Craft Ideas to Do at Home This Fall

As the leaves begin to change and the air turns crisp, fall becomes a magical time of year—especially for preschoolers! At Discovery Preschools, we believe that learning happens everywhere, and crafting at home is a wonderful way to spend quality time together, build fine motor skills, and celebrate the beauty of the season.

Here are some fun, easy, and festive craft ideas you can do with your little ones this fall!

1. Leafy Friends – Nature-Inspired Art

Take a walk together and collect fallen leaves of all shapes and colors. Then, bring them home and let your child turn them into animals, people, or even monsters using googly eyes, markers, and glue!

Skills developed: Creativity, observation, fine motor skills

Tip: Use construction paper as a background and create a fall forest scene!

2. Pumpkin Patch Stamps

Cut an apple in half, dip it in orange paint, and stamp it onto paper. Add a green stem and face with markers or cut paper to turn them into mini jack-o’-lanterns!

Skills developed: Color recognition, sensory exploration

Extension idea: Make a “pumpkin patch” card to send to family members.

3. Handprint Turkeys

This classic Thanksgiving craft never gets old! Trace your child’s hand on colored paper or paint their hand and stamp it. Decorate each finger as a colorful feather and add eyes and a beak to create your turkey.

Skills developed: Self-expression, shape recognition

Bonus idea: Write something your child is thankful for on each “feather.”

4. Paper Plate Scarecrow

Using a paper plate, scraps of fabric or paper, and a little imagination, help your child create a cheerful scarecrow face! Add yarn for hair and a triangle paper nose for that classic look.

Skills developed: Cutting and gluing, spatial awareness

Fun tip: Add a popsicle stick to make it a puppet!

5. Autumn Suncatchers

Use tissue paper, contact paper, and fall-themed cutouts (like leaves, pumpkins, or acorns) to make colorful suncatchers. Stick them on the window and watch the sunlight bring them to life!

Skills developed: Pattern recognition, sensory engagement

Pro tip: Let your child choose the colors to explore warm vs. cool tones.

Make It Meaningful!

Crafting isn’t just about creating something cute—it’s about connection. These moments of creativity allow children to express themselves, explore textures and colors, and build memories with the people they love most.

We encourage you to try a few of these fall crafts at home and share your creations with us—we’d love to see what your little artists are making!

From all of us at Discovery Preschools, we wish you a joyful, creative, and cozy fall season!