Last Updated on September 21, 2025 by Sheryl Cooper
Inside: Pumpkin collage art for toddlers is perfect for the month of October. Super easy to prepare and provides lots of fine motor strengthening!
We love a good collage activity.
In fact, the longer I teach (26 years now!), the more I love collage work. Here are some examples:
I appreciate that it doesn’t take a lot of time prepping everything. All I need to do is collect the collage pieces, think about the background, grab the glue, and I am set!
I also love that the children can add their own touches. It’s open-ended so the children can decide what they want to glue on their paper. No two look alike!
When we were learning about pumpkins, I just knew a pumpkin collage would be a great addition to our art center. And it was!
Easy Pumpkin Collage Art for Toddlers
When I shared this activity on Instagram, the first thing people noticed was the tinted glue. I got lots of messages like these:
“How did you get the glue that color?”
“Did you buy it that way?”
“What did you use?”
Friends, tinting glue is the easiest thing!
How to Tint a Bottle of Glue
If you are using individual bottles of glue like I did, you will want to open the top.
Then, add some squirts of tempera paint, whatever colors you want. I don’t add a lot – just a few squirts of each color. You don’t even need to mix it. Most will stay towards the top of the bottle but some color might eventually make its way down. As more glue is used, you might need to add more tempera paint to the bottle.
If you are using containers of glue that the children will dip their paintbrushes in, you will first pour the glue into the containers.
Then, squirt some tempera paint on top. As the children brush the glue on to their paper, the colors will mix with the glue.
I don’t measure anything; I just simply eyeball it.
Supplies
- Paper cut into pumpkin shapes (I used the pumpkin from our fall tracing packet as a template)
- White cardstock (heavy) paper
- Collage pieces (I used red, orange and yellow tissue paper squares plus squares of paper in different prints)
- Bottles of white glue (or containers of glue …. more on that in a moment) that have been tinted with yellow and red tempera paint
About Using Squeeze Bottles
I love using squeeze bottles with my 2 year olds and my preschoolers.
It’s a wonderful way to strengthen those little hands as they really need to squeeze to get the glue out.
When I introduce these for the first time, I show my students how to hold the bottle upside down and squeeze using both hands.
Once they get that down, I tell them to make the glue “dance”. That means, make it move around so that it just doesn’t puddle in one spot.
I save these bottles when they are empty and refill them from a big jug. This is much more economical.
Watch the Video: Squeezing Glue
Related: The Best Squeezing Ideas to Get the Hands Ready for Writing
Using Containers of Glue
If you’d rather, you can pour glue into small containers and have the children apply the glue using a paint brush.
Preparation
Place paper pumpkins on trays with a container of collage pieces and glue. It’s that easy!
Invitation to Create
Invite your children to squeeze (or brush) the tinted glue onto the paper pumpkin.
As mentioned above, if this is their first time using a glue bottle, show them how to hold it upside down and squeeze with two hands.
Then, press the pieces on top of the glue.
Toddlers will need a reminder that the pieces will only stick where there is glue.
You can use whatever you want for the collage pieces.
Collages are a great way to use up scraps from other projects. I always seem to have a little box filled with scraps!
Some other ideas for collage pieces:
- Felt
- Buttons
- Sequins
- Fabric
- Plastic bottle caps
- Pieces of yarn
- Pom poms
Once finished, let dry thoroughly.
More Pumpkin Ideas
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