[Autumn Activities] Nature Play and Craft Ideas for Fall to Incorporate into Childcare!
Autumn is a season full of nature that can be put to good use in childcare.
It’s also a time when we can really feel children’s growth, isn’t it?
As it becomes more comfortable to spend time outdoors, many preschools and kindergartens likely enjoy activities like collecting nuts and gathering fallen leaves.
You want to introduce lots of new activities but can’t find any ideas…
For those with that concern, we’ve gathered recommended nature play and craft ideas for autumn.
Enjoy them together with the children and savor the fruitful season.
The experiences they have at your center will become precious memories for them.
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[Autumn Play] Fall nature activities and craft ideas to incorporate into childcare! (11–20)
Making a fragrance with osmanthus
Let’s make a lovely fragrance using sweet, wonderfully scented fragrant olive (osmanthus)! In addition to the osmanthus flowers, you’ll need anhydrous ethanol and a jar with a tight-fitting lid.
Finely chop the osmanthus flowers and put them in the jar, then add anhydrous ethanol in twice the amount of the flowers.
Seal the lid tightly and store it in a cool, dark place such as the refrigerator for about 2 months to 1 year.
If the jar is clear, wrap it with aluminum foil.
When it’s ready to use, be sure to dilute it with purified water first! You can apply it directly to the skin as a perfume substitute, or brush it onto ceramics to enjoy it as a room fragrance.
Fallen-leaf mobile
Let’s make a gently swaying mobile with an autumn feel using fallen leaves! You can use the leaves you’ve picked up as they are, but adding color with paints will create a cute, colorful mobile.
For the base to hang the mobile from, use branches.
Painting the branches or wrapping them with yarn will make them look charming.
Once you’ve prepared everything, use yarn or twine to hang the leaves.
Arranging them randomly gives it a stylish look! Adding pinecones and the like will give it a distinctly different touch as well.
Moon-viewing dango display
In autumn, we have Otsukimi, when we admire the full moon, right? Here’s a recommended decoration idea for Otsukimi.
Cut out a stand called a “sanpō,” which is used to hold the Otsukimi dango, from construction paper, and paste it onto a separate sheet of black construction paper.
If you also make and paste the moon and pampas grass (susuki) around it in the same way, it will feel even more like Otsukimi! Then, roll up tissues to make dango, stack them neatly, and glue them on to finish.
Once it’s done, enjoy Otsukimi while singing finger-play songs perfect for the occasion, like “Dango Kuttsuita” and “Tsuki.”
Colorful bookmark
What comes to mind when you think of autumn? When we think of autumn, we think of reading season—and when we think of reading, we think of bookmarks! So let’s all make bookmarks inspired by autumn.
You’ll need thick paper (cardstock), tracing paper, and flower paper.
You can find flower paper at large 100-yen shops.
Draw an autumn-themed illustration on a piece of cardstock cut to bookmark size.
Cut out the illustration with a craft knife—make sure an adult handles the parts that require using the knife.
Make two of the same design.
Stick tracing paper over the cut-out sections, then paste on colorful flower paper—this is the most fun part! Layer the two pieces of cardstock together, and make the tassel or string part with the flower paper to finish.
With the desire to use their own handmade bookmarks, everyone will be eager to start reading!
Jack-o’-lantern made with hanshi paper
Speaking of autumn, it’s the season kids look forward to—Halloween.
Here’s an easy way to make a pumpkin decoration that really boosts the Halloween mood: a jack-o’-lantern.
All you need are things you probably have at home, like washi paper (thin rice paper), paint, a balloon, and white wood glue.
First, inflate the balloon and secure it in a paper cup with a weight so it won’t move.
Then place torn pieces of washi over the balloon, and brush on a mixture of water, paint, and white glue, covering the balloon with the torn paper.
Let it dry thoroughly, then pop the balloon inside.
Cut out the eyes and nose, and you’re done.
Put a light inside and it looks beautiful.
