Puffy Pumpkin & Fluffy Ghost Craft

For 3-D art that pops, make this adorable Jack O’ Lantern and a fluffy ghost that can almost fly off the page!

Benefits of this Activity

This occupational therapy activity is a wonderful way to work on fine motor skills, sensory processing and executive functioning. Here are some ideas how to transform this cute craft into a therapeutic activity.

OT Pro Tips:

Tactile Play and Exposure to Wet Textures

This shaving cream play has a purpose! Some children love the feel of wet, slimy textures, but other’s prefer to avoid messy play. For those kids who have sensory processing challenges or tend to have tactile sensitivity, it’s best practice to offer a paint brush to paint on the puffy paint. You can even use a spoon to heap on the paint for an even puffier effect.

Reinforce Shape Recognition and Fine Motor Skills

For toddlers or young preschoolers, talk about  how to make basic shapes such as a circle for the pumpkin and and oval for ghosts.

Trace or draw triangle and oval shapes out of black construction paper to work on basic shape formations as well as cutting skills.

Practice following step by step directions

To reinforce organization and following directions, write out the steps, draw a simple picture or verbally tell the child how to follow each step.  

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Supplies

• White Elmer’s school glue
• White shaving cream (Barbasol brand works well)
• Orange food coloring or Orange tempura paint
• Paint brush
• Construction paper or cardstock
• Scissors
• Plastic container such as a tall cup or recycled yogurt container

Directions

1.  Mix equal parts white glue and shaving cream.  For an orange pumpkin, add the food coloring or tempura paint to the glue first.
2. Fold the mixture gently until mixed.  Avoid overmixing. This helps keep the shaving cream fluffy. 
3. Put the mixture onto the paper and spread it around with a paint brush.  Be generous with the amount if you want it to dry more puffy.
4. Set on a drying rack or dry flat on a cookie sheet.  Let dry overnight.