15 Fall Crafts for Toddlers: Fun, Simple, and Seasonal Projects

As a craft artist and early childhood educator, fall is one of my favorite seasons to create with toddlers. The colors, textures, and scents of autumn offer the perfect backdrop for hands-on learning and sensory play.

Over the years, I’ve designed crafts that are not only safe and simple but also meaningful—using materials you likely already have at home.

In this collection, you’ll find 15 fall-themed projects that support fine motor development, spark creativity, and help little ones explore seasonal concepts like leaves, pumpkins, and apples.

Whether you’re a parent, caregiver, or educator, these crafts make it easy to turn everyday moments into joyful, lasting memories. Let’s create something beautiful and playful this fall.

Why Fall Crafts for Toddlers?

Engaging Toddlers in Seasonal Activities

Fall is a sensory wonderland for toddlers. The leaves change color, pumpkins appear on porches, and apples fill the markets. Crafting helps your child explore these seasonal changes in a hands-on way.

When you make a paper plate pumpkin or a leaf rubbing, you connect your toddler to nature. They start noticing the world around them—the crunch of leaves, the smell of pinecones. These crafts turn fall into an adventure they can touch and feel.

Developmental Benefits

Crafts do more than keep your toddler entertained. They help your child grow. Painting a pumpkin strengthens their little fingers, building fine motor skills. Gluing tissue paper or rolling a corn cob in paint engages their senses.

Every craft in this list encourages exploration through textures, colors, and shapes. Plus, completing a project gives your toddler a boost of confidence. They feel proud when they hold up their handprint turkey or leaf suncatcher.

Parental Involvement

I know crafting with toddlers can feel daunting, but these activities are designed for you to join in. You’ll supervise to keep things safe, but you’ll also share laughs and create memories. Each craft is quick to set up and easy to clean up.

You don’t need to be an artist—just a parent who loves spending time with their child. These moments of gluing, painting, and chatting about fall are what your toddler will remember.

Materials and Safety Tips

Common Materials

You don’t need a fancy craft store haul to make these projects. Most materials are already in your home or easy to find. Stock up on non-toxic paints, glue, and markers. Grab paper plates, cotton balls, or yarn from your kitchen or craft bin.

For a nature-inspired touch, collect leaves, pinecones, or twigs on a walk with your toddler. Recyclable items like cardboard or egg cartons work great too. These crafts are budget-friendly and sustainable.

Safety Guidelines

Safety comes first when crafting with toddlers. Always use non-toxic, washable materials. Choose tools like safety scissors or large paintbrushes that fit small hands. Avoid tiny items like beads that could be a choking hazard.

Keep a close eye on your child when they’re painting or gluing. I like to have a damp cloth nearby for quick cleanups. These simple steps ensure your toddler stays safe while having fun.

Preparation Tips

Set up a craft station to make things smooth. Lay down newspaper or a washable tablecloth to catch messes. Pre-cut shapes for younger toddlers to keep tasks simple.

For example, cut out a paper stem for the paper plate pumpkin in advance. Have all materials ready before you start so your toddler doesn’t lose interest. A little prep goes a long way in making crafting stress-free.

15 Fall Craft Ideas for Toddlers

Here are 15 crafts that capture the spirit of fall. Each one includes a description, materials, steps, and the skills your toddler will practice. Let’s get started!

1. Paper Plate Pumpkins

I love how simple and cheerful paper plate pumpkins are. Your toddler paints a paper plate to create a bright pumpkin face. It’s a perfect first craft for fall.

Materials: Paper plates, orange paint, green construction paper, non-toxic glue, black markers.
Steps: Give your toddler a paper plate and orange paint. Let them paint the plate completely. While it dries, cut a green paper strip for the stem. Help your child glue the stem to the top. Use a black marker to draw a jack-o’-lantern face together.
Benefits: Your toddler practices color recognition by using orange and green. Painting and gluing strengthen their fine motor skills. They also get to express creativity with the pumpkin’s face.

2. Leaf Rubbing Art

Leaf rubbings are a magical way to explore nature. Your toddler uses crayons to reveal leaf patterns, creating art they’ll love.

Materials: Fresh leaves (collected on a walk), white paper, crayons with paper removed.
Steps: Place a leaf under a sheet of paper. Show your toddler how to rub a crayon over the paper gently. Watch the leaf’s shape appear! Try different leaves and colors for variety.
Benefits: This craft introduces your toddler to leaf textures, boosting sensory exploration. Rubbing the crayon improves hand-eye coordination and grip strength.

3. Pinecone Hedgehogs

Pinecone hedgehogs are adorable and spark imagination. Your toddler turns a pinecone into a cute animal with a clay face.

Materials: Pinecones, air-dry clay, googly eyes, glue.
Steps: Help your toddler mold a small clay ball into a hedgehog’s face. Attach it to the pinecone’s narrow end with glue. Add googly eyes to bring it to life. Let it dry before displaying.
Benefits: Shaping clay engages tactile senses. Adding eyes and features encourages creativity. Your toddler will love naming their hedgehog!

4. Apple Stamping

Apple stamping is messy and fun. Your toddler uses apple halves to create colorful prints, perfect for fall.

Materials: Apples, washable paint, white paper.
Steps: Cut an apple in half to reveal the star-shaped core. Pour paint onto a plate. Let your toddler dip the apple half into paint and press it onto paper. Repeat with different colors.
Benefits: Stamping is a sensory delight, letting your toddler feel the apple’s texture. It also introduces patterns as they create rows of prints.

5. Fall Tree Collage

This craft brings a fall tree to life with colorful tissue paper leaves. It’s a vibrant way to celebrate the season.

Materials: Brown construction paper, tissue paper (red, orange, yellow), glue.
Steps: Cut a tree trunk shape from brown paper and glue it to a white sheet. Tear tissue paper into small pieces. Let your toddler crumple and glue them around the trunk as leaves.
Benefits: Crumpling and gluing tissue paper builds fine motor skills. Choosing colors helps your toddler learn about fall hues.

6. Handprint Turkeys

Handprint turkeys are a classic keepsake. Your toddler’s hand becomes a turkey’s feathers, making this craft extra special.

Materials: White paper, washable paint, googly eyes, glue, orange paper for beak.
Steps: Paint your toddler’s hand with brown, red, and orange paint. Press it onto paper to make feathers. Glue googly eyes and a small orange triangle for the beak on the thumb area.
Benefits: The paint on their hand provides sensory fun. Creating a turkey fosters personal expression and pride in their work.

7. Pumpkin Seed Art

Pumpkin seed art is a unique way to use fall leftovers. Your toddler glues seeds to make shapes or patterns.

Materials: Pumpkin seeds (cleaned and dried), paper, glue, optional paint.
Steps: Draw a simple shape (like a pumpkin or leaf) on paper. Help your toddler glue seeds inside the shape. Paint the seeds for extra color if you like.
Benefits: Gluing seeds hones fine motor skills. Arranging them into shapes encourages creativity and focus.

8. Leaf Suncatchers

Leaf suncatchers brighten any window. Your toddler creates a translucent design that glows with fall colors.

Materials: Clear plastic lids (from yogurt or takeout containers), tissue paper, glue.
Steps: Cut tissue paper into small squares. Let your toddler spread glue inside the lid and press tissue paper pieces onto it. Seal with another lid or plastic wrap and hang in a window.
Benefits: Layering tissue paper improves fine motor skills. The glowing colors stimulate visual senses.

9. Corn Cob Painting

Corn cob painting is a fun, textured craft. Your toddler rolls corn cobs in paint to create unique patterns.

Materials: Corn cobs (husks removed), washable paint, paper.
Steps: Pour paint onto a tray. Show your toddler how to roll a corn cob in paint, then roll it on paper. Try different colors for a vibrant effect.
Benefits: Rolling engages gross motor skills. The cob’s texture provides sensory exploration and creates cool patterns.

10. Scarecrow Puppets

Scarecrow puppets inspire storytelling. Your toddler decorates a paper bag to make a friendly fall character.

Materials: Brown paper bags, construction paper, glue, yarn.
Steps: Cut out a hat, eyes, and clothes from construction paper. Help your toddler glue them onto the bag. Add yarn for hair. Use the puppet for playtime.
Benefits: Decorating builds fine motor skills. Playing with the puppet encourages imaginative storytelling.

11. Acorn Painting

Acorn painting turns tiny treasures into mini artworks. Your toddler paints acorns to look like pumpkins or faces.

Materials: Acorns, washable paint, small brushes.
Steps: Collect acorns on a walk. Let your toddler paint them with orange or other colors. Add faces with a marker if desired. Display in a bowl.
Benefits: Painting small acorns strengthens fine motor skills. It also connects your toddler to nature.

12. Fall Sensory Bottles

Sensory bottles are calming and fun. Your toddler shakes a bottle filled with fall-themed items to watch them swirl.

Materials: Clear plastic bottles, glitter, small leaves, tiny pinecones, water, glue.
Steps: Fill a bottle with water, glitter, leaves, and pinecones. Glue the cap shut tightly. Let your toddler shake and observe.
Benefits: Shaking the bottle stimulates senses. It also serves as a calming tool for quiet moments.

13. Tissue Paper Pumpkins

Tissue paper pumpkins are soft and colorful. Your toddler creates a pumpkin shape with crumpled tissue paper.

Materials: Orange and green tissue paper, white paper, glue.
Steps: Draw a pumpkin shape on paper. Let your toddler tear and crumple orange tissue paper, then glue it inside the shape. Add a green tissue paper stem.
Benefits: Tearing and gluing improve fine motor skills. The bright colors teach fall themes.

14. Leaf Crowns

Leaf crowns make your toddler feel like fall royalty. They glue leaves onto a paper band for a wearable craft.

Materials: Construction paper, leaves, glue, tape.
Steps: Cut a long strip of paper to fit your toddler’s head. Help them glue leaves onto the strip. Tape the ends to form a crown.
Benefits: Gluing leaves builds fine motor skills. Wearing the crown boosts confidence and imagination.

15. Cotton Ball Apples

Cotton ball apples are soft and squishy. Your toddler paints cotton balls to make a three-dimensional apple.

Materials: Cotton balls, red paint, green paper, glue, white paper.
Steps: Let your toddler paint cotton balls red. Glue them in a circle on paper to form an apple. Add a green paper leaf and stem.
Benefits: Painting and gluing engage sensory and motor skills. The 3D effect sparks curiosity.

Tips for Success

Adapting for Age

Every toddler is different, so adjust crafts to their abilities. For younger toddlers (ages 1-2), pre-cut shapes like stems or leaves to keep things simple. Older toddlers (ages 3-4) can try cutting with safety scissors under your supervision. Offer more choices, like picking colors, as they grow. These tweaks keep crafts fun and frustration-free.

Encouraging Creativity

Let your toddler take the lead where possible. If they want a purple pumpkin or a silly turkey face, go with it! Praise their effort, not just the result. Say, “I love how you mixed those colors!” instead of focusing on perfection. This builds their confidence and makes crafting a joy.

Clean-Up Strategies

Messes happen, but they’re easy to manage. Use washable paints and glues to save your sanity. Keep a damp cloth or wipes handy for quick cleanups. Involve your toddler in tidying up—they can toss paper scraps or wipe the table. It teaches responsibility and makes cleanup part of the fun.

Displaying and Using Crafts

Display Ideas

Show off your toddler’s creations to make them feel proud. Create a fall-themed art wall with their pumpkins, turkeys, and trees. Hang leaf suncatchers in a window to catch the light. You can even string pinecone hedgehogs into a mobile. These displays brighten your home and celebrate your child’s efforts.

Incorporating Crafts into Play

Crafts aren’t just for show—they’re for play too. Use scarecrow puppets for storytelling or pretend play. Shake sensory bottles during quiet time to calm your toddler. Turn leaf crowns into props for a fall-themed dress-up game. These activities extend the fun and spark imagination.

Memory Keepsakes

Some crafts are too special to toss. Save handprint turkeys for a scrapbook—they’re perfect for looking back on later. Photograph each craft to capture your toddler’s progress. I like to write the date and my child’s age on the back of each piece. These keepsakes become treasures as your toddler grows.

Conclusion

Fall crafts are a wonderful way to bond with your toddler while celebrating the season. From paper plate pumpkins to sensory bottles, these 15 projects spark creativity, build skills, and create lasting memories.

Each craft is simple, safe, and designed for little hands. You’ll love watching your toddler light up as they paint, glue, and explore.

Pick one craft to try this week. Maybe start with the handprint turkey for a keepsake or the leaf suncatcher for a splash of color. Share your toddler’s creations with family or friends—they’ll love seeing the results!

If you want more ideas, look for printable craft templates online or take your toddler on a nature walk to gather leaves and pinecones. Fall is here, so let’s get crafting!

Jenny

Jenny is a passionate writer specializing in home decor, design, and styling. With years of experience in transforming spaces, she shares expert tips on creating beautiful, functional homes. From interior design trends to DIY decor ideas, Jenny’s work helps homeowners craft spaces that reflect their unique style. Whether it’s a cozy living room, a modern kitchen, or a serene bedroom, her articles offer practical advice and inspiration to elevate any home.

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