Get creative this fall with your kiddos with some of these fun fall crafts for kids!!
Fall Crafts for Kids by Age
As a homeschool mom who loves both the fall season and crafting, I’m super excited to share this updated list of easy autumn crafts!
All that said, these fall crafts for kids are now organized by age, making it even easier for parents to find exactly what they need.
Homeschooling multiple ages? No problem, there is sure to be something on this list of over 2o fall craft ideas that is perfect for all your kiddos to work on this season!
These fall crafts are also great ideas for classrooms, homeschool co-ops, or school breaks!
Fall Crafts for Toddlers and Preschoolers
Looking for something to keep little ones busy this fall?
These first 4 options are a great start.
Before diving in, let’s talk about crafting with toddlers and preschoolers.
What are easy fall crafts for a 2-year-old? Easy crafts for toddlers and preschoolers need to be fun, engaging, and hands-on.
In other words, they should require simple, non-toxic materials, be sensory-focused, and be less skill-based.
That’s exactly what these simple autumn craft ideas are.
1) Apple Stamping
This apple stamping craft (below) by Lorenay Lennox is so simple, making it the perfect fall craft for preschoolers or toddlers.
Materials needed for this craft: a whole apple cut in half, paper, washable paints, and a paintbrush.
This one is so simple, you guys, and it requires very little prep work!
Simply prep for this crafty activity by gathering your supplies and cutting your apple in half.
Then, let your children stamp their apples onto their page.
This preschool craft idea for fall meets both sensory and creative needs.
2) Leaf Gathering Craft
This simple leaf suncatcher craft (below) by Live Well, Play Together is activity-based and perfect for little hands.
Materials needed for this craft: leaves, contact paper, and scissors.
This craft is perfect for toddlers and preschoolers because it’s both activity-based and creative.
First, children will collect leaves from outside, encouraging them to forage and get their energy out.
Then, they simply stick their leaves to their contact paper to create an easy, yet beautiful window display.
It truly is that easy peasy, you guys!
This simple craft is a fun way to bring nature into your homeschool, keep your little ones busy with hands-on crafting, and encourage nature hunting!
Plus, you can showcase their creation by using it as window decoration all season long.
3) Construction Paper Fall Trees
When to construction paper crafting, there are so many options, you guys!
That said, I’ve got 2 easy fall tree craft variations for you.
A cute apple tree craft for preschoolers (left) and an easy fall tree craft (right) by The Play Based Mom.
Both of these preschool craft ideas for fall are great options for little learners.
Materials needed for these crafts: bath loofah, tissue paper, construction paper, paints, scissors, and glue.
You can easily make both of these crafts with just a handful of materials you likely already have on hand.
Both crafts require a little prep work on mom’s part, but if you’ve already introduced your toddler or preschoolers to scissors and glue, you can definitely encourage them to help with placing their tree silhouette and grass!
As for the apple craft, kiddos will stamp their tree top using paint and a bath loofah, adding red apples using finger paints.
The fall tree craft, while similar prep, is slightly different as children will crumple and glue tissue paper on their tree silhouette, adding fall foliage instead.
All that said, both of these easy crafts are perfect for toddlers and preschoolers.
However, they truly can transition well into a kindergarten craft if need be — making this an ideal craft for daycare or school.
4) Paper Pom-Pom Turkey
This easy paper turkey craft (below) by The Keele Deal is a great option for quick Thanksgiving crafting.
Materials needed for this craft: free printable turkey template, pom-poms, googly eyes, and glue.
For this one, all you need to do is print out your turkey and have little ones glue on their googly eyes and pom-poms.
It truly is as easy as that!
This craft is perfect for homeschoolers with little ones or for using over Thanksgiving break.
Fall Crafts for Kindergarten and Lower Elementary
If you loved our list of preschool craft ideas for fall, you are going to love these easy autumn crafts for kindergarten+ even more!
That said, before you start crafting and creating with your elementary-aged students, let’s talk bout what works best for this particular age group.
How to craft with kindergarten students?
First, simplify what you can and pre-cut when needed.
Second, encourage individuality and independence, but keep it age-appropriate by only allowing children to do what they are ready for. This will help contain the mess while putting no pressure on perfection.
Ready to create? These next 10 autumn children’s crafts are perfect for kindergarten, 1st grade, 2nd grade, and 3rd grade as they require a little more prep and skill than the 4 crafts listed above.
1) Tissue Paper Apple
This Easy Apple Craft (below) by Burlap and Blue is a sure winner, you guys!
Materials needed for this craft: printable apple template, tissue paper, scissors, and a glue stick.
While similar in concept to one of the fall tree crafts mentioned above, this craft is slightly more complex, which is why it’s perfect for lower-elementary-aged students.
First, prepare for this craft by printing an apple template and cutting out tissue paper squares.
Then, instruct your children to crumple their tissue paper and glue it into their apple outline.
This autumn apple craft is easy, hands-on, and works perfectly as a back-to-school craft!
2) Coffee Filter Apple
Ready for another simple autumn children’s craft that works perfect or kindergarten or 1st grade?
This easy coffee filter apple craft (below) by Look! We’re Learning! is the one, you guys!
Materials needed for this craft: coffee filters, crayons (or colored pencils), construction paper, scissors, and a glue stick.
This craft encourages children to cut out an apple shape using their scissors and coffee filters. Some students may need help or guidance with this step.
To create this adorable fall craft for kindergarteners or lower elementary-aged students, simply instruct children to color their coffee filter, cut it out, and glue it onto their construction paper.
Then, children can customize their apple by hand-drawing a leaf and stem or adding embellishments to their background.
The best thing about this craft? It truly can span across a few grades, making it a great fall craft for homeschoolers!
3) Paper Plate Apple
This adorable paper plate apple craft project (below) by Mom Brite is perfect for 1st graders+
Materials needed for this craft: paper plate, construction paper, raisins, scissors, glue.
First, have children cut or tear their construction paper and glue it around the edge of their plate.
Then, instruct children to cut out stems and leaves, attaching them to the top of their apple.
Finally, encourage students to add the raisins as seeds and create a cute construction paper worm to complement their paper plate apple.
This one is a little more complex, but it’s definitely one of my favorites, you guys!
The best part about this craft? It doubles as an easy educational activity for fall! Use this fall craft idea alongside our printable apple activity pages to teach children the parts of an apple.
This one is a great September craft idea for apple-week.
4) Leaf Finger Puppets
While apples make great September crafts for kids, leaves are perfect for all season long!
These adorable leaf finger puppets (below) by Crafts by Amanda make a fun, nature-themed option for the Autumn season.
Materials needed for this craft: nature items, toilet paper roll, construction paper, googly eyes, hot glue, and lots of optional synthetic craft supplies for customizing!
Children begin this craft by foraging in nature to collect items for their finger puppets.
Then, with an adult’s assistance, they can use a hot glue gun to glue their nature items and googly eyes to their tube.
As a second option, children can also cover their cardboard tubes in construction paper, synthetic crafting items, and use fake crafting leaves in place of real leaves.
Either way, if you are teaching or homeschooling kindergarten, first grade, or second grade, these little leaf puppets can make the perfect nature activity/fall craft combo!
Although a little more labor-intensive than some of the other autumn crafts in this post, this one is a huge winner with younger kids because their craft becomes a fun hands-on activity when they are finished!
Encourage kids to use their newly created puppets to put on a puppet show for the whole family.
5) Leaf Hedge-Hogs
Hedgehogs are considered to be a fall animal, and they are adorable to boot.
So, naturally, hedgehog crafts had to make an appearance on my list of autumn crafts for kids.
That said, I’ve got 2 cute options I want to share with you this time around!
First up is this adorable hedgehog craft (below) by Fireflies and Mudpies
Materials needed for this craft: hedgehog printable template, printable leaf template, cardstock, paint, paintbrushes, scissors, pom-poms, glue, and googly eyes.
This super cute autumn craft idea can be put together in a few easy steps.
That said, if you are working with younger students or are short on time, consider doing some of the prep work and cutting out shapes ahead of time.
First, print and prepare your crafting templates by having children paint their leaves and cutting everything out.
Then, instruct children to glue their craft together.
Finally, have children customize their paper hedgehog craft by adding a face!
If you have kiddos who love hedgehogs and crafting, I encourage you to also check out these fun ideas by Thimble and Twig, which include an adorable hedgehog craft (shown below)!
Both of these fun ideas span age groups, making them great options for homeschoolers and classroom settings.
Ideally, I would use these with 1st graders and 2nd graders, but older kids may love them too, you guys!
6) Leaf Sun Catchers
These easy leaf sun catchers (below) by The Best Ideas for Kids make the perfect fall craft for elementary kids!
Materials needed for this craft: leaf templates, tissue paper, contact paper, construction paper, scissors, and glue.
While this craft is great for kindergarten, 1st grade, and 2nd grade, older elementary students can definitely enjoy this one as well.
That said, there is some prep that younger students might need assistance with — such as cutting out their template.
First, prepare for your craft by cutting your template and your tissue paper squares.
Then, instruct students to place their template on their contact paper (sticky side up) and fill it with their tissue paper squares.
Finally, place a second layer of contact paper over the top, cut leaves out, and show them off in your favorite window!
The best part about this craft? Your kiddos just made some awesome DIY window decor for fall!
7) Paper Handprint Tree
As a homeschool mom of 3 nearly grown kiddos, I know all too well just how important it is to make handprint crafts with your kiddos throughout the years.
That’s why this handprint fall tree craft (below) by Simple Everyday Mom made the list, you guys!
Materials needed for this craft: cardstock, pencil, scissors, and leaf stickers.
Handprint art makes important keepsakes for parents, and this one is a great one for fall.
To create this craft, simply trace your child’s hand and forearm and cut it out to create your tree base.
Then, have children decorate their tree with leaf stickers.
While this is a super easy craft for kindergarten and elementary-aged students, you could attempt it with toddlers or preschoolers who are able to do it long enough for tracing!
8) Paper Plate Crow
This simple paper plate crow (below) by Crafts by Amanda is perfect for fall!
Materials needed for this craft: paper plate, paint, paintbrush, construction paper, scissors, craft stick, markers, tape, and printable crow pattern.
Since crows are often associated with Halloween, this craft is a great one for Halloween crafting at home or in the classroom!
That said, this craft involves painting, cutting, gluing, and drawing, making it an ideal fall craft for 2nd or 3rd graders!
Have children put together their fall crow craft by preparing their paper plate first, painting it black.
Then, encourage them to cut out and attach pattern parts and add embellishments.
9) Scarecrow Puppet
Ready for something fun and unique?
Give our new scarecrow craft a try!
Materials needed for this craft: scarecrow template, paper, markers, laminator/laminating sheets, hot glue, paint stir stick, scissors.
This one was so much fun for me to put together, you guys!
While I originally created this one to be a garden stake, it makes a great scarecrow puppet craft or photo prop as well.
Due to hot glue and laminating, elementary students will need assistance with this one.
That said, older kids and tweens may enjoy making this one too, so it truly can span age groups.
10) Paper Bag Fox
As a huge fox lover myself, this paper bag fox (below) from Simple Everyday Mom has me over here ready to create my own, you guys!
Materials needed for this craft: paper lunch bag, printable fox template, cardstock, scissors, and glue.
This craft truly is one of the easiest to throw together.
That said, since it requires multiple cutting and gluing steps, I found it to be more appropriate for kindergarten and above.
First, prepare for this craft by printing and cutting out your fox template.
Then, instruct children to glue their fox craft together one piece at a time.
This truly is one of the cutest autumn animal craft ideas on the list, you guys!
11) Paper Turkeys
Last, but certainly not least, are these 2 easy paper turkey crafts perfect for kindergarten – 3rd grade!
Let’s start with this adorable colorful paper turkey craft (below) by The Inspiration Edit.
Materials needed for this craft: colored craft paper, cardstock, writing utensils, scissors, and glue.
Kids prepare for this fall turkey paper craft by cutting out turkey and feather shapes.
Then, following the step-by-step instructions, they take their time by gluing all their pieces together.
I would definitely recommend this autumn craft idea for 2nd graders or 3rd graders.
That said, big kids and tweens might just enjoy this one as well.
If you prefer something a little easier, this turkey handprint craft (below) by The Keele Deal makes a great alternative and can easily be used for kindergarten and above.
Both of these turkey craft ideas for fall make wonderful DIY Thanksgiving decoration ideas.
Use them alongside our free turkey coloring pages and turkey worksheets for the ultimate Thanksgiving week.
Fall Crafts for Big Kids and Tweens
While crafting with preschoolers, kindergarteners, and lower-elementary students is a must during the fall season, we can’t forget about the big kids and tweens who love crafting as well!
What are some fun crafts for older kids? Older kids and tweens tend to enjoy more detailed craft experiences that include things such as beading, string art, clay, and detailed painting projects.
That said, sometimes they can thrive with more complex paper crafts as well!
These next 6 autumn children’s crafts are perfect for older kiddos and tweens who still enjoy crafting but aren’t quite ready for intense or day-long projects.
1) 3D Paper Apple
This 3D apple craft (below) by Mom Brite is perfect for fall crafting with big kids or tweens and can easily double as a cute fall decoration for your home.
Materials needed for this craft: construction paper, scissors, hole punch, and paper fasteners.
Older children who are skilled at cutting and can use supplies like hole punches and brads can make this completely on their own.
First, children will need to prepare for their fall paper craft by cutting out all their parts and hole-punching where instructed.
Then, have them take their time to connect everything with paper fasteners.
This is a great September craft idea for 10- to 12-year-olds to do on their own at home!
2) Detailed Scarecrow
Scarecrows are iconic and have been showcased as a fall decoration for years.
So, why not craft with them too?
This adorable scarecrow craft (below) by Finding Zest is great for older elementary-aged students and would make a great fall bulletin board display!
Materials needed for this craft: paper plate, construction paper, burlap, leaves, pipe cleaners, raffia, yarn, googly eyes, glue stick, scissors, and a hole punch.
This craft calls for a longer list of supplies and more steps than many of the other projects on this list, but it’s totally worth it, you guys!
Big kids and tweens can create this fall scarecrow craft by cutting out all their desired materials and gluing them together to create an adorable scarecrow face.
To complete their craft, they will use a hole punch and yarn to turn their masterpiece into a hanging piece of art!
3) Fall Tree Painting
This beautiful fall tree painting (below) by Projects with Kids is great for artistic big kids!
Materials needed for this craft: printable branch template, canvas paper, acryic paints, paint pallet, paint brushes, cotton balls, and closthespins.
Start this project by encouraging kids to mix their paints to create optimal fall colors for their tree.
Then, instruct children to paint their sky in different shades of blue.
Next, have children draw their tree branch freehand (or using the stencil if preferred) and paint it black.
Finally, using both cotton balls and paintbrushes, have children add their fall foliage.
This beautiful fall masterpiece is great for older children and tweens who like multi-step projects and enjoy getting creative with paints.
4) Painted Fall Leaves
Oh my word. These are seriously gorgeous, you guys!!
This unique leaf craft (below) by The Best Vinyl Cutters is one of my favorite crafts on the list, and it is certainly one of the most unique.
Materials needed for this craft: fall leaves, acrylic paints, sponges, paintbrushes, and the optional paper dollies.
While you could do this craft with younger children, I truly believe it’s a great fit for big kids.
That said, this can be a great activity for homeschool families as they can gather leaves together.
Allow younger children to work on one of the other leaf crafts mentioned in this post, while older children do this leaf craft independently.
Once leaves are collected, simply instruct children to use their acrylic paints and tools to create intricate patterns and designs on their leaves.
Then, consider preserving the leaves to use as DIY fall decor.
5) Stamped Art Rocks
I’ve always been a sucker for rock art, and while I usually view it as more of a summer craft, these one-of-a-kind stamped rocks (below) by Projects with Kids are perfect for the autumn season!
Materials needed for this craft: rocks, leaves, paintbrushes, acrylic paints, and Mod Podge.
Older kids and tweens will love this one, you guys!
First, encourage kids to do a little foraging by collecting flat rocks and unique leaves.
Next, have children paint their rocks in a base color using fall tones.
Then, paint their leaves with a paintbrush, and stamp a leaf print onto each rock in a contrasting color.
Finally, use Mod Podge to seal.
The best part? This fun activity can also double as a unique table or porch decoration for the entire season!
6) Folded Pumpkin Origami
It just wouldn’t be fall without a classic pumpkin craft, you guys!
This awesome pumpkin origami (below) by Sixth Bloom is ideal for older kids, tweens, and teenagers who like getting crafty with paper.
Materials needed for this craft: origami paper, scissors, string, and double-sided tape or glue.
Older kids who are skilled in paper folding can easily complete this craft on their own.
Start this autumn craft by instructing children and tweens to follow the step-by-step paper-folding and taping instructions to create their pumpkin shape.
Then, have them cut a small green strip of paper for the pumpkin stem.
Finally, have children attach their paper pumpkins to a string to create a darling and colorful pumpkin garland fit for fall.
Fall Crafts for Kids Q&A
Can I use these age-related crafts for a different age group? Yes!
While all of the fall craft ideas I listed above are separated by age group, you can most definitely use them for a different age.
Many of the crafts can span a large age gap, but are simply more ideal for the age group mentioned.
Where can I get free fall craft printables? Right here on Life + Homeschool!
For the past 3 years, I have been creating multiple types of fall crafting templates for my readers, and all of them are completely free.
Free Fall Craft Templates
These templates truly are great for any age!
You can use them for creating easy fall paper crafts for toddlers and preschoolers, more complex fall crafts for 1st graders and beyond, or use them for easy DIY fall decor.
Give our free fall leaf templates a try!
How can I use these easy autumn crafts? All of these autumn children’s crafts can be used at home or in a school setting.
With so many options spanning different age groups, these truly are a great option for homeschool families!
Fun Ways to Use Fall Crafts
You can use any number of these easy fall craft ideas for school harvest parties or as a part of your seasonal homeschool unit studies by pairing them with fall-themed worksheets or activity pages.
Another fun idea is to use them for fall holidays such as apple week, Johnny Appleseed Day, Halloween, or Thanksgiving
However you choose to use them, I hope you truly enjoy this fun list of easy autumn crafts!
