"You learn a lot about yourself when you become a parent. One unexpected passion I discovered in my first years of motherhood was that I loved pumpkin carving for Halloween. Now that they’re older my kids and I come up with pumpkin carving ideas together. We search Google and Pinterest—or they sketch ideas straight out of their imaginations.
Like many families, carving pumpkins is a Halloween tradition as beloved as dressing up in costumes. But where did the American tradition come from? According to a fascinating article on the history of pumpkin carving in National Geographic, “Jack-O’-Lanterns actually trace their origins back centuries to Old World traditions in countries including Ireland, England, and Scotland.” Immigrants then brought these traditions to the new world and “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, first published in 1820, propelled the pumpkin into American culture.”
Today, most trick-or-treaters look to houses with pumpkins outside to know where neighbors are handing out Halloween candy, fostering a sense of community. And in my house, carving pumpkins is an excuse to get creative—and a little messy. Pro tip: A quick search on Etsy or Pinterest will populate pumpkin carving stencils (like these!) to make the process a little easier. And, thankfully, pumpkin carving tools are generally safe (not sharp) tools for kids to use.
For the littlest ones this Halloween, parents probably want to steer more towards spooky than scary—unless you have one of those kids who loves their creepy doll or poseable skeleton. Whatever their interests, you can’t deny these pumpkins check the cute and creative boxes. If you’re looking for pumpkin carving ideas and inspiration your kids will love this Halloween, keep scrolling.
Kid-Friendly Pumpkin Carving Tips
The first thing I think of when pumpkin carving, is safety. Different standards apply to different ages, but there is a role to be played for everyone. From toddlers to teens, with the right tools and supervision, pumpkin carving becomes a memorable bonding experience for families.
Set Up Your Pumpkin Carving Space
The first thing you’ll need is a space where the kids can get messy. Set up plastic bags or old newspapers on the ground outside or somewhere where you can easily clean up those pumpkin guts. For toddlers and littler kids it might be a good idea to open up, clean and hollow out the pumpkins ahead of time so you can get right to carving or decorating. Older kids will enjoy getting their hands messy.
Get the Right Pumpkin Carving Tools
The first thing you’ll need is a set of child-friendly tools. Your local CVS, Spirit Halloween or even the grocery store is bound to sell a pumpkin carving kit.
The kits usually come with templates, a scooper, and small tools to make carving easier. They’re definitely worth the investment.
Creative Pumpkin Carving Ideas
Whether you want to go simple or all-out with your design, these pumpkin carving ideas are showing off some Halloween creativity. They’re perfect for a fall afternoon family activity and will leave everyone so proud of the work you’ve done! Plus, look for a darling idea perfect for little kids who prefer to paint over carve.
Character Pumpkin Carving Ideas
From Disney movies to superheroes to iconic video game characters, whatever your kid’s interest, there’s probably a pumpkin carving idea out there they’ll love (that you can help create!). Here are some of our favorite character pumpkins, with totally attainable designs for novice carvers.
Superhero Pumpkins
Super Mario Bros. Pumpkins
Bluey Pumpkins
The Nightmare Before Christmas Pumpkins
Disney Pumpkins
Classic Halloween Pumpkin Carving Ideas
Halloween essentials like not-too-scary bats, cats, owls, skeletons, witches, and ghosts will always have a place on our list of pumpkin carving ideas. And, of course, you can’t go wrong with a classic Jack-O’-Lantern.
Spooky Pumpkin Carving Ideas
Older kids may start to appreciate a little scarier style of jack-o-lantern. These ideas are still fun (and funny!) without spooking the younger kids trick-or-treating this Halloween.
Pregnancy Announcement Pumpkins
For the newly-pregnant this fall, you could consider using pumpkins to share the exciting news with friends and family. How cute are these pumpkin pregnancy announcements?
Pumpkin Carving Hacks for Moms
Whether you go with something classic, scary or even a no carve pumpkin design, there are some pumpkin carving tips to consider.
No one likes a decomposing, rotting pumpkin come October 31 (unless you’re going for that look!). Make your pumpkin last a little longer by soaking it in bleach, dipping it for a minute in salt water, or dousing the inside with petroleum jelly like Aquaphor or Vaseline.
When lighting the pumpkin, a small votive may feel like the right answer. But trust us, you get a bigger bag for your buck by choosing a battery-powered LED light that won’t burn the insides of your pumpkin.
Kathy Sisson, Senior Editor
A mom of two, Kathy is passionately committed to sharing the honest, helpful—and often humorous—stories of motherhood, as she navigates her own everyday adventures of work, marriage, and parenting. She honed her creative and strategic skills at advertising agencies in Detroit and Chicago, before pivoting from marketing to editorial. Now instead of telling brand stories, she’s sharing her own, with articles published across popular parenting sites—including hundreds of stories on The Everymom.