[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 Activities] Fall Nature Play and Craft Ideas to Incorporate into Childcare! (51–60)
Easy grapes—just put them in a plastic bag
Let’s make grapes by crumpling tissue paper—an activity kids can enjoy from around age one.
Prepare a clear plastic bag, tissue paper, and a pipe cleaner.
Shape the clear plastic bag into a triangle, then crumple the tissue paper into small balls to make grape berries.
Put the berries into the bag and twist the opening closed with the pipe cleaner.
Once your 3D grape cluster is done, add a leaf made from a handprint and create a wrinkled pattern on it to finish.
This is a craft that children around one year old, who love squeezing and crumpling, can enjoy.
Give it a try!
How to fold an easy cosmos flower
Let’s introduce how to fold a cosmos flower.
Prepare one sheet of origami paper, crease it, and cut it into four equal parts.
Using the creases as a guide, shape each quarter into a cosmos petal.
Once all are folded, glue the four petals together at the center.
For the stem, prepare another quarter sheet of origami paper and fold it along the center.
Finally, glue the flower and the stem together, and you’re done! The steps are simple, so give it a try.
How to fold tsukimi dango (paper craft)
Moon-viewing dango are essential sweets for the autumn full-moon night.
Prepare one sheet of origami paper, fold it into a triangle, then fold both sides up toward the center line.
Align the tip with the bottom corner, fold, and gently puff it out to form the dango.
A small slit with scissors is also a key step.
Fold the corners to shape the dango into a round form.
Finally, make the stand for the dango, attach the dango on top, and you’re done.
Try making these with children as the full-moon night approaches!
How to fold a cute persimmon
The plump, round shape is so charming! Here are some cute ideas for folding a persimmon.
As a seasonal fruit, you might have chances to eat persimmons at school or at home.
It could be fun to link the craft with the day’s menu.
This time, let’s make an adorable persimmon out of origami! You’ll need one sheet of orange origami paper, a quarter-size piece of green origami paper, glue, and a pen or crayon.
Since the origami is small at a quarter size and the step for making the calyx is a bit tricky, it’s reassuring to try it together with a teacher or guardian.
[Autumn Activities] Autumn Nature Play and Craft Ideas to Incorporate into Childcare! (61–70)
Origami dragonfly using scissors
Let’s make a dragonfly—often seen in autumn—using origami.
Prepare origami paper, round stickers, and scissors.
First, fold the origami paper into a triangle twice.
Fold it down along the center line, then unfold to create crease lines.
Make the dragonfly’s body and use scissors to make small cuts—be careful not to cut too much.
Fold to form the wings and the body separately.
Finally, add the eyes with round stickers, and it’s complete! Give it a try.
Maron-chan with arms and legs
Let’s make Chestnut Maron-chan! Here are some ideas for a Maron-chan with arms and legs.
Autumn brings all kinds of nuts and seeds—acorns, horse chestnuts, pine cones, walnuts, and more.
Activities that help children learn about these natural treasures sound fun too, don’t they? This time, among the many kinds of nuts and seeds, why not make Chestnut Maron-chan out of origami? You’ll need one sheet of origami paper, one quarter-size sheet of origami paper, and a pen.
With arms and legs, Chestnut Maron-chan looks so cute!
A maple leaf made from a single sheet of origami paper
Papercutting fun! We’re introducing an idea for making a maple leaf out of a single sheet of origami paper.
When you go for autumn walks or outings, you may have chances to see maples turning color.
Let’s make a maple leaf from origami so you can enjoy the arrival of autumn indoors too.
You’ll need one sheet of origami paper, a template, and scissors.
The video shows two patterns, so choose the one that suits your activity.
Also, cutting through layered origami with scissors requires strength, so take it easy and don’t push yourself.