A large display of pumpkins, scarecrows and hay greeted me as I walked into Sam’s Club yesterday. I just laughed. The Fall season in Florida begins… HA! Visual cues in stores help us keep track of what happens with normal seasonal changes, while the heat here continues. Actually, I was quite pleased at the natural aspects of the display, and that it wasn’t some outlandishly freaky Halloween display. I much prefer images that represent the whole season, not just one of it’s special days. Hay bales smell like the Autumn season, happy scarecrows beckon us to be resourceful – and become a little tricky with what we have; and pumpkins are a bright splash of joy in a world of fading colors.
I LOVE PUMPKINS !
It began as a little seed of an idea… to celebrate this big round orange fruit of the season with families. It has since grown into a delightful garden of books, songs, dances, stories, and craft activities brought out each year to enjoy with the families in my weekly Kindermusik classes, as well as special one-time family events on one Saturday in October. This will be the 7th year !!! I gather so much fun ideas, that I actually have to prune it each year to allow only the best to be included in our little event. What a wonderful garden of pumpkin fun we are growing together !!!
7th Annual Pumpkin Party in 2014
Pumpkin wear, or lighthearted costumes are fun, and welcome, but not required !
Saturday, October 11 – 9:30 am – Babies up to 24 months
Saturday, October 11 – 10:30 am. – Families with children 1 – 5 +
Tuesday, October 21 – 3:00 pm. – Families with children 1 – 5 +
Wednesday, October 22 – 11:30 am. – Families with children 1 – 5 +
Thursday, October 23 – 10:30 am. – Families with children 1 – 5 +
Pumpkin Party Playdates Enrollment Form
In October, we will Party with the Pumpkins through all of our events.
Kindermusik Playdates include stories, songs, lap bounces, finger plays, games, and crafts for families to enjoy some creative time together, and leave with ideas, music, and extras to allow further exploration and learning at home. This special pumpkin Playdate is adapted for two age groups.
9:30 am. Baby event (3-23 months, or so)
10:45 am. Family Event (1 – 7 yrs old, or so)
Cost: $20 for the first child, + $10 for each extra child participating in class and crafts, etc.
Current Kindermusik Families: $10 for the first child, $5 for each additional participating child
The event for BABIES is specifically designed to meet the unique needs of those who are not yet ready to socialize with the big kids, and love more hands on rolly polly fun. We have several fun baby safe props for our activities, like scarves for partner play, and the parachute for group togetherness.
Most families, even those who have children of a variety of ages, including babies, will enjoy the themes of planting a pumpkin garden, exploring these big round orange orbs, dancing like pumpkins, making jack-o-lantern faces, and glowing in the dark !
We simply love going to a variety of Pumpkin Patches around Lakeland and choosing REAL pumpkins for our Party, and our following weekly classes. There are two types of little pumpkins (one is actually a gourd), and we must have many of those… one for each child at the Party. Then my daughter and I take on the task to seek and find just the right pumpkins in increasing sizes. You see, we use these pumpkins as part of a story where the it “grows” into “The Biggest Pumpkin Ever” ! That is the true treasure find of the year – finding the LARGEST pumpkin (that I can still lift without hurting myself). It is awesome watching the children interact with all these different sizes and weights !
Reserve your place now! Class size is limited to 12 students (along with their adult partners).
All those who enroll by Oct. 4th, will receive an email with a PLAYLIST of all the songs that we will use in the class, as well as a download code and a link to play.kindermusik.com.
This will allow you and your child to start listening and becoming familiar with the music, preparing for wonderfully engaging participation in this music experience.
For more pumpkin fun and ideas, check out some of my previous articles:
– includes a slide show of fun pumpkin activities in previous years
* Pumpkins aren’t just for Halloween.
– includes lots of fun ideas and links to fun resources online.
What kind of fun does your family enjoy with pumpkins? How do YOU decorate your holiday pumpkins?