Mummy Pumpkin
What you need
- a small pumpkin
- masking tape
- two circles of white paper
- a black crayon
- a tray
How to do it
- Stand the pumpkin on the tray and stick a row of tape strips along the edge of the table so each one is ready to peel off.
- Show them how to peel a strip, stick one end on the pumpkin and wrap it round.
- Let them keep peeling and wrapping until the pumpkin is covered in bandages, leaving a gap near the top.
- Draw a big black dot on each paper circle.
- Stick the circles in the gap to make the mummy's eyes.
Why it matters
Peeling, sticking and wrapping are all careful two-handed jobs, and the pumpkin slowly turning into a mummy keeps them going without any paint or carving.
What they're learning
- Two hands together
- Holding the pumpkin still with one hand while wrapping with the other gets both hands working as a team.
- Finger and thumb grip
- Peeling each strip off the table edge takes a neat pinch.
- Sticking with it
- Covering the whole pumpkin is a longer job they can see getting closer to done.
What to look for
Watch whether they hold the pumpkin steady while they wrap. If the tape keeps sticking to itself, shorter strips help.
A tip
Masking tape peels off a pumpkin cleanly, so it can still be carved or cooked afterwards.
Make it easier or harder
Easier: use short strips and let them stick them on any way they like
Harder: let them tear the tape off the roll themselves and draw the eyes too
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Fine motor activities · Activities for 2 year olds · Toddler activities with a tray · Toddler activities with paper · Toddler activities with masking tape