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What's not to love about fall? Your family can spend the weekends apple picking or leaf peeping while you sip a pumpkin-spiced latte. Don't forget the adorable matching plaid outfits and cozy sweaters. If you're growing a little pumpkin, you can lean into the autumn name inspiration and baby shower ideas. The slightly chillier temperatures also make it the perfect time to dive into planning fun fall activities and crafts for toddlers.
The projects below all use seasonal supplies from nature like apples and leaves to make beautiful works of art. If you're feeling artistic, take a crack at the apple tree hat or papier-mâché caramel apples below. If you'd like to skip the mess, tracing leaves is a fun project that only requires crayons. Whatever you choose, it's safe to say your little ones will fall for these ideas.
Finger paint some colorful trees
A pretty tree is right at your toddler's fingertips! Print a picture of a bare tree (or draw one yourself if you're feeling artistic) and present it to your kids along with washable finger paints in fun fall colors like orange, yellow, red and green. They can dip their fingers in the paint and stamp them on the tree branches to create their own fall foliage.
Collage an acorn
This project is a win-win. Kids get to make a cool collage and get to repurpose materials like cardboard and old magazines. This craft is especially great when you're working with children of different ages. For tiny tots, you can use a black marker to draw an acorn shape and pre-cut little squares for them to work with, while older kids can cut their own shapes. All they'll need next is a glue stick to finish their project.
Use an apple to stamp some pumpkins …
Apples, pumpkins and paint, oh my! This sweet idea combines them all. Cut an apple in half to make the stamp, then brush some orange paint on the flat side. Little ones can then press it onto paper to make that classic pumpkin shape. Have them add googly eyes and little green paper leaves to finish the look — and maybe a crooked smile, too!
… and apples!
While you're at it, you can also use your apple stamp to make, well, apples! This time, use green and red paint, wait until it dries, then add your leaves and stems. Lastly, cut them out and hang them on the fridge!
Turn a handprint into a tree
High five! Use a brush to coat your kid's hand in washable yellow or orange paint. Your little one can then press her palm onto the paper and (once the paint is dry) draw on some branches with a washable marker. (If you're crafting with a toddler, you can use a permanent marker to finish the project yourself.)
Make an apple tree crown
Art is extra fun when it's wearable! This craft comes courtesy of Kids Craft Room, and you can find a printable template on the site that makes the whole thing even easier.
You'll need some printer cardstock for the tree and headband, popsicle sticks to keep the tree's trunk upright, scissors, glue sticks and markers. There are a few variations (glued-on apples vs. drawn apples), so you can choose the level of difficulty based on your kid's age.
Stencil some leaves
Remember this trick from when you were a kid? Stenciling leaves makes everyone take a moment to appreciate nature's beauty. Kids can pick up some leaves outside, place them under a piece of printer paper and etch over the top of them with tempera paint or crayons.
Paint with broccoli
Typically, you'd tell toddlers to eat their greens, but in this case it's totally okay to play with them because broccoli florets happen to make excellent stamps. Just dip a sprig in washable paint, and then dab to create vibrant fall foliage on a pre-painted (or drawn) tree trunk.
Create a bubbly apple
Bubble wrap is always a fun time, but this craft goes way beyond popping it. Paint an apple shape onto the bumpy side of the wrap in your choice of color. (Here's a free template if you'd rather not free-hand it.) Then, kids can press the textured stamp onto paper. Give them markers or some big ol' googly eyes to add a face.
Design rock monsters
This project rocks! It's a scavenger hunt and art class all in one. Have kids find flat-faced rocks outside and pretty leaves in a multitude of shapes and sizes. Use double-sided tape to attach leafy "hair" to the rocks, then have kids draw on faces with a permanent marker and add some googly eyes.
Serve some tissue paper caramel apples
These caramel apples look good enough to eat — and they're pretty simple to make too. Have kids decoupage pieces of red or green tissue paper onto a white background. Once they're done, cut out an apple shape. Layer on some wiggly brown paper (the caramel), and attach a popsicle stick to the back. It's a good time without the cavities.
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