There’s no better time to craft with your kids than autumn. The vibrant leaves, twigs and other natural materials are readily available and are ideal for many projects.
Crafting is a great way to support your child’s brain development and can help your relationship grow stronger. If autumnal crafts sounds like an activity for you and your kids, here are some to try.
Leaf Printing with natural dyes
Leaves are both beautiful to look at and perfect for crafting. Printing with them is a simple yet impactful activity that allows your children to explore the patterns and colours of fallen leaves.
To make it even more special, you can use natural dyes made from everyday kitchen ingredients like beetroot, spinach or turmeric. These dyes can be used to create unique prints on paper or fabric, providing a tactile and visually stimulating experience.
Collecting the materials also encourages outdoor exploration, which can have intangible mental health benefits and may help you cope with seasonal affective disorder.
Create an autumn garland
This is a fantastic way to bring the season’s colours indoors. You’ll be cutting out shapes like leaves, acorns and pumpkins from coloured paper and stringing them together to create a vibrant decoration.
Using basic papercraft essentials such as coloured paper, scissors and glue, your children can explore endless creative possibilities. The finished garland can be draped over a mantelpiece or hung in a window, adding a cosy touch to your home.
Craft animal pinecones
Pinecones can be easily transformed into charming woodland creatures with just a bit of imagination.
Take your children to gather pinecones and then use paint, googly eyes and natural materials to create animals like owls and hedgehogs. This activity can stimulate creativity and encourage kids to observe the world around them.
An afternoon spent doing this activity is wonderful, and results in unique decorations that can be displayed around the house.
Decorate autumnal lanterns
Adding a warm glow to your home with lanterns can create a peaceful atmosphere as the days grow shorter. You’ll decorate mason jars with tissue paper in seasonal colours before placing an LED candle inside.
Your little ones can personalise their lanterns with nature elements or silhouettes of animals. They’re also wonderful centrepieces or outdoor decorations that light up your space.
Make a harvest-themed wreath
Work with your children to create a wreath using materials like dried berries, pinecones and small pumpkins.
Assembling the wreath on a base of twigs or a foam ring is a hands-on activity that gives you a beautiful front door decoration.
Making a wreath also provides an excellent opportunity to discuss the significance of the harvest season, turning the activity into an educational moment as well.
