Decorating Pumpkins with Kids

Instead of carving your pumpkin, have kids decorate it instead.

By Charlie Nardozzie

Fall isn't complete without kids, pumpkins, and fun decorating activities. When my daughter was young, I always grew pumpkins for her to decorate in October. The idea of eating the pumpkin was farthest from her mind as she painted and carved her pumpkin collection.

Before setting your kids loose in the pumpkin patch, you should offer some guidance for decorating the fruits.

To avoid argments later, have kids select pumpkins in the patch to decorate before they are ripe. Don't encourage kids to harvest until these fruits start to turn their mature color. Pumpkins will continue to mature and color up after harvest. However, if your kids finds a green one that they really like and it's getting close to Halloween, let them have it.

Harvest the pumpkins by cutting the stem 6 inches from the fruits with a sharp knife. However, kids shouldn't carry their pumpkins by the "handle," especially large fruits, because the handle could break and the pumpkin could then smash on the ground. That would be a shame.

Supervise your kids when they carve their pumpkins. Have them draw out the design on the fruits first with a pencil or marker; then let them have at it with a knife. Save the seeds when they scoop out the flesh for roasting.

For young kids, encourage them to draw or paint their pumpkins, so they don't have to use a knife.

Encourage kids to select other winter squash to decorate as well. Butternut squash, gourds, and acorn squash all can be turned into spooky creatures with the right paints and carvings.

For kids that need inspiration, consider buying a pumpkin-carving kit with patterns that your child can follow when carving.

To emphasize the edibility of pumpkins, have your kids use other vegetables such as carrots, beets, and kale to create faces and hair on their pumpkin people.