When preparing for Halloween, the first activity that comes to mind is carving a pumpkin. Unfortunately, it is hard to involve a pre-schooler in this activity: the knives are too sharp and it is difficult for a child this age to draw a face on such a round, bumpy surface.

But there are ways to decorate a pumpkin that even a toddler can cope with, if you can get away from the traditional idea of what a jack-o'-lantern should look like! Try these ideas at your home and enjoy the results and time spent together.

Painted pumpkins
Constructed pumpkins
Paper bag pumpkins
Balloon volleyball
Carving pumpkins with older children

Painted pumpkins
This is one of the easiest activities you can do.

What you'll need

• Small pumpkins (1 for each child)
• Washable acrylic paints
• Large, fat paintbrushes
• Old newspapers
• Paint aprons

What to do
Choose pumpkins in a size that your kids can pick up and handle comfortably. Then forget about carving and think about painting instead. Cover the floor with newspaper, cover your children with paint aprons, and set out several colours of paint and big, fat paintbrushes. Then step back and let your kids get creative.

Constructed pumpkins
If you'd rather not get so messy, try these constructed pumpkins.

What you'll need

• Pumpkins (1 for each child)
• Craft paper
• Scissors
• Brass paper fasteners

What to do
Cut out various eye, ear, nose and mouth shapes from coloured paper. Attach them to the pumpkin by pressing brass paper fasteners through the paper and into the skin of the pumpkin. You could also do this with adhesive-backed felt.

Paper bag pumpkins
If you find the idea of giving your kids a real pumpkin too daunting, try making paper bag pumpkins.

What you'll need

• Brown paper bags (one for each child)
• Old newspapers
• Washable orange paint
• Masking tape
• Washable black markers

What to do
Crumple up old newspapers and stuff them into your paper bag until the bag is about three-quarters full. Bring the top edges together and twist them tightly to make the pumpkin stem. Wrap the stem with masking tape. Paint the pumpkin orange. Leave to dry for about half an hour and then draw a jack-o'-lantern face on the front with black markers.

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.