4 Kid-Friendly Pumpkin Decorating Ideas

Ready to embrace a creative twist on the nostalgic fall activity of carving pumpkins? We’ve got you covered with four fun ideas that will encourage your child to practice the “art” in STEAM. Plus, they’ll even learn some science along the way!

1. Glow-in-the-Dark Pumpkin Painting

Instead of carving a pumpkin and placing a candle inside, try the alternative of using glow-in-the-dark paint commonly found at craft stores and online to create your “gourd-ous” masterpiece.

Paint on a scary face, mysterious message or an abstract design. Then, watch how the pumpkin comes to life when it gets dark!

How does glow-in-the-dark paint work? Science! The paint contains phosphors – a substance that absorbs energy from light to charge, and then slowly emits light for a period of time after.

2. Groovy Decoupage

From working with magazine cutouts to layering tissue paper shapes, let your child’s creativity be the guide when using Mod Podge^® to create a colorful, crafty pumpkin!

Start by collecting an assortment of thin paper shapes or designs and think about how you would like to arrange them on the pumpkin. Will you make colorful flowers or a silly face, or even spell out a seasonal message? Then generously coat the area you are working with in the Mod Podge, stick on your paper and seal it with another layer of Mod Podge.

Mod Podge is special because it can be used as a glue, sealer and topcoat. Its unique blend of water and polymers give it a strong bond to the paper and a harder finish than liquid school glue!

3. Sticker Scenes

Whether you’re creating intricate scenes or sparkly patterns, stickers can add low-mess interest and excitement to a plain pumpkin.

Stickers are made by chemists and engineers using different kinds of adhesives, or types of glue that help them stick to things. They create new adhesives to be more or less sticky, depending on the purpose of the sticker. Have you noticed that some stickers peel off an object easily and can be reused over and over, while others cling tightly to surfaces and leave behind residue when removed? This is determined by the chemical makeup of the particular adhesive used in the sticker.

Tip – look for a smooth pumpkin and clean off any dirt or residue to give your stickers the best “stick”!

4. Spooky Spider Webs

For a quick and easy pumpkin activity suitable for small hands, a string spider web will do the trick! Using white twine and hot glue (with adult supervision), you can create a wonderful web across your pumpkin.

Start by collaborating with an adult to hot glue the end of your twine to the bottom of your pumpkin, so it’s hidden away. Then, wrap the pumpkin with the twine in any pattern you please. Up, down and around, as the twine starts to overlap, you get the appearance of a spooky white web! When you’re satisfied with the twine placement, safely hot glue the loose end to the bottom of the pumpkin. You even can add decorative plastic or sticker spiders to enhance the web effect!

Do you know how real spiders make their webs? With a special protein stored in their abdomen, many spiders create silk webs to trap and store their prey.

Tip – if your twine is slipping as you wrap it around the pumpkin, consider securing it in place with hot glue as you work.

Never Stop Exploring

Keep an eye on our blog for more ways to bring STEM learning to life for your young innovator!