Don’t want to cut Jack o’ lantern? Not in the mood to pull out the seeds and bake pie? Would rather not DIY a seasonal centerpiece for your dining room table? The good news is there are plenty of other fun things to do with pumpkins, both before and after Halloween.

Even a seemingly uneventful orange gourd can become a learning experience for kids. You can get creative yourself…or get inspiration from some Instagram and TikTok parents and educators who’ve thought up these genius educational pumpkin activities already.

From science experiments to arts and crafts, toddlers to teens, here are some screen-less, alternative uses for pumpkins that’ll teach your kids a thing or two in the process. Just click on the links to see the ideas in action.

• To strengthen your child’s motor skills, have them wash pumpkins with a spray bottle and a toothbrush, or dig through a pumpkin sensory bin filled with orange-dyed rice and mini gourds

• To get in a science lesson, show your kids the life cycle of a pumpkin, create a pumpkin volcano by filling one up with a mixture of baking soda and food coloring, or have them describe the pumpkin using their observational skills

• To give them a basic cooking tutorial, make your own pumpkin fluff by mixing up four basic ingredients,including pumpkin pie filling and jello

• To encourage dramatic play, stage your own pumpkin patch at home and have your child role play a trip to the farm

• To have an art lesson, have them paint pumpkins using washable paint, paint markers, or other supplies you have at home

• To encourage reading, have them design a storybook pumpkin inspired by their favorite book character

• To get your tween to practice their math skills, have them measure the circumference of a pumpkin, as well as its height, weight, etc.

What’s your kids’ fave pumpkin activity or lesson?

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