Give out noncandy treats. Packaged snack foods, stickers, pencils, crayons or bottles of bubble soap are novel, and neighborhood parents will be grateful for the switch. The right stuff. Always use appropriate carving tools. For children aged 8 and under, the kinds that come in prepackaged pumpkin-carving kits are best.
Older kids can use a sharp paring knife.
Top it off. Slice off the pumpkin top on a slant. This prevents the lid from slipping into your pumpkin. Cut a notch at the top where the lid meets the pumpkin to make a chimney for smoke. Hollow out the pumpkin using an ice cream scoop or metal spoon.