Toddler Pumpkins & Jack O Lanterns

With a toddler, carving a pumpkin is not something they can help with. However, there are alternatives!


CARVING:
If you only believe Jack o Lanterns should be carved, cut out the top hole, loosen the seeds & muck from the insides and then give the toddler various spoons or containers to scoop it out. Gross yet Fun!



OTHER VARIATIONS on Pumpkin Decorating:

Painting
- let the kids paint their pumpkins with faces or some abstract design that only they understand.

Stickers

Markers

Push Pins & Yarn
- Saw one post where they had put various coloured push pins spread all over the pumpkin and then took lengths of yarn and wrapped them from pin to pin to create unique geometrical designs.

Mr. Potato Parts
- Put a few strategically placed holes in the pumpkin and then let the child use their accessories from their Mr. Potato Head toy.



Child's Creation:

Another option is to let the child draw the face and then the adult carve exactly where the lines are.

Easy Halloween Costume - No Sew

My daughter is a Ballerina for her indoor Halloween Parties.

* Dressing her in a white onesie & stockings from her closet.
* Putting her hair up in a bun/ponytail
* Tieing ribbons around her ankles like those on ballet slippers.
* Wearing ribbons around her ponytail
* Complete outfit with a homemade tutu
* A Tiara would be a nice addition (my daughter wouldn't let it stay in)
* A wand or wings would transform into a great Fairy Costume!

* There are so many online tutorials on how to make a tutu. I bought tulle (sometimes called nettings) for quite cheap. I cut into strips about 2" wide. The length depends on how long you want it - keep in mind that the strips will be folded. For the waistband, I used one of my stretchy hairbands. Also saw online people that used a piece of purchased elastic or a length of ribbon. Using two strips, double over so they are now half the length. Loop over the elastic and pull through your loop. Continue with as many as you like until it has the desired fullness. *

The tutu would also be great to make as a Birthday or Christmas present for the child's dress up box!

Big Sister Present

My daughter will be a big sister in 6 months and have been doing some thinking on a gift for her from her little sibling.

Have to head to the dollar store and see what they have for inspiration but here are my thoughts so far...

Container: Fancy purse (use for dress up later)

Contents:
Bag of candies (quite a treat as she doesn't get much candy)
*Special Notebook (will add her name to cover with puff paint & sparkles)
Special Pen (purchase a fancy pen and add ribbons to end)
*Stickers
small baby with tiny accessories

I saw on another blog where their 'big sister' was older and so a disposable camera was amongst the items - that would be very neat to see their perspective!

Other Moms also mentioned that they purchased something larger that would help keep their child entertained once at home with baby - ie. play kitchen, playdough set, baby doll w/ crib, stroller, etc.

Gift to Baby:
I also plan to have my daughter help 'purchase' a gift for the baby - probably a small stuffed animal and rattle - that she can help wrap and give to the baby. Perhaps she'll feel extra special playing with the baby with the items she had given him/her.

* Making your own Stickers & Special Notebook *
Stickers: Print clip art out on a 81/2 x 11 label sheet or on the smaller labels.
Notebook: Layer several papers (I like to alternate a few coloured papers with white). Fold either horizontally or vertically depending on the size of notebooks you want. Staple in several places. Cut your notebooks out!

Make Your Own Loot Bag Favours

Check this link out for some amazing ideas on homemade Loot Bag Favours.

*would also be items that would be great as Christmas Stocking Stuffers!*

Everything from felt play food, lollipops, superhero masks, etc.

http://belladia.typepad.com/crafty_crow/2009/10/homemade-party-favors.html

Halloween Crafts

Ive been searching for some ideas on Halloween Crafts to occupy my 2 year old. These will also be used to decorate the house.

Collage: I copied clip art from http://www.office.microsoft.com/ onto a Word document and printed out. I cut out the various pictures and will let her glue them onto some orange paper.

Hanging Decorations: Some of the above clip art I enlarged and cut out. I cut large squares of cardstock (a bit bigger than the clip art) and let her glue the pictures on the front and back. Create a hole in top and hang with string.

Puzzle: One piece of clip art I enlarged to the size of a full sheet of paper. I printed out and cut into six equal squares for her to reassemble.

Colouring Pages: There is lots available to print. Google "printable colouring pages" or draw your own simple picture for them to colour.

Jack o Lantern Candle Holder: Using bits of orange tissue paper, let child glue onto small jar or votive holder. (Reuse old jars from salsa, pickles, etc.) Apply a layer of glue on top. Use a black marker or glue pieces of black felt for jack-o-lantern face.

*I let her do the glueing & sticking orange paper on and then I obviously did the face*

Jack o Lantern on a Stick: Let them paint a paper plate with orange paint. Give them shapes cut from black construction paper to glue on. Glue a popsicle stick to the back of the bottom part of plate. Or forgo the stick and hang with string.

*Make five varied sizes & expressions of Jack o Lantern on a stick and use to recite the commonly known poem (see below)

Terra Cotta Pumpkins: Use any desired size of terracotta pot and let child paint orange. Then draw on a face.

PUMPKIN POEM:

FIVE LITTLE PUMPKINS

Five little pumpkins sitting on a gate.

The first one said, "Oh my it's getting late!"

The second one said, "There are witches in the air."

The third one said, "But we don't care."

The fourth one said, "Let's run, let's run!"

The fifth one said, "Isn't Halloween fun!"

Then Woooooooo went the wind

And OUT went the lights.

And five little pumpkins rolled out of sight.

Egg Carton Spiders: Using cardboard egg carton, cut out a few individual cups. Let child paint black. Poke holes in cup for child to stick black pipecleaners through for legs. Glue on googly eyes. Poke hole in top to hang. (Do several and hang at various lengths)

Salt Dough: Create pumpkins and ghosts for decorations or magnets.

COOKIES! Going to find a yummy sugar cookie recipe, add some red/yellow food colouring and make pumpkin shaped cookies.

Halloween Garland: Cut out several halloween shapes (Ghosts, Bats, Pumpkins, etc) either by drawing the shape or using clip art or downloading various templates available on the internet. Punch a hole in the top of each. Let the toddler help thread them onto string or yarn and hang in entranceways, windows, etc. *Using cardstock may help this be reusable*

Halloween Gingerbread House: A mini version using one square graham cracker per wall, one for the floor and two for the roof. Decorate with candy corn shingles and other various candies. Yum!

Pumpking Carving: I'll cut out the top lid and loosen all the innards from the sides. Then give her a spoon and let her scoop!

* She was quite grossed out by the feel of all the seeds & goo and seemed to enjoy touching in & cringing *