Make Playdough Pumpkins with your kids this Fall. This is a fun and easy fine motor activity that will help toddlers and preschoolers develop fine motor skills, math skills and more.
If you want to make your Fall themed lessons a breeze, then check out the Fall Activity Pack. It’s filled with math and literacy centers, fine motor activities and arts and crafts templates. All of which are aligned with preschool learning standards. Check it out today.
Disclosure: Adult supervision is required for all activities at all times. Some of the links provided in this blog are affiliate links. I will be paid a commission if you use this link to make a purchase.
More Fall Themed Fine Motor ideas to try
Here are some more fine motor play ideas for toddlers and preschoolers to try this Fall / Autumn.
- Free Fall Playdough Mats
- Playdough Turkey
- Fall Tree Threading Activity
- Pumpkins and Rubber Bands – Fine Motor Activity
- Pumpkin Fine Motor Mats (Free Printable)
For more ideas, take a look at these 15 Fall Fine Motor Activities for Kids.
Materials Needed
- Orange playdough
- Pumpkin Seeds
- Green pipe cleaners
- Playdough tools
Playdough is really easy to make. In fact, you can get your kids to help you do it. I love this no-cook homemade playdough recipe. It stays lovely and soft for a very long time. You’ll never go back to store-bought after you’ve tried to make your own.
How to Make Playdough Pumpkins
2D Pumpkins
1. Roll your orange playdough into a ball, and squash it into a flat circle.
2. Decorate the center of your playdough with pumpkin seeds.
This is a great opportunity to work on counting and one-to-one correspondence with your kids.
3. Take a piece of green pipe cleaner and place it at the top of your pumpkin.
3D Pumpkins
1. Roll your orange playdough into small balls.
2. Take a piece of pipe cleaner and push it into the top of your playdough.
3. If you have made many 3D pumpkins, sort them from the smallest to the biggest. Or group them into three different groups of small, medium and big pumpkins.
Sorting and grouping by size is another early math skill that toddlers and preschoolers can master through play activities.
What You’re Learning
Fine Motor Skills
Fine motor skills refer to the small muscles in the hand and fingers. Developing these skills are important in being able to write when the kids go to school, as well as being able to complete tasks independently. (For example, dressing and feeding themselves).
Rolling and squashing the playdough into shape, as well as placing the pipe cleaners and pumpkin seeds are all going to help young kids develop:
- Pincer grip and/or tripod grip
- Hand-eye coordination
- Dexterity
- Hand strength
Math
Counting – count how many pumpkins seeds you’ve used, or how many pumpkins you’ve made. This is a wonderful way to help toddlers and preschoolers learn to count to 10 or 20.
One-to-one correspondence – this is the skill of counting one object as you say one number. For example, only say the next number when you’re actually moving the pumpkin seeds.
Sort by Size – if you have made many 3D pumpkins, sort them from the smallest to the biggest.
Science
This is the perfect time to talk to your kids about some simple science behind pumpkins. Discuss things like:
- Where do they grow?
- What do they need to grow?
- What can we use pumpkins for?
- What effect does eating them have on our bodies?
Are you going to make Playdough Pumpkins with your kids?
Don’t forget to pin the idea for later.
87 Pages of Fall themed play based learning activities. Perfect for preschool and kindergarteners.
