By Nicole Dean

Halloween inspires all kinds of activities to do with your toddler, especially pumpkin fun! Visiting the pumpkin patch together, shopping for (or making) Halloween costumes, and decorating the house. But one of the best Halloween activities is doing art projects together.

Here are two very simple pumpkin crafts that every toddler will enjoy. Prepare for the activity in advance, so your little ball of energy can dive right in.

Simple Paper Jack-o-Lantern
There's nothing at all fancy about this idea. Simply cut a few pumpkins out of orange construction paper. Then, cut several triangles and a few big goofy grins out of either black or yellow paper. Lastly, cut a stem shape and leaves out of green or brown paper.

Present the pieces to your toddler along with a glue stick and watch his creativity. Consider framing this work of art with some photos of your child at the pumpkin patch.

You'll treasure those three-eyed jack-o-lanterns years from now.

Pumpkin Painting
Oftentimes younger children miss out on the fun of jack-o-lanterns, because they obviously are too young to handle a knife. A toddler can scoop pumpkin guts, and draw a face onto a pumpkin, but then the rest must be handed over to an adult for the actual carving.

Here's a safer option. Pumpkin Painting. Think of how much fun your toddler or preschooler will have designing a pumpkin from beginning to end. And, don't stop with pumpkins. Paint gourds, too. Simply put an old t-shirt on your toddler, get out non-toxic paints, head outside so you don't have to worry about the mess and he'll go to town.

Spending art time with your toddler is not difficult and doesn't need to be challenging. Just give him age-appropriate tools, grab your camera, and relax. Your child will feel cherished, and you'll begin a tradition of making memories together.

Watch out Picasso. There's a new artist in town.

About the Author
For more fun with your children, visit http://showkidsthefun.com. And, for more information about Pumpkin Painting, don't miss http://www.showkidsthefun.com/pumpkin-painting.htm.

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