Last Updated on September 21, 2025 by Sheryl Cooper
Inside: Looking for a fun Halloween activity? Try this easy pumpkin painting idea that involves little preparation!
It’s so easy to get caught up in the cookie cutter crafts during holidays.
I know, because I am guilty. And I still do some crafts, although I want our children to put their own touches on their work.
But process art is what I prefer most. I think my students would agree. That is what I love about this easy pumpkin painting activity.
It’s about the process.
It’s about the fun of mixing colors and using a pumpkin to stamp the paint onto paper.
And it’s also super easy to set up. Nothing to cut out ahead of time. (Thank goodness, right?) Simply place the paper on the table, add the pumpkins and paint, and let your toddlers and preschoolers have fun.
Supplies
- Yellow tempera paint
- Red tempera paint
- Small pumpkins with stems
- Bowls to put paint and pumpkins in
- Paper
Set Up
- Pour some yellow and some red paint into each bowl.
- Add small pumpkin to each bowl of paint.
- Cover the entire table with paper, or provide individual sheets.
The Activity
I love to add as much learning as I can to each activity we do, so rather than just pour orange paint into a bowl, I added some yellow and some red for color mixing fun.
Show your children how to hold onto the stem of the pumpkin, dipping it in the paint and then onto the paper.
Some might want to use their entire palm to hold the pumpkin.
And some might want to use both hands.
See how nicely those miniature pumpkins fit in their hands? This is a great fall fine motor activity!
What’s also fun about this activity is that it involves lots of movement. Busy toddlers love these types of art because of the action!
More Pumpkin Fun
Pumpkin Math (with Free Printable Cards)
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