1. Leaf Printing
You can bring the warmth of fall indoors with the artful beauty of leaf printing. Collect various leaves of different shapes and sizes. Flatter leaves work best for this activity. Paint a thin layer of paint on the underside of each leaf, where the veins are most prominent, and press it onto paper to create unique prints. Immerse your kids to create various colors and patterns by designing greeting cards, posters, or even a mural with a fall theme. It will help them unlock their artistic self and develop an appreciation for the details of nature.
2. Making Your Compost Bin
Teach your children to value sustainability by making your compost bin in the backyard. Set up a designated area for composting with bamboo canes and netting, and allow your children to collect fallen leaves, fruit peels, or other organic materials—layer materials in the bin, beginning with a small amount of water to keep things moist. Soon enough, they will comprehend the importance of recycling and how composting stimulates the development of plants as they witness the metamorphosis of waste material into rich soil. It's a field-based lesson in disguised fun!
3. Leaf Lanterns for Cozy Evenings
Brighten up those chilly autumn evenings with homemade leaf lanterns. Take an old glass jar, like a jam or pasta sauce jar, and stick fallen leaves to the outside using Mod Podge glue. Apply a layer of glue between the glass and the leaves and another layer over the entire design. Once dry, tie twine around the neck of the jar for a more rustic look and add a battery-operated tea light. These lanterns will cast an enchanting glow throughout your home and make for a great memory when crafting with your kids. Smaller leaves are better for making leaf lanterns, and you can use the leaves of plants like Eucalyptus Tree or any plant of your liking.
4. Nature Snap Cards
Make your nature walks into a learning experience by creating a snap card game with natural elements. Collect pairs of leaves, petals, or flowers in your area. Flattening them between layers of newspaper and then placing a heavy book on them for about a week makes the leaves, petals, or flowers flattened and dry. Glue the flattened leaves, petals, or flowers onto small cards to create a custom deck of nature snap cards. These activities help your kids develop their skills as observers while teaching them an appreciation of the diversity of plants.
5. Fall Wreaths
Begin by gathering thin twigs to make a circular frame. Then, secure the twigs using twine. Finally, allow your children to decorate the wreath with leaves, seed pods, dried flowers, and pinecones. You can also purchase a wire or rattan frame from a craft store if you want it to be easy. Hang it on your door or use it as a centerpiece, and your kids will beam with pride, admiring their handiwork.
6. Stuffed Crumbles
Bring the warmth of fall to your table with this easy, yummy recipe that has kids wanting to help even more in the kitchen. Cut apples in half and core some of the insides out to create bowls. Stir oats, flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and butter until a crumbly mixture forms. Fill the mixture into the apple halves and bake until tender. Beyond teaching kids how to cook, this activity allows them to enjoy a warm, seasonal treat, celebrating what the autumn harvest brings. You can plant a Blackberry tree in our backyard to get fresh blackberries for a blackberry crumble.
7. Nature Wands
Let your child's imagination run wild by creating magical nature wands. Begin by cutting a star shape from cardboard, approximately 10 centimeters wide. Look in your yard or a local park for a strong stick to use as the wand's handle and gather colorful fallen leaves. Use the leaves to create a mosaic design on one side of the star, then attach the decorated star to the stick. Your kids will love using their handmade wands for storytelling, pretend play, or as unique decorations. You can use Pampas grass as a wand, too!