10 Easy Pumpkin Crafts for Toddlers
October is pumpkin season! Whether you’re carving jack-o’-lanterns, visiting the pumpkin patch, or simply decorating for fall, pumpkins are everywhere. For toddlers and preschoolers, pumpkin crafts are a fun way to celebrate the season while practicing fine motor skills and creativity. Pumpkin crafts double as art and learning, making them perfect for both home and classroom. My daughter loves to decorate the house with her fall crafts. And she loves to tell stories about how she made the craft when she notices them around the house, which I think is so cute!
In this post, you’ll find 10 easy pumpkin craft ideas that are:
Low-prep (5 minutes or less)
Perfect for toddlers & preschoolers
Budget-friendly (using everyday supplies)
Fun for fall, October, and Halloween
Let’s jump into some festive pumpkin fun! 🎃
Why Pumpkin Crafts Are Perfect for Toddlers in October
October is a natural time for pumpkin-themed activities because:
Pumpkin patches are in full swing.
Halloween brings pumpkin excitement (without being scary).
Toddlers love round, bold-colored shapes—perfect for crafting.
Pumpkins tie into lessons about seasons, farm-to-table food, and holidays.
Fall is my favorite season, and I have so much fun coming up with easy, fun pumpkin crafts for my daughter! Check them out and try your favorite craft or two with your little one(s)!
10 Easy Pumpkin Crafts for Toddlers
1. Paper Plate Pumpkin Craft
One of the simplest and most classic pumpkin crafts for preschoolers.
How to do it:
Paint a paper plate orange (or use crayons for less mess).
Add triangle eyes and a smile cut from black paper.
Glue a green stem on top.
Learning benefits:
Shape recognition (triangles, circles).
Strengthens fine motor gluing skills.
Easy classroom craft for groups.
Supplies needed: Paper plate, washable paint (or crayons), black/green construction paper
2. Puffy Paint Pumpkin
Toddlers love this squishy, textured project (my toddler especially).
Recipe for puffy paint:
Mix equal parts shaving cream + white glue.
Add orange food coloring or paint.
How to do it:
Spread onto pumpkin outlines.
Add googly eyes or cut-out faces.
Learning benefits:
Sensory-rich (squishy texture).
Encourages creativity with textures.
Supplies needed: Shaving cream, white glue, orange food coloring/washable paint, pumpkin outlines (drawn or printed), googly eyes
3. Pumpkin Seed Art
Don’t toss those pumpkin seeds! Save them for a fun toddler craft.
How to do it:
Wash and dry seeds.
Glue them into pumpkin outlines on paper.
Optional: Dye seeds with food coloring for bright designs.
Learning benefits:
Teach kids what seeds do—growing pumpkins back in the spring!
Supplies needed: Pumpkin seeds, Pumpkin outline (printed or drawn), food coloring
4. Fingerprint Pumpkin Patch
While the weather is still nice, set up an outdoor space for finger painting. Or if you live in an area that gets cold quickly, you can lay out some craft paper to (hopefully) cut down the mess! This makes for such a fun sensory activity and craft
How to do it:
Draw vines and stems on paper.
Let toddlers dip their fingertips in orange paint.
Stamp along the vines to make mini pumpkins.
Learning benefits:
Practice counting pumpkins as you go for an easy math activity.
Supplies needed: Paper, green marker, washable paint
5. Yarn-Wrapped Pumpkins
A fine-motor and coordination dream!
How to do it:
Cut a pumpkin shape from cardboard.
Pre-cut long strips of orange yarn.
Let toddlers wrap yarn around the pumpkin shape.
Learning benefits:
Strengthens finger dexterity.
Creates a 3D pumpkin craft for display.
Supplies needed: cardboard (save that next amazon box that gets delivered!), scissors, orange yarn
6. Toilet Paper Roll Pumpkins
Upcycle your recyclables into cute pumpkins.
How to do it:
Paint or wrap toilet paper rolls with orange paper.
Add green construction paper leaves and stems.
Toddlers can decorate with stickers or scribbles.
Learning benefits:
Teaching that things can be used in multiple ways. Use these as a fun and unique fall table decoration!
Supplies needed: Empty toilet paper rolls, orange/green construction paper, crayons/stickers
7. Pumpkin Collage Craft
Mess-free, colorful, and creative.
How to do it:
Draw a large pumpkin outline.
Provide orange tissue paper, stickers, and magazine scraps.
Toddlers glue, stick, or color to fill in their pumpkin.
Learning benefits:
Perfect for toddlers who like open-ended crafting.
Supplies needed: Pumpkin outline (printed or drawn), orange textiles (think tissue paper, construction paper, stickers, etc.), glue
8. No-Carve Jack-o’-Lantern Faces
Carving is not toddler-friendly, but decorating pumpkins totally is! My daughter had so much fun doing this last year, and we can’t wait to do it with her again this fall!
How to do it:
Provide real mini pumpkins.
Stickers, washi tape, googly eyes, or markers work great.
Let toddlers design silly faces and fun designs!
Learning benefits:
This is a great option for continuing fall traditions, but in a more age-appropriate way!
Supplies needed: Mini pumpkin, markers, googly eyes, glue
9. Pumpkin Stamping Craft
Just like apple stamping, but with pumpkins!
How to do it:
Cut a mini pumpkin in half.
Dip in washable paint.
Stamp onto paper.
Learning benefits:
Great for toddlers who love repetitive stamping activities.
Supplies needed: Mini pumpkin, orange washable paint, paper
10. Pumpkin Garland Craft
Turn your pumpkin art into home decor!
How to do it:
Cut several pumpkin shapes from cardstock.
Have toddlers decorate with crayons, stickers, or stamps.
String onto yarn or twine for a festive garland.
Learning benefits:
Perfect for practicing fine motor skills while stringing the garland together.
Supplies needed: Construction paper/cardstock, crayons/stickers, yarn
Pumpkin Crafts for Different Settings
Whether you are homeschooling, in a classroom, or a co-op, pumpkin crafts are perfect for the fall! My daughter loves these crafts, and I love that there are low-mess/mess-free options to choose from—because let’s face it, some days I don’t want to clean up finger paint!
Homeschool
Tie pumpkin crafts into October unit studies: pumpkin life cycle, farm themes, or sensory exploration.
Use pumpkin seed art alongside a seed-sprouting science experiment.
Classroom / Daycare
Opt for quick, low-mess projects like pumpkin stamping or paper plate pumpkins.
Group crafts like pumpkin garlands decorate classrooms while doubling as fine motor practice.
Co-op / Playgroups
Try collaborative projects like a giant pumpkin collage made by multiple toddlers at once.
Sensory-friendly ideas (pumpkin playdough, pumpkin seed bins) work well in group settings.
Pumpkin Craft Supply List
Keep these handy for stress-free October crafting:
Paper plates & cardboard
Orange paint, crayons, tissue paper
Yarn, toilet paper rolls, construction paper
Googly eyes (shop on Amazon)
Glue sticks
Stickers
Mini pumpkins for no-carve decorating
Pumpkin seeds (washed & dried)
Pro tip: You can keep these supplies in a little basket, and you’ll be ready to craft whenever your little one wants to explore their creativity. I started doing this last year, and now it only takes me a couple minutes to set up a craft for my toddler.
More Ways to Extend Pumpkin Learning
Pumpkins aren’t just for art—they connect beautifully with toddler learning themes:
Science: Explore pumpkin life cycles, seed growth, and textures.
Math: Count pumpkins in a patch, compare big vs. small pumpkins.
Literacy: Pair crafts with pumpkin books (Pumpkin Pumpkin, Five Little Pumpkins).
Sensory play: Try pumpkin spice playdough, seed bins, or pumpkin slime.
Final Thoughts: Why Pumpkin Crafts Are a Must for October
Pumpkin season is magical for toddlers, and pumpkin crafts make it even better. From paper plate pumpkins to yarn-wrapped creations to pumpkin garlands, these activities offer the perfect mix of seasonal fun, fine motor development, and creativity.
Whether you’re a homeschooling parent, preschool teacher, or just looking for fall crafts for toddlers, pumpkin crafts bring October alive in a hands-on way.
🎃 Grab some orange paint, a few paper plates, and maybe a mini pumpkin or two—you’re ready for an afternoon of pumpkin-filled fun!
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