As summer activities come to a close, many parents find themselves scrambling for new ways to engage their little ones as the temperature drops. Fear not! This collection of fall crafts for toddlers is here to save the day. With thirty-one creative projects to explore, there’s something for every child on this list. From tactile art projects to sensory crafts and more, these activities are designed to be both fun and budget-friendly.
In fact, most can be made with items already found at home or easily sourced at a low cost. Not only will these crafts keep your toddler occupied as the seasons change, but they also double as thoughtful gift ideas for friends’ children. So why worry about the changing weather? Dive in and discover the joys of fall crafting with your tiny tots! As always, feel free to share your favorite projects from this collection or suggest new ones that haven’t been covered here.
DIY Salt Dough Craft
While salt dough crafts may evoke memories of childhood creativity, they remain a timeless favorite for many. As the seasons change, I enjoy revisiting this classic medium around mid-fall to create new Christmas ornaments. But the possibilities don’t stop there – we’ve explored a range of non-holiday projects as well. The fun really begins after baking, when kids can get creative with paint or other mediums.
To preserve their masterpieces, an air-drying sealant is essential for maintaining the integrity of the artwork.
Popsicle Stick Scarecrow
While fall festivities wouldn’t be complete without a creative scarecrow craft, this simple yet engaging activity also offers opportunities for kids to develop their fine motor skills and spatial awareness. One way to adapt this project is to set it up in a semi-contained space, such as an oversized container or a designated crafting area, which provides a natural boundary that helps children align the popsicle sticks with greater ease.
Frozen Glitter Slime
When kids get their hands on something exciting, they can’t help but dig in. That’s exactly why this frozen glitter slime is such a hit. By keeping it frozen, you not only extend its lifespan but also give the kids an added sensory experience with the cooling sensation. What’s more, the stiffer texture requires them to put in a bit more effort and intention into their movements, providing an engaging way for them to burn off some extra energy.
DIY Bookmark
Sparking a love for reading in children can be an incredibly rewarding experience, especially when it involves creative and engaging activities like crafting DIY bookmarks together. These simple yet fun projects not only promote literacy skills but also encourage children to develop a passion for reading. To make the most of this experience, gather your art supplies or grab a colorful pack of cardstock to get started!
The added bonus is that kids tend to thoroughly enjoy tracing their own handprints, making it an activity that’s both enjoyable and memorable.
Popsicle Stick Pumpkin
The pumpkin popsicle stick craft serves as an excellent complement to the scarecrow project. When paired together, these activities provide a delightful way for kids to contribute to seasonal decor. I often attach magnets to the finished projects and display them on the fridge. To achieve the desired color, you can either have your children color each stick individually or opt for a two-step process: coloring the sticks separately and then assembling the project once everything has dried.
Crumpled Paper Christmas Tree
A fun and engaging craft that can help children develop their fine motor skills while creating a thoughtful gift for loved ones. To make this pinecone card-making activity more efficient, consider cutting out the silhouette beforehand, allowing your child to dive straight into the creative process. You can opt for a single shade of green or experiment with multiple hues to add some visual interest.
As with any craft project, the time required will vary depending on your child’s pace and attention to detail. To make things easier, prep everything in advance to ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience.
Halloween Porch Decorations
Our family’s annual Halloween tradition is a delightful ritual that brings us all closer together. While my kids are thrilled to participate, I must admit that I’ve grown quite fond of these special moments with them too. One such beloved tradition is decorating the porch for Halloween, which has become an integral part of our autumnal celebrations.
As we’ve spent countless afternoons working on these projects together, we’ve developed a collection of relatively simple yet creative activities that add a personal touch to our front porch. These family-friendly endeavors not only bring joy to my kids but also strengthen our bond as we work side by side.
Pumpkin Spice Playdough
There’s no need to elaborate further on this delightful pumpkin spice playdough. To ensure a steady supply throughout the season, consider batch-making it and dividing the creations into separate bins. This way, you can easily distribute freshly made playdoughs to your kids whenever they crave some creative fun.
What’s more, involve them in the process by letting them take charge of mixing – my own sons thoroughly enjoy being a part of the activity and often find the experience almost as thrilling as playing with the finished product afterwards.
Fall Leaves
One of the most appealing aspects of this craft is its ability to enhance toddler hand-eye coordination skills. What’s more, the project’s versatility makes it perfect for adapting beyond traditional tree designs. In fact, this dotting paint exercise lends itself beautifully to a wide range of creative projects, including pumpkins, apples, wreaths, and even turkey feathers.
The possibilities are truly endless, making this activity an excellent way to engage your little one in fun and educational play.
Fall Leaves Bookmark
Are you looking for a fun and engaging activity to do with your little ones this fall? Consider creating some unique bookmarks using fallen leaves! This project is perfect for a lazy Sunday afternoon, and it’s a great way to encourage your kids to explore the outdoors. To get started, simply grab a bag or bucket and collect all the different types of leaves you can find. Then, have each child select their favorite leaf and use it to create a one-of-a-kind bookmark.
This activity not only gets your kids outside, but it also teaches them about the different shapes, sizes, and colors of leaves that can be found during this time of year.
Apple Stamping
Apple stamping, a timeless craft that evokes childhood memories, is a versatile technique that can be incorporated into various projects. Whether you’re using paints, markers, or other mediums, apple stamping allows for endless creativity and experimentation.
Fingerprint Apple Tree
As the summer winds down, I turn my attention to apple-themed projects in early August – a fitting kickoff to the back-to-school season. This activity is an excellent way to bridge the gap between warm weather and cooler autumn days. To begin, gather your little ones around a creative medium of their choice, such as paper or canvas. Once they’ve crafted their tree silhouette, grab some finger paint and have them dot it with apples.
This dual-step process not only allows for artistic expression but also encourages fine motor skills development through the controlled application of paint.
Halloween Bat String Art
When working on Halloween-themed projects like this bat string art with kids, I find that it’s crucial to take charge and hammer in the nails first. This allows the children to focus on the creative process of stringing up the art, rather than struggling with the more manual task of hammering. By taking control of this initial step, you can ensure a smoother and more enjoyable experience for your little ones.
Mosaic Apple
The plethora of creative possibilities presented by the apple projects is truly astounding. In fact, it was a particular project that one of my children brought home from school that sparked our ongoing enthusiasm for such endeavors. Since then, we’ve undertaken numerous iterations, each one building upon the previous experience and encouraging continued innovation.
Apple Pie Paper Plate Craft
As we embark on this fun-filled baking adventure, my kids can’t help but get excited. They love imagining themselves as little bakery owners, carefully selecting their favorite apple varieties and choosing from a range of pie accessories to create a truly unique and educational experience.
Turkey Trivet
The tradition of crafting a turkey trivet on Thanksgiving is one that’s deeply ingrained in our household. What makes this project so special is not only does it perfectly capture the essence of fall, but also provides an opportunity for little ones to get messy and creative with their hands or feet. For more inspiration, be sure to check out these other engaging Thanksgiving crafts suitable for toddlers.
Cupcake Liner Owl
The perpetual puzzle of missing cupcake liners had me stumped. Every time I reached for them to whip up a batch of muffins or cupcakes, they seemed to vanish into thin air. Frustrated by the mystery, I decided to embark on a creative quest to find alternative uses for these pesky liners. My mission: to repurpose them in fun crafts that would delight the kids and keep them engaged with a dedicated stash.
Leaf Printing Pop Art
Spice up your afternoons with a creative endeavour that sparks imagination and creativity in your little ones. This engaging activity can be tailored to suit your child’s age and skill level, making it an excellent way to introduce them to the world of art. Take it to the next level by incorporating famous pop artists, allowing your child to learn about their inspirations and style while fostering a deeper appreciation for the craft.
Handprint Leaves
As toddlers continue to develop their observational skills, introducing hands-on activities like this handprint leaf project can be a great way to promote shape recognition. Start by gathering a few examples of leaves and allowing your child to select their favorite. Next, help them draw the leaf shape using simple strokes. To take it to the next level, have them place their hand on a piece of paper and trace its outline with crayons or markers.
Then, encourage them to color in the leaf, matching the colors to those found on the real leaves.
Clay Leaf Bowl
Having a reliable air-drying clay at our disposal has been a game-changer for various creative endeavors. Its versatility and ease of adaptation to diverse themes have made it an indispensable tool in our crafting arsenal. Case in point is this delightful clay leaf bowl project, where we’ve successfully harnessed the clay’s potential by having kids shape the bowls and then working together to gently and evenly press leaves into the clay.
Fall Tree and Painted Leaves
Embracing the whimsy of seasonal creativity, we’ve fallen in love with these colorful bingo daubers. Each one is carefully crafted to represent a unique time of year – fall, winter, spring, and summer – making them the perfect companion for a fun-filled art project with your little ones. To get started, have each child dot a page with their chosen color, allowing everything to dry completely before continuing the creative journey together.
As you work alongside your kids, bring their artwork to life by adding polka-dotted trees and leaves, resulting in a delightful seasonal masterpiece.
Thanksgiving Footprint Art
When embarking on this creative project, it’s essential to choose a location that offers ample space and is easily cleanable. A large poster or roll of paper are ideal surfaces for bringing your autumnal designs to life. Begin by dipping all body parts into the paint, allowing your little ones to unleash their imagination and creativity! Additionally, be sure to explore these other fun and engaging Thanksgiving crafts for kids that will keep them entertained and inspired.
Halloween Popsicle Stick Pumpkin
As Halloween enthusiasts, we’re thrilled to share that our creative juices run amok on this spooky-ooky holiday. Among our many favorite activities, making popsicle stick crafts stands out as a delightful and accessible way to get into the spirit of things. With pumpkins, witches, and even mischievous ghosts taking shape before our eyes, it’s a crafty adventure that never fails to put a spellbinding smile on our faces.
Fall Suncatchers Apple Acorn Pumpkin
When it comes to creating fall suncatchers, I believe they’re an excellent way to teach children valuable lessons in following directions. By opting for shapes that are relatively simple yet still engaging, we can maximize hands-on participation and ensure our little ones gain the most from this fun art project.
Pine Cone Hedgehog DIY
These adorable pine cone hedgehogs have won me over with their charm. For a creative and engaging project, consider using air-drying clay or salt dough to bring them to life. By letting your kids take the reins on the detailing process, you’re not only fostering their artistic skills but also giving them a sense of pride and accomplishment as they work independently.
As a bonus, these masterpieces will become even more meaningful in the future, knowing that they were created mostly by their own hands.
Marble Painting Pumpkin Craft
For toddlers who thrive in unstructured play, this marble painting project is an ideal way to encourage their creativity and exploration. To ensure a mess-free experience, consider setting up a dedicated space with a smooth surface that can be easily cleaned. This will allow your little one to fully immerse themselves in the activity without worrying about making a mess. To minimize cleanup, start by doing the painting first, followed by the cutting-out process.
This order not only saves time but also allows for a more streamlined and enjoyable experience.
Leaf Lanterns
Nature enthusiasts, rejoice! The season is made even brighter with these delightful leaf lanterns. These simple yet effective holders are perfect for showcasing your treasured nature finds. To preserve the integrity of your collected pieces, be sure to bring a bucket or bag along to collect them in. For an added touch, consider laying them out on a long rectangular piece of paper with the kids, and then have adults carefully adhere them to the glass to avoid any mishaps.
Fall Leaves Stamp Art
When it comes to stamp art, nature’s own creations can provide endless inspiration – just like apples, leaves, and other natural elements. One clever trick is to utilize sponges as makeshift stamps by tracing the silhouette of a larger object onto the sponge itself. This method allows you to enjoy these unique stamps for years to come without having to constantly procure new materials.
For even greater versatility, consider cutting your sponges in half or quarters to create smaller stampers that can be used on various projects, thereby reducing waste and saving both time and resources.
Fall Wreath
I’m excited to share that my kids have joined me in my love for creating fall wreaths! We’ve been making them together for a few years now, and they’ve become a staple in our household. The best part is that it’s a super versatile activity – any natural elements or foliage you collect can be glued onto the wreath and displayed wherever your little ones choose. In our case, most of our creations end up adorning the fridge, adding a pop of fall flair to our kitchen.
If you’re looking for more inspiration, I’ve also shared some DIY fall wreath ideas on my blog.
Fall Garland
The charm of garlands knows no age limit – even toddlers can appreciate their whimsical appeal. Our little ones had a blast creating their own fall-themed masterpieces, carefully selecting and stringing together autumnal treasures to proudly display in our home. And the best part? These versatile decorations are just as lovely inside as they are outside, depending on the materials used.
If you plan to hang your garland outdoors, be sure to treat the string or cord with a weather-proofing spray, like this one, to ensure it remains vibrant and intact throughout the season.
Leaf Monster Craft
We often revisit a favorite activity during the season: creating leaf monsters with my kids! They can’t get enough of these fun and easy crafts. One of the best things about leaf monsters is that they require minimal materials, which means you can use whatever supplies you have on hand. We’ve experimented with different materials, including paper lunch bags, construction paper, cardstock, and even embellishments like googly eyes and glitter glue.
The beauty of leaf monsters lies in their randomness – the more unexpected supplies you gather, the more creative your kids will be. And if you’re looking for another fun DIY project to enjoy together, our DIY paper spider craft is a great follow-up activity that’s sure to delight.
