Toddler Pumpkin Paint and Wash Activity

Inside: Keep the children busy with this toddler pumpkin paint and wash activity. A little bit of painting, a little bit of washing, lots of fine motor fun!

My group last year loved painting and they loved water.

So, why  not put the two together in one activity?

Every year during our pumpkin theme I invite the children to paint pumpkins, since we have them all over the classroom.

This year I brought the water tub over and we took it to a new level.

It was such a hit that I know we will be adding this to our fall activities each year!

Toddler Pumpkin Paint and Wash Activity

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Painting and washing isn’t actually new to me.

I started the idea awhile back, in fact.

Here are two examples:

• Apple Paint and Wash
• Polar Bear Paint and Wash

I’m sure I will be coming up with more paint and wash ideas in the future, too!

Pumpkin Paint and Wash Supplies

• Pumpkins (I like white pumpkins because the paint is more visible, but orange work well, too.)
• Orange washable tempera paint (Or provide red and yellow and encourage the children to mix them to make orange.)
• Droppers (optional)
• Sponges and/or scrub brushes
• Tub with warm soapy water
• Towel
• Trays (These are my favorite.)

Set Up

Place a tray at each spot along with a pumpkin, paintbrush, and small containers of paint.

Have a tub of warm soapy water available with scrub brushes and/or sponges.

Also have droppers and small containers of water available. This is optional, and I will explain further down.

Invitation to Paint

Invite your children to the art table and explain that the pumpkins need paint!

That’s really all the instruction that is needed at this point, and unless your children have never painted before, they will know just what to do.

Add Droppers and Water (Optional)

Adding droppers and water was a last-minute idea.

So last-minute that the children were already painting their pumpkins when I decided it would be a great fine motor addition, especially since we were just learning how to use them.

After the children painted their pumpkins, I asked if they wanted to squirt water on top.

You can imagine the response. No one said no!

I love providing droppers at the art table and water table because there is so much squeezing taking place, which strengthens the fingers.

This is why a tray is an absolute must, to catch the water!

Washing the Pumpkins

Even though the children used droppers and water, there was still plenty of paint on the pumpkins.

So, time to give them a bath!

More fine motor fun while scrubbing the pumpkins.

When finished, place the (sort of) clean pumpkins on a dry towel.

(And no, not all the paint got off, so I had to put them all in the sink to give them a good wash after class.)

So much hands-on learning!

• Fine Motor: Washing Pumpkins
• Colors: Pumpkin Color Matching
• Math: Pumpkin Counting
• Water Table: Fine Motor Pumpkin Water Table
• Art: Pumpkin Collage
• Sensory: Pumpkin Sensory Table
• Circle Time: Pumpkin Props
• Cooking: Pumpkin Muffins

You can see more here: A Week’s Worth of Pumpkin Activities