It became my mission to find an alternative to pumpkin carving. During a recent trip to a pumpkin patch, I discovered a Halloween activity, which included pumpkins, that even the youngest members of the family can participate in and explore their creativity in a new way; Pumpkin Painting.

Pumpkin painting is a fun and safe way to celebrate autumn and Halloween without the mess and safety concerns of pumpkin carving and your pumpkins will last much longer. With just a few supplies: big or small pumpkins, paint and paint brushes or markers, fake hair, plastic eyes, glue or  sealer and your imagination, anyone can transform a plain pumpkin into a whimsical, life-like character.

By tracing a pattern onto the pumpkin, young children can “paint by numbers” and create their own Halloween masterpiece. Or allow them to design their own unique pumpkin face or image on the pumpkin giving them freedom and a sense of accomplishment. Have a pumpkin painting contest, within the family, of who can come up with the most original piece of work. Display the pumpkins outside on the porch so that when trick-or-treaters come by they can vote on their favorite masterpiece. This would be especially fun if you were new to the neighborhood and wanted to meet your new neighbors.

A great way to make your pumpkin work double duty is to paint one side for Halloween. When Halloween is over, turn the pumpkin around, paint some autumn or Thanksgiving scene on the opposite side to add to your cornucopia of fresh gourds or to stand alone. Be creative and enjoy!