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My kids had a fantastic time with these paper doll chain-inspired pumpkin Jack O’ Lantern cutouts, and I think they make a simple, fun Halloween activity! I had the pumpkins cut out and waiting for them when they got home from school, and drew the first row to give them the idea. Six-year-old Emma promptly sat down and decorated the middle row of pumpkins pictured above:
Four-year-old Johnny drew the bottom row of the top photo, as well as several others – this was especially a hit with him!
Three-year-old Lily was originally busy with a different activity, but she soon put that away so that she could join her brother and sister:
Producing this row of very happy pumpkins :)
Drawing the faces on the pumpkins and looking at the ones I drew was a great way to talk to the kids about different emotions, what causes emotions, and how to coherently express how you’re feeling – very timely as emotional intelligence is something I’ve been working on with my intense kiddos!
Emma asked what the pumpkins were called, and I said they were paper doll chain pumpkins. She decided that paper doll pumpkins needed some clothes, so she cut one chain into individual pumpkins, and traced around them to create various outfits:
Johnny kept his pumpkins in chains, but he created this carry case and house for them!
Having my kids extend an activity like this in new creative directions always makes me happy! I think we’ve found a new favorite Halloween craft – do you have one?
Here are a few other favorite Halloween activities for kids from this blog!
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These are so cute and I love the idea of putting different faces of emotions on them too. We’ve been working on emotional intelligence a bit here too. Juiciness’s class is using a program called Second Step and we’ve been playing some of the games they recommend for parents.
Visit Kelly at Little Wonders’ Days … Design a Spider
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maryanne Reply:
October 13th, 2012 at 10:22 am
My daughter’s school using Second Step, too! I like it, so far.
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This is terrific! I adore the row of happy pumpkins, the squiggly frown on Emma’s second pumpkin and the hair on Johnny’s first. You are blessed with very talented and creative kiddos, and they all look so relaxed and happy while creating, too.
Visit Elisa | blissfulE … Anna outside
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maryanne Reply:
October 13th, 2012 at 10:54 am
I had this activity ready for them when we got home from school pick-up, and it was our most peaceful afternoon since the school year started! Now to come up with more ideas that have this lovely combination of a hint of structure, a little learning, and plenty of room for creativity…
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The clothes, the cases, so original & cute, it’s so fun to see what kids come up with, it’s always something clever. The holidays always make for some very fun activities.
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These are great I love the faces on them and it’s such a great way to talk about emotions with kids – would you mind if I linked to them in a post tomorrow
Visit Cerys @ Rainy Day Mum … Preschool Spider Web Craft to make this fall
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maryanne Reply:
October 13th, 2012 at 4:11 pm
I would love for you to link over to them! Thanks!
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What a great activity, thanks for the idea!!! My kids would love it!
Visit Ann … Words That Sound Alike
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I love the faces! How cute that the older two made extended the activity.
Visit Jenny … Wordless Wednesday
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Great idea! I love how you used the jack o lanterns for emotional intelligence. I LOVE your new header. Gorgeous picture.
Visit Allison … MFW Kindergarten – Tt is for Turtle
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maryanne Reply:
October 16th, 2012 at 4:14 pm
Thank you, Allison!
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Super cute! My kids would like doing this. Emotional intelligence seems to be a hot topic in all of the schools right now too.
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[...] with your toddler and preschool why not put a seasonal twist on them like Mama Smiles with these paper chain Jack-o-lanterns. Tweet /* [...]
I love Lily’s face as she’s drawing the pumpkins.
What a fun idea.
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maryanne Reply:
October 16th, 2012 at 4:17 pm
She really had fun with this activity :D
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I love it – Johnny is becoming quite an artist, and Lily has a great pencil grip for her age! I also love how they extended this activity.
Visit Natalie … Week In Review–October 14, 2012
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How sweet to make clothes for them. :)
Visit Jen … the british museum
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Those are adorable! I love crafts that show personality!
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Hi!
Sorry I can’t link our fav. craft ideas but here ya go:
1)Paper Bag Pumpkins – Fill a brown lunch bag with balls of newspaper (the kids love this part – ideal even for the youngest; maybe not Anna :) ), then twist the top to make the vine/stem. First test that the newspaper is arranged well enough for the bag to stand properly in he end. Next paint the bag with orange tempera paint (I believe in good quality art supplies for childen). Let dry. Perhaps paint the stem green. Have the children draw a face with a black perm. marker. Tada!
2) Pom-pom spiders – Make black pom-poms (various sizes; I recently invested in a pom-pom set to save the time on preparing cardboard circles). Either add the black pipecleaner “legs” through the middle before pulling the pom-pom together and therefpre finishing it or add them with glue afterwards. Add googley eyes. With strings hang them in the windows or doorways.
Egg-carton (segment) spiders are also fun but we’ve only done that once.
3) From now on also pumpkin pie spice playdough! I made it for the first time Oct.8th for Audrey’s pumpkin-carving birthday party (the first party with others ever – the kids never ever wanted one).
We also painted pumpkins (without faces) on some old overhead projector sheets (what do you call those?!) I found – with tempera paint (acrylic would keep longer over the years). Quinn did most and the effect on the windows is great because you can see them equally well from both indoors and out and they let more light through the windows. :)
4) Baking: Edible spiders – basically mounds of coconut shavings, beaten egg-whites and melted chocolate that are baked and afterwards you insert (chocolate-covered) pretzel sticks as legs and candies of choice as eyes. If you want the recipe, e-mail me and I shall go search for it. :)
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maryanne Reply:
October 16th, 2012 at 4:12 pm
Thanks for sharing your activities – these are all fantastic!
I agree with you that quality art supplies are worth investing in for children. And I would love your edible spider recipe! :D
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Tara Reply:
October 19th, 2012 at 1:13 pm
Actually, there’s one more we’ve reused for a few yrs. now: pumpkin (jack-o-lantern) placemats, made by the children and laminated by me. :)
Just now I also accidentally made a sort of honey-taffy by leaving a pot of a bit of butter and honey to melt for the apple strudel we’re making. So good! Now I have to go and melt some more for actual strudel. :)
Tomorrow we’re driving to Munich for a conference with Pres. Monson – the children are so excited!
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maryanne Reply:
October 22nd, 2012 at 7:16 am
Very cute! I’m intrigued by your honey-taffy, too – we’ll have to try that!
maryanne Reply:
October 22nd, 2012 at 7:16 am
How was Munich? Sounds so neat!!!
[...] kids to do with pumpkins. – Pumpkin Drip Art – Alphabet Pumpkins – Pumpkin Head Discovery Bottles – Jack-O’-Lantern Paper Chains – Tissue Paper [...]
I was going to make pumpkin cutouts to draw faces on, but this is better. :-)
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Oh, how fun!! Thank you so much for sharing at Sharing Saturday!!
Visit Carrie … Autumn Nature Walks & Crafts
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LOVE the faces the kids drew. So cute to see how different they all are.
Thank you for sharing on Kids Get Crafty!
Maggy
Visit maggy, red ted art … Book Review: Just Sew & Giveaway
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