Autumn craft ideas that will captivate 2-year-olds! Have fun making them and enjoy the fall to the fullest

10 years as a kindergarten teacher / elementary school teacher / junior and senior high school teacher / childminderkepiko
Graduated from Kunitachi College of Music, Faculty of Music (now: Department of Music Culture and Education, Early Childhood Music Education major). In elementary school, my homeroom teacher was Jun Kusaba, a game researcher. After graduating from university, I worked as a kindergarten teacher for 10 years and as an after-school childcare instructor for 7 years, then took a position as a music teacher at an international school in Singapore. In addition to music education, I engaged in activities that introduced Japanese culture, traditional games, and recreational activities, working with many children. Later, through freelance writing, planning, and editing at Shogakukan, I met many delightful adults and experienced the joy of communicating and sharing. Drawing on the perspective cultivated in the field of education and my experience as an editor, I provide practical information with an emphasis on both input and output, mainly in areas related to music and children. My hobbies include instruments, singing, handicrafts, toys, drawing, traditional games, the outdoors, and books. My special skill is spinning-top tricks.
Nursery Teacher Mom Writertsukada moe
After working for five years at an after-school childcare club and three years at a nursery school, I began working as a freelance writer. I’m a mother of two children. Inspired by playing the flute in the school wind ensemble in elementary school, I joined a jazz club at university. I’ve also incorporated ukulele and piano performance into childcare. Playing, laughing, feeling sad, feeling frustrated—through all kinds of experiences, I want children to grow.

Autumn has arrived, and it’s a season that even two-year-olds can get excited about.There are plenty of creative projects waiting that let you enjoy the unique nature and traditions of autumn—like fallen leaves, acorns, and moon-viewing!Here are some autumn craft ideas you can enjoy together with two-year-olds.Each project uses simple steps and seasonal materials to nurture children’s imagination.Why not enjoy autumn crafting with children using fallen leaves found on a walk or warm, cozy yarn?Because we treat what children make as works of art, we refer to them as “seisaku” (productions/works) in the text.

Fall craft ideas that fascinate 2-year-olds! Have fun making and enjoy autumn to the fullest (21–30)

Autumn-colored owls with bleed painting and handprints

Here’s a fall-themed owl craft idea that lets you preserve children’s handprints.

Use diluted paint to cover a sheet of white drawing paper.

Once the whole surface is painted and has dried, cut it into the shape of an owl.

After attaching the eyes and beak pieces, add the handprints on the left and right to create the wings.

Finally, attach the feet pieces to complete the owl.

Using paint in brown tones will give it an autumn feel.

It’s a great craft idea that will become a memorable keepsake for a 2-year-old.

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mutō

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The smeared moon and the footprint-shaped rabbit

This is a cute craft idea that uses a paper plate as the moon and children’s footprints as rabbits.

First, take the children’s footprints on black construction paper and draw the rabbits’ ears and faces.

After wiping their feet clean, have them make the moon using yellow paint.

Encourage them to spread the paint over the surface with their hands or fingers.

If you put the plate and paint in a sealable bag, you can keep things mess-free.

Once the moon is finished, glue it onto the background and add pampas grass and rice dumplings to complete the scene.

It’s also a great idea for an autumn wall decoration.

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sasashina

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Autumn craft ideas that captivate 2-year-olds! Have fun making and enjoy the fall (31–40)

Roasted sweet potatoes you make by sticking them together with glue

https://www.tiktok.com/@chuwakosan.hoiku/video/7141687419601947906

When you think of autumn’s appetite, many people might think of baked sweet potatoes.

Here’s a perfect craft for 2-year-olds in the fall! You’ll need construction paper, glue, and brown drawing tools like colored pencils.

First, draw some char marks with the brown pencils on a piece of construction paper cut into the shape of a baked sweet potato.

Next, tear another piece of construction paper to make the potato skin.

Apply glue to the skin pieces and stick them on top of the potato to finish! It’s also cute to collect fallen leaves and glue them around the potato as decoration.

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kepiko

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Crayon-resist mushroom painting

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.

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SAKI

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Grapes with stickers

When it comes to autumn fruits, grapes are a must, right? So, how about making grapes as an autumn craft? Beforehand, have an adult cut grape shapes and branches out of construction paper and glue them together.

Then let the children stick round stickers or circles cut from construction paper on top to complete the grapes.

The process of peeling and sticking the stickers helps train their fine motor skills.

Having a few types of stickers ready makes it fun for the children to choose, and it also creates a more vibrant finish if you use the crafts for wall decorations.

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sasashina

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Autumn, flushed crimson with stamps

Would you like to create a tree with an autumn foliage theme—one of the quintessential symbols of fall? You can make a soft, gentle-colored illustration using stamping! Cut out a tree-shaped silhouette from drawing paper.

It helps to fold the paper in half vertically before cutting; if multiple people will use it, thicker cardstock is recommended.

Place the cut-out stencil on top and secure it to your drawing paper, then use a sponge to stamp the colors.

Finally, attach the tree trunk and scatter fallen leaves to finish.

You can even use real fallen leaves—perfect for November—making this a crafting activity full of seasonal creativity.

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mutō

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Mushrooms with decoupage and finger painting

This is a mushroom wall decoration that incorporates decalcomania, a painting technique where you fold a painted sheet of paper in half or press another sheet onto it to transfer the paint.

Dab paint with your finger onto the mushroom cap piece, then fold it in half—this creates a unique pattern you can’t achieve by painting directly! Combine it with the mushroom stem piece and glue them onto a backing sheet; add motifs like autumn leaves and acorns to complete a fall-themed artwork.

Decalcomania is a method actively used in early childhood education, so be sure to give it a try!

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yuri

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