Fall Craft Ideas for Kids

This craft is excellent for preschoolers, as well as older children. It does not require that you iron leaves or wait for them to dry, so it is perfect for shorter attention spans. It makes a nice fall memento, and you can use it to explain to your child how and why leaves change color. You will need:

A bag for leaf collecting

Clear contact paper

Construction paper

Scissors

Stapler

Glue

To make:
Go outside in your backyard or to a local park and start collecting leaves that catch your interest. It works best if the leaves are not dry and crinkly yet. Fresh leaves work best because they are not brittle. At home, spread the leaves out on a newspaper. Set these aside for now. Cut two pieces of contact paper so they are just a bit smaller than your construction paper cover. Start by peeling back one of the pieces of sticky contact paper - adult help may be needed here! Arrange the leaves on the sticky surface. When the page is arranged, start on one side and slowly roll the second piece of contact paper over the first. Go slow so you avoid bubbles and get the pages to line up evenly.

Putting the leaves onto the contact paper and then pressing the two pieces of contact paper together are the most challenging parts of this craft, but you need to do this to "press" the leaves so they do not have to be dried and pressed for a few weeks. Repeat this as many times as you need to arrange all your leaves. Use two pieces of construction paper for the cover and staple the leaf sheets between them. Your child can then draw a leaf on the front, write his name, and show off his new book.

This craft uses another fall staple, apples. So many families will be heading out to the apple orchards this year, drinking apple cider and munching on delicious gourmet caramel apples. Apples can also create a wonderful craft! You will need:

Apples, of course!

Paint and brushes

Paper plate

Paper or something else to print on (you can also use fabric)

Newspapers and smocks or old clothing

Knife

To make, start by cutting the apples in half. You can do this from top to bottom or through the middle (through the middle makes the fun star shape).

Dip the apples in red or green paint and make a collage of fall apples on your paper or fabric. That's it! You can adorn paper, tote bags, t-shirts, aprons, or other materials with fall apples. This is great for small children and small attention spans.

(If you want more than just apple shapes, you can use a cookie cutter to make other shape stamps.)

This is another very easy craft that can be done with small children, as well as older children. You'll need:

White paper or card stock

Orange construction paper

Scissors

Acrylic, poster, or finger paints in fall colors (green, red, orange, yellow, tan, brown)

White glue

Start by putting newspaper over your work surface. The trunk of the tree will be made from your child's forearm, palm, and fingers. Paint your child's arm and hand in brown; this is your fun part. Use a good amount so it will transfer easily to the paper. Guide your child's arm and hand down to the paper and have him spread his fingers out. Try to get the "tree" into the center so you'll have plenty of room for leaves.

Press and then gently roll each finger, the palm, and finally the foreman onto the paper. Lift your child's arm straight up and to the sink!

After your child is clean and dry, put a small amount of each fall color onto the paper plate. He can now make the leaves of the tree by dipping his finger into the paint and stamping it onto the finger branches. Have him wipe his fingers with paper towels between each color.

You can glue the white paper to a piece of orange (or other fall colored) paper so you have a nice, bright border.