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.

Autumn craft ideas that captivate 2-year-olds! Have fun making them and enjoy the fall to the fullest (41–50)

Cosmos Flowers with Cardboard Stamps

How about using cardboard as stamps to create cosmos flowers? First, the teacher can cut the cardboard into cosmos shapes.

At the same time, cut out round shapes about the same size as the cosmos shapes, and glue them together.

Next, attach the cardboard to the bottom of a plastic bottle, and your cardboard cosmos stamp is ready.

Then let the children freely stamp on drawing paper to create a lovely cosmos field! For the center of each cosmos, add a yellow round sticker, and you’re done.

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SAKI

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The autumn-colored caterpillar

Speaking of caterpillars, we usually think of green ones, but caterpillars dressed in autumn colors are adorable too.

Let’s make a version of the beloved children’s book character, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, using fall foliage colors.

On a sheet of white construction paper, you’ll stamp circles—but the stamp is a blown-up balloon.

Mix a few paints in your favorite autumn shades, press the balloon lightly into the paint, then dab and twist it on the paper to make circles.

Even two-year-olds can have fun bouncing the balloon to stamp! Cut out the circles, add a face, and it’s complete.

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utatane

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A perfectly round owl made from a paper plate

Here’s a craft idea for making an owl using a paper plate and origami paper.

First, tear the origami paper into pieces of any size you like.

Let the children help with this step.

Next, prepare a paper plate, apply glue all over it, and stick on the torn pieces of origami paper.

Finally, attach the owl’s facial features and other parts, and it’s done! Adults can attach the parts, but you can also put double-sided tape on the back to make them like stickers so the children can stick them on themselves.

Punch a hole and thread a string through it, and it becomes a cute hanging decoration for autumn.

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sasashina

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A tree made of fallen leaves

https://www.tiktok.com/@bunbun_hoikuen/video/7163869417552612610

October means autumn, and autumn means the season of falling leaves.

In this season when walks are especially fun, here’s a craft recommended for three-year-olds.

You’ll need a tree illustration drawn on construction paper, some fallen leaves, and glue.

Simply stick the leaves you collected during your walk onto any part of the tree illustration, and you’re done! It’s very simple, but this activity is great because children can enjoy their walk while interacting with natural autumn materials and create a tree they like.

For older kindergarteners, it might be fun to draw the tree illustration themselves.

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kepiko

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Making animals with fallen leaves

Making animals out of fallen leaves is fun, too.

I’ll walk you through the basic steps.

First, use construction paper to create motifs like the animal’s face.

Then hand those to the children together with fallen leaves, and let them freely create the body.

For example, for a lion, you can arrange leaves around the face to suggest the mane.

Beyond lions, prepare various creatures and enjoy the activity together! By the way, animals that pair especially well with fallen leaves include bagworms and hedgehogs.

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yamamoto