DIY Fall Crafts for the Kids
If you’re looking for something fun to do with the kids this fall, try some arts and crafts. It’s easy to set up an arts and crafts session at home. All you need are some basic supplies and comfy clothes for you and the kids. If you’re worried about paint splatters or other mishaps, cover your outfits with an artists’ smock.
We’ve put together some easy, fun craft ideas for kids to do. Adults can join in the fun, too — so throw on your coziest outfit and get crafty with one of these projects:
Jack-o-Lanterns
The Jack-o-Lantern is a classic Halloween craft. However, it doesn’t have to be Halloween for you to carve pumpkins with the kids — just choose funny or cute designs instead of spooky ones. There are pumpkin-carving kits with kid-safe cutlery, although young kids may have to watch while you do the carving.
One of the fun parts of carving a pumpkin is pulling out the gooey insides and using the seeds. Get your kids to roll up their sleeves or dress them in a kids’ T-shirt. That way, they can plunge into the pumpkin without worrying about getting anything on their shirt cuffs. Separate the seeds from the pumpkin “meat” and rinse them well. Lay them out to dry on a paper towel-lined tray, then use them for crafts or roast them in the oven for a healthy fall treat.
Pumpkin Seed Art
As just mentioned, pumpkin seeds make great craft supplies. Once they’re completely dry, you can use them for art projects — such as a pumpkin seed mosaic. First, color the pumpkin seeds by immersing them into a zippered sandwich bag and adding a squirt of nontoxic liquid watercolor paint. Give the bag a few shakes to dye the seeds. Spread them out and let the paint dry, then let kids use school glue to attach the colorful seeds onto poster board or construction paper.
Construction Paper Turkeys
There are lots of ways to make a turkey out of construction paper. Have kids trace their hand on fall-colored paper, then cut around the outline. The fingers serve as feathers, while the palm is the turkey’s body. Kids can draw and color their turkey to their liking. You can also cut out turkey shapes, such as bodies and feathers, and let kids glue the feathers onto the bodies. There are plenty of online tutorials that show you different ways to make turkeys from paper, so it’s easy to find your favorite crafting method.
Fall-Scented Modeling Dough
Modeling dough isn’t just for fall — kids can enjoy this squishy substance anytime they want to get creative. However, you can give modeling dough a fall twist by making it in seasonal colors and adding a fall fragrance, such as pumpkin spice or cinnamon.
It’s simple to make your own non-toxic modeling dough at home. There are lots of recipes online, and you’ll find most of them include flour, salt, cream of tartar, vegetable oil, and water. You can use food coloring to turn the dough into your favorite hue. To add fragrance, use pumpkin pie spice, vanilla extract, and/or cinnamon extract.
Marbled Leaves
This art project gets kids outside, as the first step is gathering fall leaves they can trace. Have your kids find the largest, flattest, prettiest leaves they can. Then, they’ll trace the leaves onto construction paper and cut them out, or you can cut them out depending on your child’s age. Fill a shallow aluminum tray with shaving cream, then add different colors of non-toxic craft paint. Swirl gently to create a marbled effect.
Drag one side of the paper leaves through the paint and shaving cream mixture. Use a piece of cardboard to scrape the excess off, then lay the paper leaves flat to dry. Once they’re dry, you can use them as a fall decoration.
What to Wear for Arts and Crafts
You’ll want comfortable outfits for you and the kids when doing arts and crafts. Women’s yoga pants or sweatpants are always a good choice, as they’re soft and offer plenty of freedom of movement. Wear them with one of your favorite comfy T-shirts; if it’s chilly, slip on a flannel shirt or hoodie. Any type of women’s loungewear works for a craft day. Girls’ and boys’ hoodies are also good for kids, especially when they’re outside collecting leaves or helping carve pumpkins.
Make Cleanup a Team Effort
After arts and crafts, get the kids involved in the cleanup effort. Non-toxic paints are usually water-based, so they’re easy to wipe away with a damp cloth or sponge. As previously mentioned, kids can wear a smock or apron over their clothes to prevent spills and stains.
Use these ideas to get inspired or come up with your own fall arts and crafts projects. With a little planning, you can put together arts and crafts days that the kids will love.