15 Fun Pumpkin Activities for Preschoolers

Fall is one of the most exciting times of the year, and pumpkins are at the center of the season. From pumpkin patches to Halloween crafts, preschoolers love the bright colors, funny shapes, and endless creative possibilities that pumpkins bring. As parents, teachers, or caregivers, you can use pumpkins to combine fun with learning while keeping little hands engaged and happy.

In this blog, we’ll explore 15 fun pumpkin activities for preschoolers—perfect for classrooms, at-home play, or fall festivals. These activities are simple, safe, and designed to promote creativity, motor skills, and seasonal joy.

1. Pumpkin Painting

Carving can be tricky (and unsafe) for preschoolers, but painting pumpkins is a mess-free alternative. Set up non-toxic paints, brushes, and aprons, and let the kids transform small pumpkins into silly faces, animals, or abstract designs. Add stickers and glitter for extra fun.

2. Pumpkin Sensory Bin

Create a sensory bin by filling a container with pumpkin seeds, scoops, and cups. Add in mini pumpkins, leaves, and fall-themed trinkets for little ones to explore with their hands. Sensory play helps develop fine motor skills and curiosity.

3. Pumpkin Stamping with Cut Apples

Cut an apple in half, dip it into orange paint, and stamp it on paper to make “pumpkin prints.” Kids can decorate their stamped pumpkins with green stems, eyes, and mouths to turn them into jack-o’-lanterns.

4. Pumpkin Bowling

Set up a “bowling lane” using empty plastic bottles as pins and a small pumpkin as the ball. Kids love rolling the pumpkin down the lane to see how many pins they can knock over.

5. Pumpkin Collage Craft

Provide paper pumpkins (cut out from cardstock) and let children decorate them with tissue paper, buttons, yarn, or other craft materials. This activity strengthens creativity and hand-eye coordination.

6. Pumpkin Story Time

Incorporate storybooks like Pumpkin Soup by Helen Cooper or The Very Best Pumpkin by Mark Kimball Moulton. After the story, let kids draw or talk about their favorite part. Pairing literature with activities enhances comprehension and creativity.

7. Pumpkin Playdough Creations

Give preschoolers orange playdough and simple tools (cookie cutters, plastic knives, rolling pins). They can mold pumpkins, add green playdough stems, and even create tiny pumpkin families.

8. Pumpkin Counting Game

Use mini pumpkins to practice counting. Write numbers on cards, and have kids match the correct number of pumpkins to each card. This is a playful way to build early math skills.

9. Pumpkin Seed Art

Dry and dye pumpkin seeds with food coloring, then let kids use them to glue onto paper in fun shapes and patterns. They can make fall trees, rainbows, or decorate paper pumpkins.

10. Pumpkin Hunt

Similar to an Easter egg hunt, hide small plastic pumpkins or mini gourds around the classroom or yard. Preschoolers will love running around to find them. You can also hide little treats inside plastic pumpkins.

11. Pumpkin Relay Race

Set up a simple relay race where kids balance mini pumpkins on a spoon or carry them across the yard without dropping them. This activity builds gross motor skills while keeping things exciting.

12. Pumpkin Music Shakers

Fill small plastic pumpkins (or sealed containers) with rice, beans, or beads to make shakers. Preschoolers can decorate their shakers and use them to play along with fall songs.

13. Pumpkin Tic-Tac-Toe

Draw a tic-tac-toe board on cardboard and use mini pumpkins and gourds as the game pieces. Preschoolers will enjoy playing with oversized seasonal pieces instead of traditional tokens.

14. Pumpkin Dress-Up

Provide googly eyes, felt, yarn, and pipe cleaners for kids to stick onto small pumpkins and turn them into characters. They can make pumpkin animals, superheroes, or funny faces.

15. Pumpkin-Themed Snack Time

Wrap up your pumpkin fun with a themed snack. Try pumpkin-shaped cookies, orange slices arranged into pumpkin faces, or pumpkin muffins. Kids can even help decorate their snacks with safe toppings like sprinkles.

Final Thoughts

Pumpkins aren’t just for carving—they’re the perfect tool for fun, creative, and educational activities with preschoolers. These 15 pumpkin activities can be adapted for classrooms, playdates, or family gatherings, keeping little ones entertained while building important skills.

Whether your preschoolers are painting pumpkins, creating art with seeds, or racing in pumpkin relays, they’ll remember the joy of fall through these simple and engaging experiences. So grab some pumpkins this season and start making memories!