Who has carved punkin's with Kindergartners?

[blacksunshine]

My Daughter really wanted me to be one of the Dad volunteers at her school for pumpkin carving tomorrow...other than the obvious, I have no particular pumpkin carving skills....

What do I need to know and what kind of specialty pumpkin carving tools should I run and get at the store?

Last time I carved a pumpkin, it was rather large and I busted out the sawzall...

[Stan R]

I think the stores have carving kits for that purpose...

[MountainMan]

If the wife ropes me into carvin pumpkins, I use a paring knife to carve, a big spoon to scoop out the guts, and a jigsaw blade to scrape the outside with. You can get some cool 3D effects goin on. Get you a sharpie to draw the design on the pumpkin too.

Good luck!

[RickBarbee]

Green River Skinner, and a sharpie.

4 kids, and soon to be 12 grandkids.

Yep, I've been there. Heck, I'm still there LOL.

[Bodey]

My wife teaches kindergarten and I went in to carve pumpkins for years. It's lots of fun and the little kids really enjoy it. A little sharp paring knife, a good fishing filet knife and a stiff handled steel serving spoon to scrape the insides out. Draw the design with a "sharpie" pen before you cut and let the kids participate in the. Watch the smiles.

[LeanMachine]

just got done carving a 3d skull from a pumpkin for our work competition. If they only knew how much it cost them for me to carve that pumpkin while on the over time clock

[47]

Just finished a couple with the 4 year old.

[Big Spec]

i just finished mine with my 3 year old. Carving kit from Walgreens, HEB, Walmart. It gives you instructions and the knives to cut the pumpkin

[Gummi Bear]

Buy a carving tool set. (less than $10 with several different pieces)

They're serrated, and not terribly sharp to the touch, but SOOOOO much easier to use in the meat of the pumpkin. No slipping or sharp blades flailing away, just a gentle sawing motion to remove pieces.

I've let my daughter help for the last couple years with them; she does one pumpkin, and I do another. It's a fun evening on the back porch together.

You can download and print free patterns to transfer or trace onto your pumpkin online. I've gotten a couple of pretty neat ones that way.

[stinkbelly]

Just remember you are in a "Weapon free zone" so just bring spoon. Wouldn't that be awful if they didn't let you use a knife.

I have the boys draw with a marker before I cut. They really enjoy drawing on them.

[blacksunshine]

Just remember you are in a "Weapon free zone" so just bring spoon. Wouldn't that be awful if they didn't let you use a knife.

I have the boys draw with a marker before I cut. They really enjoy drawing on them.

I wondered about the weapon free zone deal...I mean when I have been in there before I had my leatherman wave on my hip and no one said anything...but, I have to hit the office first, they have to know you are their then photocopy your dl...

Guess I should call them to find out...

how do you cut the top open with no knife?

[blacksunshine]

whew....made it out alive....no blood was spilled....kind of like when I go camping with my bow as my Wife says...haha