Introduction
As the seasons change, crafting provides toddlers with a creative outlet to explore different textures, colors, and concepts in developmentally appropriate ways. Crafts engage their developing fine motor skills while stimulating their imagination.
20 Seasonal Craft Ideas for Toddlers and How to Make Them
1 Fall Leaf Rubbings
Leaf rubbings allow toddlers to observe nature up close and transfer leaf textures onto paper. Gather leaves from the ground in various shapes and sizes. Place leaves vein-side up on a table. Provide toddlers with crayons, ideally the twistable crayon variety for little hands and sheets of paper. Show them how to gently rub the side of the crayon over the leaf veins to imprint the leaf pattern. Praise their creations and encourage naming the different leaf shapes.
2 Acorn Stamping
Collect acorns around your neighborhood in the fall months. Wash acorns thoroughly, then allow to dry fully before crafting. Provide toddlers with washable paint or finger paint and sheets of paper. Demonstrate stamping an acorn up and down or side to side on the paper to create patterns. Change up the stamping direction and pressure for varied designs. Consider laying out newspaper first for spill protection.
3 Pinecone Birdfeeders
This craft welcomes birds to feast outside as the temperature cools. Gather pinecones in varying sizes. Show toddlers how to spread peanut butter or seed mixtures generously onto pinecones using plastic knives or their hands inside a bag. Roll coated pinecones in birdseed to coat fully, then tie jute, yarn, or string to hang feeders outside high branches. Caution against ingesting materials.
4 Fall Wreath
Decorate the front door with a seasonal wreath using supplies found in nature. Collect dry fallen leaves, acorns, mini pumpkins, gourds, etc. Partially insert items like leaves, seed pods, and nuts onto a wire wreath or wooden frame for toddlers. Add texture, color and fall flair to their creations. Consider replacing real nuts with plastic versions for safety. Hang their wreaths proudly!
5 Leaf People
Demonstrate how nature inspires art by creating people-shaped silhouettes out of leaves. Provide toddlers with googly eyes, glue, and fallen leaves of different sizes and shapes. Show how to position a larger leaf for the body, then add smaller leaf arms and heads using dabs of glue. Encourage naming their unique leaf people characters. Display creations on the fridge or outdoors.
6 Pumpkin Painting
Carve or draw faces onto small pumpkins with permanent markers before allowing toddlers to personalize them further. Set up a fall-scented pumpkin painting station outdoors or at a table protected by newspaper, smocks, and washable paints in fall hues. Demonstrate dabbing and swirling techniques with sponges or brushes. Let designs dry fully before safely displaying pumpkins indoors.
7 Turkey Handprint Art
For a classic Thanksgiving craft, provide toddlers with brown, orange, and beige paint colors along with a big sheet of paper. Show them how to dip the palm and back of one hand into brown paint, then stamp it onto the paper to make the turkey shape and feathers. Repeat with the other hand for the turkey’s legs and feet. Let toddlers add additional prints or their handprints as wishes to decorate. Sign their names when dry.
8 Acorn Animal Craft
Transform acorns into adorable forest friends. Glue googly eyes and pieces of fall foliage, yarn, or fabric onto acorns to create hedgehogs, squirrels, frogs, or other animals. Get creative by adding cut-out leaf tails, pipe cleaner legs, etc. Display acorn critters indoors or nestle them amongst foliage outside. Consider non-toxic, kid-safe glues for safety.
9 Leaf Critter Craft
Using fall leaves, construct simple leaf critters like rabbits, bears, or birds. Cut leaf shapes for the body and head, then glue on smaller leaf accessories. Add acorn caps, seed pods, googly eyes, or other natural finds as embellishments. Teach toddlers to be gentle with scissors through supervised use of fallen leaves. Their leaf menagerie can decorate the home or live in a sensory bin.
10 Rainstick
Fill a dry, empty wrapping paper tube, paper towel tube, or plastic egg carton with dried materials like rice, beans, pasta, or popcorn kernels. Seal one end with tape, then decorate the outside with stickers, prints, or paints. Shake rainsticks indoors to hear the rainfall sounds or play outdoors on rainy days. Promote appreciating nature’s sounds creatively.
11 Leaf Sensory Bin
Fill a storage bin with dry fallen leaves, acorns, pinecones, and other natural items for indoor sensory exploration. Demonstrate sorting, stacking, and hiding items amongst the leaves. Consider adding tea lights, leaf-rubbing crayons, or acorn stamps for additional tactile fun. Toddlers can spend cozy afternoons immersed in nature through their senses even when the weather prohibits outdoor play.
12 Leaf Imprint Art
Collect and allow fallen leaves to dry fully. Brush white glue or non-toxic paint onto both sides of the leaves, then carefully position the gluey-side down onto cardstock paper. Place another sheet of paper overtop and gently rub to transfer the leaf imprint. Peel off leaves to reveal the subtle veined textures underneath. Display as nature-inspired art.
13 Fall Gift Bags
Tissue paper often comes in autumnal tones of rusts, oranges, and browns, ideal for seasonal gift bags. Cut rectangular sheets and fold them in half lengthwise. Secure with glue, staples, or tape along the open edge to form bags. Decorate with leaves, acorns, ribbons, or name tags for little gifts. Fill with treats, stickers, or small toys for holidays like Halloween or Thanksgiving.
14 Pinecone Bird Feeder Wreath
This craft appeals to fine motor skills and imagination. String yarn, thread, or fishing line through the tops of pinecones, leaving ample hanging length. Tie knots securely between pinecones to create a circular wreath shape. Show toddlers how to coat pinecones in peanut butter mixtures, then roll in birdseed, as discussed in an earlier project. Hang their wreath and watch for feathered friends!
15 Leaf Rubbing Magnets
After enjoying leaf rubbings, use the rubbings to create refrigerator magnets. Cut magnet sheets to match rubbing sizes, then glue rubbings the picture-side up. Allow to dry fully before transferring to the fridge. Toddlers can proudly point out leaf shapes on display. Consider non-toxic glue options recommended for young children.
16 Fall Window Cling
Cut fall-inspired shapes from contact paper, leaves, acorns, cider mugs, etc. Provide stickers, glitters, or prints for decoration. Demonstrate peeling back the contact paper backing slightly to stick shapes to windows, then smoothing for full adhesion. Change up the seasonal cling decor monthly as the elements shift outdoors.
17 Paper Maple Leaves
Fold construction paper in half lengthwise, then refine the edges with a leaf template, butter knife, or scissors into a maple-like shape. Punch a hole near the top “stem” with a hole punch. String leaves onto yarn, ribbon, or string to create a garland for over the mantle or above a door frame. Leave lots of length for movements in the Autumn breeze.
Transitioning to Winter Crafts
As fall leaves drift to the forest floor, winter’s quiet beauty soon emerges with soft snow and icy sculptures. Enjoy the season through kid-friendly crafts utilizing nature’s winter elements along with household supplies. Here are a few additional seasonal craft ideas to engage toddlers’ creativity during the colder months:
18 Snowflake Prints
Cut snowflake shapes from paper using cookie cutters, punches, or templates. Brush or spritz flaked whites and light blues across the snowflakes, then let them dry. Peel flakes back to uncover the intricacies formed within. Glue flakes onto cardstock and display them as winter windows or frame them individually as snowy art.
19 Snowman Craft
Use cotton balls, googly eyes, pom poms, buttons, or other supplies to construct classic snowmen. For body bases, consider empty wrapping paper rolls, paper towel tubes, or craft foam shapes. Demonstrate hot gluing accessories into arranged positions. Add seasonal scarves, hats, or other personalized touches.
20 Ice Sculptures
Melt white crayons in a pan over low heat until completely liquid. Pour into ice cube trays and add stick embellishments before freezing. Alternately, use ziplock bags to form crayon droplets, scribbles, or designs, and then freeze them flat. Provide toddlers with icy creations to arrange, stack, and explore melting properties over time. Discuss the scientific concept of solids and liquids with descriptive examples toddlers can understand. Remind them to handle ice creations gently and only for a short while indoors as they melt.
FAQs
When should I start crafts with my toddler?
Most toddlers between the ages of 18 months and three years show interest in crafting as their fine motor skills develop. Starting simple, open-ended crafts during this window helps toddlers experiment freely without pressure. Focus on the process rather than perfect products to nurture creativity and Self-expression. Keep safety at the forefront of your mind with non-toxic materials. Frequent short sessions work best for their developing attention spans.
Can 2-year-olds do arts and crafts?
Absolutely! Two-year-olds possess the capability to do basic arts and crafts tailored to their developmental level. At this age, fine motor skills are improving through activities like stringing beads, gluing pre-cut shapes, mixing paint colors, and using stamps, stickers, or non-toxic crayons safely. With patience and supervision, 2-year-olds can participate meaningfully in age-appropriate crafts, gaining pride in both process and results.
What to draw for a toddler?
Simple objects visible all around make great early drawing subjects for toddlers. Suggestions include people (start with basic body shapes), animals (cats, dogs, butterflies), transportation (cars, trucks, boats), nature items (trees, flowers, sun), foods (fruits, veggies), and toddler-level shapes (circles, zigzags, spirals, stars). Avoid complex perspectives at this stage. Model how to hold crayons or markers properly and move arms from the shoulder. Praise all efforts!
Can 2 year-olds play with crayons?
Yes, with supervision, 2-year-olds can explore crayons creatively. Suggest using large, blunt-tipped, or washable crayons designed specifically for toddlers. Demonstrate proper holding and provide an open space to draw freely, such as a table, floor mat, or easel. As their fine motor control grows, toddlers improve self-feeding and learn gentle handling through experiences like coloring. Make it engaging by asking what they drew or having them color pictures together. Prompt safety by preventing crayon ingestion.
How do you teach a 2-year-old how to draw?
The best way is through playful example and guidance. Set an example by drawing simple pictures yourself step-by-step. Commentate the process so they understand. Provide one to two basic shapes or tools at a time for them to experiment with imitating through kinesthetic learning by doing. Offer praise and inspiration for attempts rather than critiques. Drawing is self-expression, so it empowers creative freedom within reason. With nurturing practice over consistent short sessions, 2-year-olds’ drawing abilities will blossom.