Ghost Bananas and Clementine Pumpkins

What you need

• Bananas, 2
• Soft veggies (peppers, cucumber), a few small celery stem pieces
• Plate or tray, 1 (optional)
• Clementines, a few
• Knife, 1 butter knife
• Chocolate chips, a small bowl (age 4 and up) (optional)
• Towel, 1

How to do it

Grown-up prep: Wash your hands and the fruit and celery. Cut the celery into short, thin stem pieces, about the size of a fingertip. Have your child wash their hands too. For children under 4, skip the chocolate chips and the celery stems, and cut the clementine segments in half before eating. Chocolate chips can contain milk and soy and may have nut traces, so check labels for allergies. Stay close during snack time, because small pieces can be a choking risk for little ones.

1. Wash your hands with soap and warm water, then dry them.
2. Rinse the clementines and celery under cool water, then set everything out.
3. Cut each banana in half across the middle, with the peel still on. Ask for help if you need it
   Ask: If we cut one banana into two, how many ghosts will we get?
4. Peel the banana halves and stand them up, flat side down.
5. Press chocolate chips into each banana for two eyes and a spooky mouth.
   Ask: Is your ghost surprised, silly or sleepy?
6. Peel the clementines, keeping them whole and round. Ask for help if you need it
7. Poke a small piece of celery into the top of each clementine for a stem.
8. Arrange your ghosts and pumpkins on the plate, then enjoy your spooky snack.
9. Now share your party with a friend, or make more! What other fruit could join in?
   Ask: What silly name will you give your favorite ghost?

Play it again

• Silly faces: give every ghost a different face, like sleepy, surprised or giggly.
• Pumpkin patch: make a whole row of clementine pumpkins and count them before eating.
• Story time: invent a short tale about your ghosts and pumpkins at the fruit bowl party.