markers are easy to use and the fabrics do not have to be prepped before coloring. They are non-toxic and permanent on the fabric, yet will wash off hands easily. The design doesn’t need to be heat set and the colors are chlorine resistant. Just make sure to let the project dry thoroughly before washing (at least two hours). All of these instructions come with your package.

Clean, easy, and affordable crafts activity that doubles as a unique keepsake! For savings, join our "Birthday Club" and receive 20% off and a free backpack, with your order at http://www.colortime.com/

Check out this coupon code for the latest online special offers and promo codes to Colortime Crafts and Markers.

Until next time – Happy Parenting,
Tania

I want to thank Colortime for the opportunity to try their product. I was not paid or coached to write this blog post. The information about the product was provided and these are my own opinions.

5 Halloween YouTube Songs to Sing

Happy Halloween! It's time to sing some festive songs together. Below are some YouTube songs that you can share with the children.

Five Little Pumpkins Sitting on the Gate

10 Little Monsters

The Halloween Song

Witches' Brew

Shake Dem Halloween Bones


Hope you enjoy these video/songs.

Have a fun and safe Halloween. See you next week.

Tania

Fun Foods for Halloween

Think of Halloween as a creative time to make spook-tacular foods to please goblins and ghouls of any age.

Whether you are hosting a “boo bash” party or just making Halloween treats for the family, these recipes are easy and fun to create.
Halloween Bones and Blood
Ingredients:

• 1 jar Marinara sauce (blood)
• canned breadsticks (bones) (can found in refrigerator section)
• cookie sheet
• Parmesan cheese, grated

Directions:

1. Cut the breadsticks into halves.
2. Curve the ends of each breadstick into bone shapes.
3. Sprinkle the "bones" with Parmesan cheese.
4. Bake as directed on the package.
5. Place these bones onto a dish and serve with a bowl of warm Marinara sauce.

Spider Punch
Ingredients:

• 1 envelope Kool-Aid orange flavor unsweetened mix
• 3 quarts cold water
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 quart bottle ginger ale (chilled)
• black plastic spiders
• ice cube trays
• pitcher
• large spoon (for mixing)

Directions:

1. Place plastic spiders into ice cube tray sections. Add water and freeze.
2. Pour the Kool Aid and sugar in a large pitcher. Add water and mix together.
3. Just before serving the punch add the ginger ale.
4. To make a spooky punch, add spider ice cubes to the pitcher.
5. Remember to tell your guests "don't drink the spiders"!

Continue reading...

Article by Tania Cowling, first published on Suite101.com

Photo courtesy of Tania Cowling