Pin the Nose on the Jack-O-Lantern

Pin the Nose on the Jack-O-Lantern Kid’s Game

Supplies: Poster board, markers to draw with, construction paper and craft supplies to cut out noses and eyes, blindfold.

This Pin the Tail on the Donkey type game is just right for kid’s Halloween parties and events as it is an easy game that most kids have played most kids will enjoy playing Pin the Nose on the Pumpkin.

Pin the Nose on the Jack-O-Lantern Game Prep
1. Draw a large pumpkin on a piece of poster board (22 x 28 should work) and then color it in. Note leave a blank square in the center where the pumpkin nose should go. You might also find a pumpkin graphic in a store you might be able to use, but then you will need to tape of the nose area with a triangle; so the pumpkin is missing it’s nose.
2. Create the noses options:
a. Cut out similarly sized triangles out of black construction page and number them on the back using a white pencil, so you know who pinned which nose. (You can use different colored paper if you want.)
b. Cut out different sized triangles or nose shapes from black construction paper and number them.
c. Make a document with a nose like triangle shape outline, you should be able to get 9 – 12 triangles per sheet. Print the sheet and cut out the triangle and then have the kids write their name on the back and decorate their pumpkin nose prior to playing the game.
3. Prior to a players turn add tacky putty or tape to the back of the nose, so it sticks to the Jack-O-Lantern.
4. Securely hang the Jack-O-Lantern image on a wall or door (never near steps) and have the nose be just above the average kids shoulder height.

How to Play Pin the Nose on the Jack-O-Lantern
1. Kids are informed that they are going to play Pin the Nose on the Jack-O-Lantern.
2. Then show them the Jack-O-Lantern and that the pumpkin has no nose. Tell the kids that one by one they will have a chance to pin the nose in the center of the Jack-O-Lantern. (Point to the center – blank nose space.) The player getting the nose closest to the center wins.
3. While at first this sound pretty easy, you will them reveal that they will be blindfolded for this task and spun around a few times prior to completing the task.
4. Now have the first child come up, (make sure you have their nose number or that their name is on the back) add tape to back of nose, hand it back to the player, blindfold them and then ask if they are ready?
5. When they say yes, spin them around 2 – 3 times and point them in the direction of the Jack-O-Lantern.
6. When they get within arms length of the Jack-O-Lantern tell them to STOP, slowly reach out the arm with the nose, and pin their nose on the pumpkin.
7. Once they have pinned their nose they can step back and take the blindfold off to see how they have done.
8. Continue this process until all players have gone.
9. Then evaluate which nose is closest to the center and determine a winner. If there appears to be a tie you can do one last round between the finalist.

These variations are simple changes to the image, so you can adapt it to your theme. Also be sure to have a clearly defined space that the image or item should be pinned to, as this helps when judging the results.

1. Pin the eyes on the pumpkin rather than nose.
2. Pin the tail on the cat.
3. Pin the wart on the witch. (Important the kids know where the wart should go.)
4. Pin the head on the skeleton.

Each of these ideas would work in a similar fashion as noted above. Create the image and items to be pinned and proceed to play. Have fun and Happy Halloween.

You might also like some of our kid’s printable Halloween party games.

Escape the Cemetery Left Right

Halloween Who Am I

Halloween Candy Dice Game