Fall is the perfect time for creative activities even with the youngest family members. I know it’s hard to believe babies can be involved with an easy craft during the fall season, but they can! Engaging infants in fun fall craft ideas stimulates their senses and supports development. Simple fall-themed projects allow babies to explore textures, colors, and materials safely. The best part is that you can adapt these fall arts for older kids too!
Parents can introduce infants to autumn through sensory bins or sensory bags filled with soft fabric leaves, pumpkins, and crinkly paper. Leaf printing with non-toxic paints lets babies experience art-making firsthand. Pumpkin-themed sensory bottles provide visual interest and sound exploration.
These activities foster bonding between caregivers and infants while celebrating the season. Fall activities adapted for babies lay foundations for future easy fall crafts. With supervision and lots of adult help, little hands can participate in festive projects that are both fun and developmentally appropriate.
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Fall Crafts for Infants; simple craft ideas
Fall is a fun way to offer numerous opportunities for engaging infants in a fun activity. These autumn crafts stimulate sensory development and fine motor skills while introducing little ones to the colors and textures of autumn. We hope you will find the perfect craft below for your young kids!
Colorful Leaf Collages
Gather fallen leaves in various shapes and hues. Press them between heavy books for a few days to flatten and dry. Cut out a large leaf shape from cardboard or thick paper as the base.
Apply glue to the base using a foam brush. Encourage them to pick up and place the dried leaves onto the glue. This activity enhances hand-eye coordination and introduces texture exploration.
For added sensory input, incorporate materials like fabric scraps, feathers, or strips of colored paper.
Check out this cute Fall art project with lots of leaf collage inspiration from The Gift of Curiosity.
Pumpkin Stamping
There are a few ways to complete pumpkin stamping. You can use real pumpkins and cut a small one in half and scoop out the seeds. Dip the cut side into washable orange paint. Guide your infant’s hand to press the pumpkin onto paper, creating pumpkin-shaped prints.
Experiment with different sizes of pumpkins or gourds for varied impressions. Add green paint for stems using a cotton swab or small brush. If you would prefer to use something less messy, try Egg Carton Stamps that mimic pumpkins! This activity introduces cause and effect while exploring seasonal colors. Always use non-toxic, infant-safe paints.
Apple Printing
Apple Printing is a cute fall craft that’s also a great way to help babies develop grip strength. This is a great opportunity to go apple picking with your kids. Once you have your apples, cut them in half, creating interesting star patterns in the center. Guide your child to dip the cut side into red, yellow, or green paint. Then press the apple onto paper, making colorful prints.
Vary the activity by using different types of apples or cutting them at different angles.
Consider adding cinnamon to the paint for a sensory smell experience. Ensure all materials are safe for infants to handle and mouth.
Autumn Sensory Bins
Fill a shallow, wide container with fall-themed items like pinecones, small gourds, and artificial leaves (colored coffee filters work great instead of real leaves) . Ensure all items are large enough to prevent choking hazards.
Encourage your infant to explore the contents, picking up and examining different textures. This activity is the perfect way to stimulates tactile senses and promotes object recognition.
Add seasonal scents like cinnamon sticks or cloves in mesh bags for olfactory stimulation. Supervise closely and regularly check items to make sure no small parts have broken off any item. Check out this awesome fall sensory bin with great ideas and things like fall leaves that work for babies.
Handprint Tree Art
Handprint tree art is a great way to create a fall tree with your babies hand and fingerprints! Start with a sheet of brown construction paper. Cut out a basic tree trunk shape and glue it onto a larger piece of white paper. Pour small amounts of non-toxic, washable paint in fall colors onto paper plates.
Gently press your infant’s hand into the paint, then onto the paper around the tree trunk. Repeat this process with their fingertips to create colorful “leaves” on the tree. Allow the paint to dry completely. Display the artwork proudly to celebrate your little kids creation. This craft helps develop fine motor skills and introduces color exploration.
Craft Materials and Tools
Safe, age-appropriate materials are essential for these crafts, even with kids of all ages and not just babies. Let’s talk about a few elements that are important if you are going to craft with little ones.
Natural Elements
Autumn leaves offer vibrant colors and textures for sensory exploration. Collect fallen leaves on a nature walk in various shades and sizes. Pinecones and small pumpkins provide tactile stimulation. I would steer clear of small elements like acorns. Smooth stones can be painted or used as stamping tools. Hay or straw can be incorporated into simple collages or sensory play ideas. Always supervise infants closely when using natural materials to prevent choking hazards.
Basic Crafting Kit
Non-toxic, washable finger paints are ideal for hand and footprint art. Large crayons or chunky markers allow easier gripping for small hands. Child-safe scissors are still a little advanced for babies so keep these away from them.
Colorful construction paper, tissue paper, and cardstock serve as craft bases. Adhesives like glue sticks or washi tape are safer alternatives to liquid glue if you plan to use them for one of these activities. Pipe cleaners, pom-poms, and large foam shapes add texture and interest to projects.
Plastic containers or trays contain messes during messy play. Smocks or old t-shirts protect clothing. Keep wet wipes handy for quick clean-ups.
Adapting Crafts for Different Ages
Crafting activities for infants can be adapted to suit various developmental stages. For newborns, focus on sensory experiences using safe, large objects with different textures and colors.
As babies grow, introduce simple grasping activities. Offer soft fabric scraps or large, infant-safe beads for them to hold and explore.
Around 6-9 months, babies can participate in more interactive crafts. Try finger painting with edible, non-toxic paints or creating handprints on paper.
For 9-12 month olds, incorporate stacking and sorting activities. Use large, soft blocks or containers for simple building projects.
Toddlers aged 12-18 months can engage in basic sticker art or scribbling with chunky, non-toxic crayons. Supervise closely to prevent ingestion of materials.
Craft complexity can increase for 18-24 month olds. They may enjoy basic collages using pre-cut shapes or simple stamping activities with child-safe ink pads. At this age you can introduce other craft supplies like Popsicle sticks.
Always prioritize safety when adapting crafts. Use age-appropriate, non-toxic materials and provide constant supervision during craft time.
Did you find a few fall crafts to create a great time with your little one? We sure hope so.