Halloween isn’t complete without carving pumpkins with your little ghosts and goblins. But it can turn ghoulish if she gets her hands on the carving tools.

“Young kids should not be using cutting instruments at all,” says John Cowden, a pediatrician at Children’s Mercy Hospitals and Clinics in Kansas City, Mo. “Even the plastic saws advertised as the safe alternative have teeth that can cause an injury.”

He can poke himself on the carving tools’ teeth and sharp points, or hurt someone else. Your child still can be hands-on by helping you clean out the insides of the pumpkin.

Cowden says kids can be creative in ways other than carving:

¢ Markers or paint: She can draw or paint faces on the pumpkin

¢ Construction paper and glue: He can draw lips, eyes and nose. You can cut them out and help him glue them on the pumpkin.

¢ Light up pegs: She can push light-up pegs in the pumpkin for a glow without the flame.

If you decide to carve a traditional jack-o’-lantern, consider a glow stick or battery operated light. And Cowden says be cautious with candles.

“A short, stubby candle is least likely to fall over,” he says. “Putting the candle in a glass jar can also help in avoiding pumpkin fires, as can a well-cleaned pumpkin. Most importantly, never leave a jack-o’-lantern with a lit candle unsupervised.”