Pumpkin Patch Ring Toss

What you need

• Plate or tray, Paper plates with centers cut out, instead of pool noodle rings (optional)
• Painter's tape, 1 roll
• Crayons or markers, A few, for decorating plate rings (optional)
• Pumpkin, 3, or plastic bottles wrapped orange
• Kid scissors, 1 pair, for a grown-up
• Pool noodle, 1, cut into rings (optional)

How to do it

Grown-up prep: Set out 3 small pumpkins, or plastic bottles painted or wrapped orange. Skip glass bottles because they can break. You move the pumpkins, since heavy ones can drop on little toes. Make rings by cutting a pool noodle into lengths and taping each into a loop, or by cutting the middle out of paper plates. Do all the cutting yourself. Clear a stretch of floor and mark a throwing line with painter's tape.

1. Cut out your rings and tape a throwing line on the floor. Ask for help if you need it
2. Set the pumpkins or bottles in a row, a few big steps from the line. Ask for help if you need it
   Ask: Which pumpkin looks easiest to hit? Which looks trickiest?
3. Decorate your plate rings with stripes, faces or spooky patterns.
4. Stand behind the line and try one practice toss.
5. Toss one ring at a time, aiming for a stem or bottle top.
   Ask: Does a gentle underhand toss or a flick work better?
6. Count the rings that landed over a stem, then gather them up.
7. Move the tape line one big step farther back and play again.
8. Keep stepping back each round until rings stop landing, then celebrate.
   Ask: What was your best distance? Can you beat it next time?
9. Now invite a friend to play! How far back can you both go?

Play it again

• Point values: give each pumpkin a different score and add up your points after three rounds.
• Switch hands: toss with your other hand and see if you can still ring a stem.
• Three in a row: try to ring all three pumpkins in a row without missing.