3 Easy Sensory Friendly Pumpkin Play for Babies
Sweet B is on a field trip to a pumpkin patch and while I would have loved to have joined her- outdoor places like farms and pumpkin patches and I, just don’t get along. Even with my allergy meds, sometimes I just can’t win. So, instead of joining her, Squeaker and I are partaking in some at-home pumpkin play. Here are just two of the activities that we’re doing for our pumpkin play for babies ideas.
These are both sensory experiences as I want Squeaker to get a lot of hands-on play with different textures, smells, and tastes.
Sensory Pumpkin Play for Babies: Cloud Dough
First, we used a cloud dough recipe found at Lemon Lime Adventures, though our ingredient list is slightly different.
As you can see, here’s what’s going into our cloud dough, though it didn’t turn out orange like I had hoped, it was still a lot of fun for Squeaker to play with.
She was a little hesitant at first, but eventually she got her hands in there.
Sensory Pumpkin Play for Babies: Canned Pumpkin
Squeaker had a lot more fun with the canned pumpkin. It’s about the same consistency as her baby food, and since she’s normally not allowed to play with that, I think she had a lot of fun with this. We always keep a lot of canned pumpkin on hand for pies and bread anyway, so we’ll be making a pumpkin bread later on today (post to follow sometime today or tomorrow). Next time around, I think we’ll try to make our own mashed pumpkin.
She did a lot of smashing the canned pumpkin on her tray, and then squishing it in her hands.
And she just couldn’t resist trying a bit of pumpkin
Sensory Pumpkin Play for Babies: Other Ideas
Other ideas, that we didn’t get to yet, include:
1. Playing with actual pumpkins. You can find pumpkins of all sizes at farms, pumpkin patches, and the local grocery stores. Talk about the shape, the weight, the texture, etc.
2. Reading books about pumpkins. Another fun, and easy way, to have pumpkin play for babies is to read books about pumpkins. Talk about the book, if it’s touch and feel- interact with your baby while you read the book. If you’re looking for some suggestions, be sure to check out: Pumpkin Books for Kids, here on Just Another Mom.
3. Visit a pumpkin patch. Depending on where you live, visiting a pumpkin patch could be a great field trip and sensory experience. Aside from looking for pumpkins, there’s so much going on! You could talk about the weather, the colors, and the smells.
4. Fingerpaint a pumpkin. If you have a smaller pumpkin that’s easier for baby to handle, try fingerpainting. Yes it can be messy, but fingerpainting is such a fun sensory experience.
5. Paint with pumpkins. Likewise, you could try painting with a pumpkin.
What about you? What kind of activities do you like to do that involve pumpkins?
Kori
Latest posts by Kori (see all)
- Advice To Help You Create Your Dream Home - January 16, 2025
She looks like she is having fun! Thanks for the activity suggestions. Pumpkins are a great way to talk about big, bigger and biggest.
She is having a blast! I almost didn’t want to take that away from her.
Those pictures are adorable – what a great idea. Then if they lick their fingers, it’s not a problem. She has that look on her face of “should I?” I love it!! My son is 13, so not sure I want him playing with his food anymore. ha/ha
Thanks 🙂 And yeah, I don’t think that’d be too appropriate, lol.
That is such a neat idea! My daughter enjoyed decorating pumpkins last year. We didn’t get to it this year.
We haven’t decorated pumpkins this year either. Just not enough time.
She looks like she’s having so much fun! I know I always change my kids clothes & let them go to town painting one of those Jack-be-Little pumpkins.
She had a blast! I’ll have to start getting smocks/old t-shirts for her to wear once we do more art projects.
These are great ideas for “pumpkin play” and Squeaker is too cute!
Thank you so much, Shelah!
It was! Super easy too.
Very cute…I think I would have been a little apprehensive too…touching the cloud dough. I’ve always wanted to go to a pumpkin patch…I don’t recall ever going to one.
The texture was definitely different for her but after awhile she seemed to enjoy it.
Your daughter is so sweet and adorable in these photos. Love how this is a visual, textural and taste play time activity. Good job Mom!
Thank you so much, Linda 🙂 She had a lot of fun with this.
Looks like she had fun touch and tasting!
She really did! It wasn’t as messy as I expected either, so win-win 🙂