Make spooky learning sparkle with the 5 Little Pumpkins Magic Paper Flashlight Trick—an easy, no-mess Halloween activity that brings the rhyme to life.
Need a quick calm-down activity? The Magic Paper Flashlight Trick | Easy Halloween Crafts for Kids is our go-to when the wiggles are real and the house feels like a pumpkin patch of chaos. This pumpkin light table activity builds fine motor skills and brings Halloween fun to life, keeping learning mess-free and simple. With a zip bag, markers, and a paper “flashlight,” your child can “shine” the beam to find the five little pumpkins, practice counting, and retell the rhyme—no glitter, no stress, just happy, focused play.
Pumpkin’s Magic Flashlight Trick Materials & Supplies:
Below is a list of the materials and supplies you will need for the Five Little Pumpkins Magic Flashlight Trick:
- a ziplock bag
- nail polish or an alcohol pad to remove the writing on the ziplock
- markers to draw the scene
- black construction paper as the background
- 5 Little Pumpkin Book
Watch The Video Tutorial…
How To Make The Five Little Pumpkins Magic Flashlight Trick:
First, draw a scene from the 5 Little Pumpkin Book. Then make a flashlight from paper and color it. Finally, offer your child to seek and find the pumpkins while reading the book.
Developmental Benefits | Object Permanence
Object permanence is a big milestone in baby brain development—it’s the understanding that people and things still exist even when you can’t see or hear them. Child psychologist Jean Piaget first described this concept, and you’ve probably practiced it without realizing it during peekaboo. When your baby grins as you “reappear,” they’re learning the world doesn’t vanish—it’s just hidden.
This Magic Paper Flashlight activity gently strengthens that skill. The pumpkins “disappear” in the dark scene and reappear when your child slides the paper flashlight over them. Little brains connect the dots: the pumpkins were there all along. As kids scan, predict, and search, they’re also exercising visual tracking, working memory, and early problem-solving.
Bonus perks: retelling the “Five Little Pumpkins” rhyme boosts language and sequencing, pointing and counting build one-to-one correspondence, and sliding the flashlight works fine motor control and bilateral coordination. For toddlers, keep it simple—name what you find. For preschoolers, add numbers, letters, or simple “What do you think we’ll find next?” questions to stretch attention, self-regulation, and confidence.
Summary:
This playful “flashlight” activity brings the book to life—kids get to “spotlight” hidden pumpkins while strengthening spatial awareness and object permanence. For older children, level it up: count and tally pumpkins, add simple number sentences, and practice recalling or sequencing the “Five Little Pumpkins” rhyme from memory to build working memory and attention.
Want More Hands-On Ideas Like This?
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For More Halloween Activities
Grab a freebie here Free Halloween Scissor Skills Preschool Practice.
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Make a not-so spooky Coffee Filter Bats Halloween Craft for Kids Decoration.
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Halloween Books For Kids
Shop our favorite books here.
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You will never feel ready because ‘ready’ is not a feeling; it is a decision.
You will never feel ready because ‘ready’ isn’t a feeling; it is a decision.
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