EASY AUTUMN CRAFTS FOR UNDER 5S
As the weather starts to turn, while it is still nice to wrap and go exploring outside during the autumn months, we often find ourselves spending more and more time indoors. Finding ways to occupy little ones can feel relentless at times, especially if we have spent ages setting up what we think is a really fun, engaging activity for our two and three year olds to turn their noses up at! I’ve definitely been there. So here are a few easy autumn activities for preschoolers that take minutes to set up and have been tried and tested.
Autumn Rice Tray
These look much more impressive than they are. Coloured rice is super simple to make - add white rice, food colouring or paint to a sandwich bag and squish together until all the rice is coated. Add a splodge of hand sanitiser or vinegar to help stop colour transfer too. Pour it out on to a tray or baking paper and leave to dry out. Ta-dah!
Pop into a tray or washing up bowl. You can add whatever you like - if you’ve been for a walk, collect conkers, leaves and acorns to add in. Just a few spoons and plastic cups work a treat too - this is always a hit at home and at my preschool craft club.
The best part is that it lasts forever, so just pop into a tupperware box afterwards. It also hoovers up super quickly so that’s a winner for me.
Autumn Wreaths
This activity is great for all ages as it can be as simple or as complicated as required. Raid the recycling for some cardboard (Amazon boxes and cereal boxes work well as they are easy to cut). Draw around a plate and cut out. Draw a smaller circle in the middle and cut out to make a wreath shape. Use whatever you have at home to decorate - scrunched up tissue paper works a treat but paints, pencils, crayons or even real leaves work perfectly too.
Paint Stamping
Have leftover veg or fruit in the fridge? Use it up by making some stampers. If you’re feeling fancy, you can cut all sorts of shapes into potatoes but I like to keep it simple with broccoli and cauliflower florets and celery. Draw a tree trunk shape and offer a limited pallette of colours (red, orange and yellow are ideal) for little ones to explore. This is a great one for sunny autumn days, with the paint out in the garden!
Recycling Challenge
Another chance to raid the recycling box. Crafts definitely do not need tons of expensive or specialist equipment! Lolly sticks, cardboard, kitchen roll tubes and some masking tape mean fairly mess-free opportunities to create. By giving children a challenge, such as ‘Create an autumn tree’ gives a little more focus and acts as a prompt for those children who find completely open activities challenging.
Hedgehog Hoop Throw
This is one for older siblings to help with or to do as a family project. Copy this simple hedgehog shape and cut out from a cardboard box. Add colour with paint, crayons or pens and give collaging a go too, if you fancy. This can be as simple as having some scrap papers and glue out for them to decorate the hedgehog. Use pipe cleaners or plastic bangles hoops and have a competition!
Make sure you are following on Instagram for more simple, creative ideas to try at home with your little ones and join our Creative Kids Community on Facebook too!
