Easy Fall Crafts for Toddlers: Ideas by Age

Looking for fall crafts for toddlers? Start with an activity that fits your child's interests and the supplies you already have. Pumpkin pictures, apple prints and leaf collages can all become simple autumn projects without a long shopping list.

Choose one craft, prepare the materials before inviting your toddler over and let them decide how their finished picture should look. An adult should stay with them throughout the activity, handle cutting and choose age-appropriate materials.

Here are some simple craft ideas to do with your baby or toddler:

1. Pumpkin Handprint Card

This simple craft can be done even with newborn babies! Make an adorable card to give to a loved one, or create a beautiful fall picture to display in your house. Grab some orange non-toxic paint, gently paint your baby’s hand, and press onto a white piece of construction paper. Once it dries, cut a circle around the handprint, and glue onto another piece of orange construction paper. Cut out a green stem, or use green paint to use your baby’s finger to make a stem. Now you’ve got adorable pumpkin art, perfect for the fall season!

2. Baby Keepsake Ornament

What better way to decorate for the season than with a personalized ornament? With the KeaBabies Handprint Ornament Keepsake Kit, you’ll have everything you need to make a wonderful piece of art to hang in your home. The kit comes with an instruction video, non-toxic clay, ribbons, stamps, and paint. You can even go to a craft store to grab some different colored paints or some festive fall ribbon to make your craft perfect for the season!

3. Apple Painting

Apple painting can be a fun activity for your toddler or preschooler! It is also wonderful for developing hand-eye coordination. Simply cut an apple in half, paint a fall color onto the apple, and have your child press down onto a piece of construction paper, and let dry. You can experiment with different paint colors, or let your child pick a few different colors of apples.

4. Fall Leaf Art

You can help your baby or toddler make a cute fall collage using beautiful leaves you collect together outside! You can help your baby or toddler collect different colored leaves outside, or even make a scavenger hunt out of it! Then simply grab a piece of construction paper and help your little one glue all your findings onto the paper! You can also draw a tree trunk and some branches, and let your little one glue the leaves on to make their own fall tree!

5. Fine Motor Skills Leaf Activity

For this activity, you’ll need clear contact paper, faux leaves or real leaves, and masking tape. Cut out a large piece of contact paper, and tape to a window or a wall, with the sticky side out. Let your toddler place leaves onto the contact paper. You may need to help guide your child’s hand or help them press the leaves down enough so they stick. Once they’re done, you can even add another piece of contact paper on top to seal the artwork! It’s ideal to do this activity on a window that gets a lot of light - the leaves will be beautiful with the fall sun shining through!

Two more simple fall craft ideas

Torn-paper pumpkin

You will need orange and green paper, a large sheet of paper and age-appropriate glue. Draw a pumpkin outline. Help your toddler tear orange paper into pieces and place them inside the outline, then add a green paper stem. Prepare larger pieces if your child is still learning to tear paper.

Leaf crayon rubbing

Place a clean, dry leaf under a sheet of paper. Hold the paper steady while your toddler rubs the side of a chunky crayon across it. Try a second leaf and compare the shapes and lines. Keep natural materials away from mouths and wash hands afterward.

For an easier cleanup, put a washable mat beneath the activity and bring out only the materials you need. Skip loose glitter, small decorations and other items that are not suitable for your child's age.

There are so many simple ways to do crafts with your little one. Doing crafts can help develop your child’s hand-eye coordination, color recognition, and fine motor skills! Doing art projects together can also be a wonderful bonding time for parents and children! With the KeaBabies Baby Handprint Ornament Keepsake Kit, crafting with your baby can be simple and fun!

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