Day Care Ideas With Pumpkins!
Whether it be as decorations, food, or fun body activities, pumpkins are more versatile than you think! They create family bonding times during the carving, and set a spooky yet fun atmosphere when trick-or-treaters come knocking on your door.
But what to do after the witch’s hats have been put up and the candy eaten? How can a daycare create fun and new ways for the kids to experience pumpkins? These don’t just have to be used for day cares. Working moms will appreciate some of the exfoliating techniques, and single working parents can use the limited time at home creating some of these delicious recipes with your kids!
Here are 6 ways to make the most out of that old pumpkin that is rotting on your front stoop. Uses range from food, decorations, and even body care!
Food
- Stuffed Pumpkin – the pumpkin is already hollowed out, now stuff it again! Use bread crumbs, cheese, garlic and cream. To add flavor to the cream feel free to add nutmeg and black pepper. Cut the bread and cheese into slices, throw it in the pumpkin, and bake! Make sure there is a nicely sized hole on the top to scope out the deliciousness at the end! The oven should be at 350* and the pumpkin should bake for 2 hours, taking the top off for the last 20 minutes.
- Pumpkin Biscuits –Warm biscuits straight from the oven are mouthwatering enough, but with pumpkin? Count me in! Follow any typical biscuit recipe, but add ½ teaspoon of allspice and ¾ cup canned pumpkin. Add the pumpkin to the flour, the allspice to the salt, flour and baking soda, and you’re set to go with the most mouthwatering pumpkin biscuits!
Body
- DIY pumpkin body butter – This exfoliating ‘oh-so-good’ massage aide and moisturizer is actually extremely easy to make! Mix ½ cup of pumpkin puree, ½ cup solids from a can of coconut milk and a ½ teaspoon of cinnamon. That’s it! Once you apply to the skin and massage it in, let it fully soak in for 10 minutes or so, then rinse off with warm water.
- Pumpkin Mask – This is a great excuse to sit back and relax for an hour while getting pampered, exfoliated and moisturized! Everything one needs in the fall season! Unfortunately, this is not something to be done at home, but offered at many spas and skin care specialists. The smell is intoxicating, the feel of your skin baby smooth, and your complexion ready to take on the world!
Home
- DIY floating pumpkin candles – Place these in water-filled shallow bowls on the dinner table and have a beautiful fall inspired centerpiece. Buy 6-8 miniature pumpkins and the same number of small votive candles. Cut a hole the size of the candle in the top of the candle and sit the candle snugly in the hole.
- DIY fresh-pumpkin air fresheners - Make the delicious smell of Halloween and Thanksgiving last throughout the season. This is extremely and will hone your pumpkin carving abilities! Cut the top off and scoop the guts from the pumpkin just like you would if you were carving it. Cut holes in the pumpkin sides for ventilation, then spread your favorite spice along the inside of the pumpkin top (nutmeg, cinnamon, etc.). After you place a beeswax tea candle in the middle, light it, and let the subtle aromas of pumpkin mixed with spice calm and relax you.
Whereas the pumpkin body butter and candles might not be appropriate for a daycare, they make great gifts for the parents, or for your personal home!
