Halloween is a magical time for kids, and pumpkins are the ultimate seasonal tool to make therapy and learning exciting. From playful crafts to counting games, emotional exploration, and songs, pumpkin activities engage multiple senses while building key skills like fine motor control, creativity, literacy, and social-emotional understanding.

Whether you’re a therapist, teacher, or parent, these eight pumpkin-themed activities are perfect for bringing festive fun into your sessions while keeping children actively learning and exploring.

Pumpkin Emotions Craft

Kids create Jack-O’-Lanterns that reflect different emotions. This activity fosters social-emotional learning, emotional recognition, and creative expression. Therapists can pair it with discussion questions about feelings to enhance emotional literacy.

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Pumpkin Face Lacing Practice

Decorate pumpkin faces while practicing lacing with yarn or string. This craft strengthens fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and bilateral coordination, and makes a fun, interactive Halloween activity.

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Pumpkin Paper Hats

Create pumpkin-themed paper crowns for costumes or festive play. This activity encourages cutting, gluing, and creativity and adds a fun, wearable element to Halloween celebrations.

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Handprint Pumpkin Wreath

Use children’s handprints to make a pumpkin-shaped wreath. This keepsake craft promotes fine motor skills, sensory exploration, and creativity, while providing a memorable seasonal decoration for the home or classroom.

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Paper Cup Jack-O’-Lantern Craft

Turn paper cups into Jack-O’-Lanterns that can glow in the dark. This activity is safe, easy, and non-scary for younger children, supporting cutting, drawing, and color recognition skills.

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3D Pumpkin Craft

A mess-free 3D pumpkin craft designed for toddlers. Kids can practice cutting, folding, and assembling, making it perfect for fine motor development and creative play without overwhelming prep or cleanup.

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BOOK: Ten Little Jack-O’-Lanterns

This tactile counting book helps children count backwards from ten to one with interactive pumpkin buttons. It supports numeracy, fine motor skills, and early literacy, making it ideal for preschool storytime or therapy sessions.

Read Ten Little Jack-O’-Lanterns by Amanda Sobotka

SONG: 5 Little Pumpkins

Sing along with “5 Little Pumpkins,” a fun and energetic Halloween song. Kids can practice counting, rhythm, and social interaction while acting out pumpkin faces and movements. Perfect for circle time, music therapy, or movement breaks.

Listen to Super Simple Songs

Pumpkin-themed activities are more than just festive fun, they’re a way to combine learning with seasonal excitement. By incorporating crafts, reading, and movement, you can create a rich, multi-sensory experience that supports children’s developmental goals in fine motor skills, literacy, counting, and emotional awareness. These activities are especially ideal for Halloween-themed therapy or classroom sessions, providing playful, hands-on ways to celebrate the season while keeping kids engaged and inspired.