Pumpkins for pre-schoolers

Balloon volleyball
For a pumpkin you can play with try balloon volleyball.

What you'll need

• Lots of orange balloons
• Extra-large rubbish bags
• Black washable markers

What to do
Blow up all the balloons with air (no helium - you don't want these to float up) and draw jack-o'-lantern faces on them. Place the balloons in the rubbish bags. Have all the children stand in an open area. An adult climbs up on a chair and lets out all the balloons above the kids' heads. The object of the game is to keep all the balloons OFF the floor.

Carving pumpkins with older children
If you are carving pumpkins with your older kids, there are ways to involve your pre-schoolers that don't involve sharp knives. Let your little ones help remove the seeds from the inside of the pumpkin. Wash the seeds well and toast them in the oven. Add a little salt and you've got a healthy snack to counteract all those Halloween sweets. Set a few un-toasted seeds aside to dry. Next spring you can plant pumpkins in your garden for the following Halloween.

Whatever pumpkin activities you choose for your pre-schoolers, always remember to let them do as much of the project as possible. It may not be pretty, but they will have done it themselves, and that's what counts.