Even 1-year-olds will be captivated! A collection of craft ideas to enjoy the art-filled autumn
When it comes to autumn crafts, there are tons of ideas you can enjoy with children! This time, we’ve gathered autumn craft ideas you can do together with one-year-olds.
From colorful autumn leaves made with newspaper stamping, to grapes made by rolling up tissue paper, to moon-viewing dumplings made from air-dry clay—these are all projects that let you feel the season while having fun.
You can nurture your child’s sensitivity and create wonderful memories at the same time.
We’ll introduce autumn craft ideas perfect for childcare settings or for parents and children to try together! Because we feature ideas that nurture children’s free expression, we use the term “seisaku (制作: creation/production)” in the text.
Even 1-year-olds are captivated! A collection of craft ideas to enjoy the autumn of art (1–10)
Autumn leaves with newspaper stamping
Beautifully colored autumn leaves.
Let’s try expressing those subtle shades by making stamps out of newspaper.
Cut the newspaper into a suitable size and crumple it to make your stamp.
A nice thing about newspaper stamps is that you can easily adjust them to fit children’s hands and make them easy to press.
On white drawing paper, mix two or three colors of paint and dab the stamp randomly.
Once you’ve stamped the entire sheet, cut it into leaf shapes.
You can add little insect-nibbled holes, string them together like a garland, and try all sorts of creative ideas.
A hedgehog made with various stamps
https://www.instagram.com/p/CvZhnitJM1y/Among living creatures, hedgehogs are a cute autumn motif that kids love.
Let’s make a hedgehog with stamping! First, cut the hedgehog’s body out of construction paper.
If you’re working with one-year-olds who can’t use scissors, a teacher or guardian should prepare it for them.
Next comes the kids’ turn: stamp onto the hedgehog’s body using forks or clothespins, however they like.
That’s all it takes to make an adorable hedgehog! If you stick it onto a sheet of paper with a drawn background, it will look even cuter.
Crayon-resist mushroom painting
https://www.instagram.com/p/CiFNs_sp-vp/Let’s make mushrooms using a wax-resist painting technique! First, take a piece of construction paper cut into a mushroom cap shape and draw patterns on it with crayons.
Once your patterns are done, paint over the top with your favorite watercolor paint, using plenty of water for a solid wash.
The paint will resist the crayon marks, and the beautiful patterns will appear! After the paint dries, combine it with a piece of construction paper cut into the stem shape to complete your mushroom.
You can also add a face with round stickers or however you like.
Depending on the children’s ages, teachers should handle the cutting of the construction paper.
Sweet potato that breaks in two folds
Many children will likely get to experience digging up sweet potatoes on autumn field trips! How about trying sweet potato origami that’s perfect practice for potato digging? With just two folds, your origami paper transforms into a splendid sweet potato! Don’t worry about making it too neat—actually, not folding it perfectly is the trick to making it look cute.
For the finishing touch, you can draw or paste on the potato’s patterns, leaves, and vines—it’ll look adorable! Try to create a piece that even curious two-year-olds will be delighted with.
Mushroom with a balloon stamp
https://www.instagram.com/p/ClFwtkGv21P/Would you like to try making mushrooms by stamping with balloons? Have an adult inflate the balloons.
The key is to blow them up a bit smaller so they’re easy for children to hold.
Dip the balloon in paint and stamp it onto construction paper in the color of your choice.
It’s more fun if you use several colors of paint.
Finally, attach the stem pieces and your mushroom is complete.
You can draw patterns on the stem or add a face to create a unique mushroom all your own.
Perfect for autumn wall decorations, too.
Finger stamp mushroom
Even children who aren’t confident with crafts or drawing can have fun trying finger-stamp mushrooms.
Finger stamping is an art activity where you dip your fingertip in paint and create patterns.
It’s not just about tapping—there are many variations, like drawing lines or making tiny dots with your nail.
All you do here is add patterns to mushrooms using finger stamps, so it’s easy and helps nurture children’s creativity.
It can also be fun to reproduce real mushroom patterns by looking at a mushroom field guide instead of inventing your own designs.
That way, it doubles as food education, too.
Rolling it up is fun! Grape craft
Crafts may seem difficult, but this is a simple project that even very young children can do.
How about making some delicious-looking grapes that are perfect for autumn? The basic method is just to roll paper into balls.
Use thin, easy-to-handle tissue paper and roll it into small balls.
Put the rolled pieces into a clear bag, tie the opening, add a leaf and a vine, and it’s done.
It’s also fun to make a lot and decorate your room.
Be sure to try it with your child—and with the whole family together.
