It’s almost the best time of year! It may still be hot and humid in many places across the country, but September will be here before you know it—and whether or not the weather wants to cooperate—I’m ready to switch into fall mode. Give me all-things pumpkins, pretty fall leaves, scarecrows, apples, and cozy sweaters for the next few months. Fall signals the start of a busy season for many families with back-to-school responsibilities and adjusting to new routines after summer. So, if you’re looking for a fun way to ring in the new season with your little ones (or just keep them occupied for a little while), we’ve rounded up a bunch of creative fall crafts for kids. They’re great for after-school days or weekends. Read on for 45 easy and fun fall crafts for kids!
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Fall Crafts with Leaves
1. Paper Doll Fall Leaf
With this craft, you and your kiddos can venture outside to grab crisp leaves that have fallen right outside your doorstep. Draw doll figurines and dress them up with all the pretty leaves you picked. A favorite activity rain or shine.
2. Leaf Pinch Pots
These pinch pots are easy for beginners and are great for your younger kids to master their finger strength. A plus is that they can be air dried. Pinch your clay into the leaf shape and paint with as many colors as you want.
3. Leaf Sun Catchers
This leaf sun catcher craft is a great project to help little kids practice scissor skills. It requires construction paper, tissue paper, contact paper, and a downloadable leaf template, which is provided. Once finished, the colorful leaves can be stuck to a window with tape or hung with a ribbon to catch the pretty fall light.
4. Painted Leaf Mobiles
We love when you can make art with items just outside your door. These leaf mobiles are beautiful and add a little pizzazz to a plain fall leaf. Add more as the season progresses. Find lots of leaves, grab a stick, paint, and some brushes.
5. Fall Tree Newspaper
Recycle all your newspaper this season into a fall tree that your kids can display. Twist the brown paper for the bark and branches, and if you don’t have newspaper, you can repurpose magazines for the leaves.
6. Thankful Tree
Cut different colored construction paper to make leaves and paint them with your favorite colors. Once you’re done, hang them on a tree branch for display and write what you and your family are thankful for on each one. Tip: if you have time, find a few acorns, dip them in paint, and then roll them over the leaves to add some fun patterns.
7. Felt Leaf Finger Puppets
This is the perfect craft for a rainy fall day! These leaf finger puppets can be crafted using small pieces of felt fabric and embellishments like beads and Googly eyes. Once the project is complete, these tiny friends are perfect for encouraging imaginative play.
8. Leaf Silhouette Art
This craft comes with a helpful leaf template you can download and print at home. Younger kids can simply color or paint the leaves in fall shades, while older kids can get more creative. Try using washi tape, glitter, yarn, and other crafty materials to add more dimension to the leaf silhouettes.
9. Fall Leaf Paintings
Take this craft outside. Don’t be afraid for your kids to get messy. Draw a couple life-sized leaves on some butcher paper, and tape it to a wall. While your kids paint, educate them on fall foliage and why they change colors. Kids ask lots of questions—this will keep them busy and curious.
10. Leaf Printed Autumn Banner
This banner captures the season’s changing colors by taking real fall leaves and using them as paint stamps on pieces of cardstock paper. String the pieces together to create a festive fall banner that can be hung on a mantle, on a bookshelf, or on a kid’s bunk bed. (Editor’s Note: Use laminating sheets to preserve the painted leaves on the banner to ensure you can reuse it for several seasons!)
11. Watercolor Fall Leaf Wreath
This fun project results in a cute piece of home decor to spruce up any space! The fall leaf wreath is easy to make with construction paper, watercolor paint, glue, and a ribbon for hanging. If the painting aspect of this craft is too much for your little one, go on a scavenger hunt to find real fall leaves and glue them together onto a paper wreath to dress up your family’s front door for the season.
Fall Crafts with Apples
12. Apple Printed Grocery Bag
Use the extra apples your kids picked from apple picking and make a fun patterned grocery bag. Cut your apple into any desired shape you want and use paint to stamp it onto a canvas bag. It can even hold all your apples the next time you go apple picking.
13. Apple Art Sensory Painting
This delightful hands-on project uses a paint-in-a-bag approach to indulge your little one’s sense of touch. To make it, use cardstock paper to create an apple stencil and squeeze a couple of apple-colored paints into a ziplock bag. With the stencil taped over the bag, your LO can push the paint around to design a mess-free apple. You can try crafting other fall cut-outs to extend this activity, as well.
14. Apple Pie Paper Plate
Nothing says fall like a crisp apple pie, and this cute craft exemplifies just that. This DIY uses real apples, which are cut in half and used as paint stamps for the pie base. The pie base is made from a paper plate and layered with construction paper to create the top crust. This is a great craft for toddlers or preschoolers to keep them entertained—plus, it doesn’t take too long to complete!
15. Felt Apple and Worm Peek-a-Boo Activity
Fall is also back-to-school season, and for any little ones missing their big siblings while they’re at school, or for kiddos who need an after-school activity, this easy sewing project is perfect. It can also be glued instead of sewn!
16. Yarn Apple Garland
Easy and adorable, this fall-themed craft can hang in your house as some homemade decor, or can be attached to a teacher gift. If you’ve ever made pom-poms, this craft is very similar.
17. Paper Maché Apples
Whether it’s for imaginary play, fall home decor, or a special Teacher Appreciation week gift, these paper maché apples are simple and adorable.
18. Apple Threading Craft
The best crafts for kids help develop fine motor skills while they play! This threading craft is so delightfully fall-themed while targeting skills that will help them tie their shoes, button their clothes, and more. Plus, the end result is colorful and gorgeous to display.
Fall Crafts with Pumpkins
19. Pencil Eraser Stamped T-Shirt
Not only is this DIY a fun activity, but this stamped T-shirt can be worn all season long as we gear up for Halloween. Dip a pencil eraser in colorful paint. Then, use the eraser to create a festive pumpkin on any white tee. Finish the design with a puffy paint embellishment. (Editor’s Note: Before your child wears their new shirt, wash it inside out in a normal cycle and tumble dry.)
20. Dip-Dyed Pumpkin Garland
We love coffee, so coffee filters are an easy item to use as a craft. Cut the coffee filters into pumpkins, accordion fold them, and dip them into orange watercolor. They turn out so pretty and are even prettier when they’re hung up. Use different colors if you like!
21. Unicorn Pumpkin
A fun twist on classic Halloween pumpkin decorating, this craft is the perfect fall accessory for any unicorn-obsessed kiddo. Simply paint a real or faux pumpkin white, and use store-bought accessories to complete the unicorn’s look. The best part? This DIY requires no carving!
22. Pumpkin Sponge Painting
Get messy with your kiddos using these sponge stamps. You can stamp them onto cards or wrapping paper, and kids are free to design their own or use the template linked above!
23. Pumpkin Sun Catcher
This no-mess craft is perfect for little ones who want to practice their scissor skills. Plus, its base is made of contact paper, so it’s durable and can be used again next year.
24. 3D Pumpkin Paper Craft
This 3D paper craft combines art and STEM. All you need is paper, scissors, and the guide linked above. Once they’re done, they double as homemade fall decor that your kiddos can know they made themselves.
25. Noodle Pumpkin Craft
This one is great for Halloween, or just fall in general! You’ll just need pasta (wheel or spiral), cardboard or paper, paint, and some googly eyes.
Fall Sensory Crafts
26. Fall Playdough
Similar to the fall slime recipe linked above, this fall playdough DIY is easy to make because it only requires six household ingredients: vegetable oil, water, food coloring, salt, cream of tartar, and flour. To keep your homemade playdough soft over time, wrap it in saran wrap and store it in an airtight container after play sessions.
27. Fluffy Fall Slime
Kids love slime, so why not make it a fall-themed activity? Combine shaving cream, Elmer’s glue, baking soda, food coloring, and saline to create this light and airy slime. It’s a great sensory activity for the little ones. (Editor’s Note: Though this slime isn’t as gooey as other recipes, here’s a helpful hack to get slime out of clothes after playtime.)
28. Fall Sensory Bottles
These sensory bottles are the perfect activity for preschool-aged children. Start with a recycled water bottle or jar. Then, fill the vessel with fall-themed items you can find on a family scavenger hunt. After adding colorful leaves, acorns, pinecones, and other natural objects, just add water!
29. Dancing Corn Experiment
Mesmerizing and scientific fun come together in this creative experiment that plays to the autumn harvest. You only need a few ingredients—corn, baking soda, water, and vinegar—and, right before their very eyes, your kids will witness their ability to harness the power of levitation! Plus, they can learn the chemistry behind the magic: how acid-base reactions result in the fizzing and bubbling that causes the corn to rise and dance.
30. Fall Popcorn Trees
This project only requires a few supplies, which are likely items you already have around your house. Just pop some popcorn and dip the kernels in colorful paint. Then, use printer and construction paper to create a pretty fall tree. The finished product will look so cute on the fridge!
31. Fall Tree Painted Rocks
Remember painting rocks from your childhood? We love the simple nostalgia of this activity for kids—simply dip the back of a small paintbrush in paint to create scenes with colorful fall trees.
32. Fall Napkin Luminaries
We love a fall kid-friendly activity that doubles as home decor. This project is a fun Mod Podge craft that can be completed with just a few supplies: glass jars, paper napkins, a paintbrush, and Mod Podge.
33. Fall Sensory Bin
Some kids like to be outside all the time, but when the weather isn’t cooperating, these fall-themed sensory bins let your kiddos explore all fall has to offer without ever leaving the house. Use chickpeas for the base, and add a drop of autumn scented essential oil for a full sensory experience!
Fall Crafts with Paper
34. Acorn Handprint
Encourage your own little acorn to trace their handprint and create this adorable acorn card. With some brown cardboard paper, Googly eyes, pink gems or paint, markers, and glue, they can fashion together a greeting-ready card that they can write to someone they love, or to themselves as a fall affirmation note!
35. Paper Loops Sunflower
Instead of buying flowers at the store, make sunflowers with real sunflower seeds. This easy craft only requires paper, sunflower seeds, glue, and scissors. You can make them as big or small as you want. The seeds are a great snack too—unglued, of course.
36. Scarecrow Corner Bookmark
Have your little ones look forward to reading a book this fall with a homemade corner bookmark. You’ll need paper, a pen, glue stick, and scissors. Make more than one for your book-lover in the family and use different colors for personalization.
37. Fall Printable Activity Pack
This printable fall activity pack includes more than 20 pages of fun learning exercises to keep kids engaged. With do-a-dot pages, number puzzles, and sorting and writing activities, this set is perfect for preschool-aged children. Though the digital download is free, you can “name a fair price” for the pack and pay the creator for these fabulous, fall-themed pages.
38. Fall ‘I Spy’
These free and cutesy printables are detail-oriented, ideal for engaging your child’s perception abilities. Filled with many icons emblematic of fall, your child has the option of locating as many of each type as they can (color printout), or coloring in each icon as they find it (black-and-white printout). You can even cut the grid out when they’re finished for a little fridge decor in the spirit of the season!
39. Fall Scavenger Hunt
Get outside with this free, printable scavenger hunt that encourages kiddos to take in the sights of the season and find apples, colorful fall leaves, a pumpkin, and more!
40. Apple Tree Name Craft
Not only is this apple tree craft oh-so-fall, but it’s an adorable way to practice name writing and letter skills. They’ll love cutting out the shape of their tree and then—with the help of an adult—planting an apple for each letter of their name.
Fall Scarecrow Crafts
41. Paper Bag Scarecrow
Start by filling a brown paper lunch bag with newspaper. Then, use construction paper to add a face, hat, and straw hair to bring this friend to life! Fun for kids ages 5 and up, this easy-to-complete scarecrow craft is also a relatively mess-free activity.
42. Coffee Can Scarecrow
A great project for older kids, this DIY scarecrow is a great way to upcycle an empty coffee can you might have in your bin. Use felt, spare buttons, twine, silk flowers, raffia, and a mini straw hat to complete your scarecrow’s look!
43. Craft Stick Scarecrow
Craft sticks, or recycled popsicle sticks, are a great tool for making a scarecrow! This is also an excellent classroom craft that is simple to make and easy to clean up.
44. DIY Scarecrow Mason Jar
Similar to the coffee can Scarecrow, this is a great example of homemade fall decor you can make with materials that may have otherwise been thrown out. With some paint and markers, this couldn’t be easier, and the end result is beautiful.
45. Paper Plate Scarecrow
This is a classic and is especially ideal for young kiddos who need simpler crafts to keep them busy. It is also super fun to play with after it’s done!
Fall Crafts by Age
Wondering which crafts are best for your kiddo’s age group? Keep reading for our guide on which fall crafts to do this season with your little one!
Best fall crafts for toddlers and preschoolers
Stick to simple crafts that use low-mess materials, while still acting as a sensory experience and building fine motor skills. Here are some of our favorites:
- Make a fall sensory bin that includes leaves, acorns, and all the other wonderful nature items that pop up as the seasons change.
- Help them create fall playdough or slime to play with—or just buy the store brand, we won’t judge! Think fall colors like red, orange, or yellow.
- Using paper you have lying around the house, make an acorn handprint craft! On the inside, they can even write a small message for themselves.
Best fall crafts for little kids
For little kids, age-appropriate fall crafts will still be simple and hands-on, while allowing them to explore their creativity and try new things. Here are some of our favorite picks:
- Leaf and apple painting is always a win, and allows them to get their hands dirty while experimenting with different colors and textures.
- With paper and scissors, you can help them make a fall-themed corner bookmark (scarecrows, pumpkins, etc.) to tuck into their favorite book before bedtime.
- Make a popsicle stick scarecrow! It’s simple and easy to clean up, but they can still add their own personal touch with items like buttons and leaves.
Best fall crafts for big kids
The best fall crafts for big kids are creative, hands-on, and just a bit more challenging to keep their hands (and minds) busy. Here are our favorite picks:
- Make a fall luminary to light up your home’s outdoor space, and let your kiddo get creative with the design for the interior—maybe a haunted house or a pumpkin patch?
- Help them create a fall garland with yarn apples or paper pumpkins. They can hang it in their room and usher in the fall season with some personalized decor.
- Help them create fall suncatchers to add to their windows. They can be any shape they want: pumpkins, apples, ghosts, etc.
FAQs
What are easy fall crafts for toddlers?
Some easy fall crafts for toddlers include paper plate and popsicle stick scarecrows, fall sensory bins, and other hands-on, sensory activities like making slime or painting fall rocks.
What are easy fall crafts for little kids?
Some easy fall crafts for little kids include paper crafts like corner bookmarks and leaf silhouette art. Think simple crafts that are still easy to clean up—sponge painting, popsicle stick crafts—but that allow for a little more freedom and creativity.
What are easy fall crafts for big kids?
For big kids, the best fall crafts are creative, hands-on, and a little bit challenging. Some of our favorites are fall luminaries, pumpkin suncatchers, and fall-themed mason jars.
What household items can I use for fall crafts?
You’ll want to have normal craft supplies like paper, scissors, tape, markers, and paint lying around for you and your kiddos’ fall crafting session. Other than that, fall items like leaves, acorns, and pinecones are must-haves. The best part? They’re easy to find and free!
What are mess-free fall crafts for kids?
Some mess-free fall crafts for kids include paper crafts like paper plate scarecrows and fall-themed corner bookmarks. These can be made without messy supplies like paint and glue. Another great option is fall-themed printables with coloring pages and activities. They’ll keep your kids plenty busy and require little-to-no supervision.
Katherine Ballesta-Rosen, Former Editorial Intern
Besides being an avid reader and writer since girlhood, Katherine decided to kick her literacy-laden background up a notch by receiving her Master’s in teaching, and went on to teach English Language Arts to high schoolers for several years. As a former intern at The Everymom, Katherine wrote about topics such as maternal wellness, sex and relationships, and more.
Rebecca Smith, Editorial Assistant
As an Editorial Assistant, Rebecca works with The Everymom team on updating existing content, photo sourcing, pitching original articles, and more. She’s passionate about creating authentic and diverse online content and is thrilled to help women of all ages feel represented.