[Childcare] Autumn craft ideas
We’ve gathered fall craft ideas that are perfect for childcare!
Autumn is a comfortable season with plenty of chances to go for walks and play outside.
Children are likely to pick up all sorts of intriguing things—acorns, pinecones, leaves, and more.
In this article, we introduce crafts that use found items as materials, as well as projects made with construction paper, origami paper, and recycled materials.
We’ve collected a wide range of ideas—from toys kids can play with after making them to decorations for wall displays—so try choosing activities that suit the children’s ages and have fun creating together!
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[Childcare] Autumn Craft Ideas (41–50)
Origami fall leaves using scissors
This origami also helps kids practice using scissors! With the colored side facing up, fold the paper into a triangle, then fold up the bottom edge just a little so that the sides line up with the edges.
Keep folding it up like an accordion all the way to the top.
Open the fold you just made once, then, imagining the center vein of a fallen leaf along the closed edge, fold it narrowly on a diagonal.
Next, slightly fold the two corner tips to resemble a fallen leaf.
After shaping it, use scissors to cut small “bug-eaten” holes and details.
Since this requires a bit of fine scissor work, make sure an adult is always there to help.
How to fold realistic autumn leaves
Let’s make a realistic maple leaf using a single sheet of origami.
Fold the paper into a triangle twice, squash the pocketed section into a square, then add creases and squash it into a diamond.
Up to this point, it’s the same process as making a crane.
With the side where the corners are not split at the top, fold down the top layer on the front, then flip the paper top-to-bottom and turn it over.
Crease the two-pronged corner, open it up, and squash this part into a small diamond.
Make a cut in the bottom corner to split it into two prongs as well, squash it into a diamond the same way, then fold the tips to create small leaves.
Turn the paper over, fold the left and right corners of the remaining section inward, and make a step fold on the bottom corner.
Finally, fold the left and right corners once more, and you’re done.
Make and Play! Bagworm Kendama
How about turning a kendama—where you balance the ball on the top or on the side cup—into a bagworm (minomushi) version? First, crumple up some newspaper into a ball and shape it with vinyl tape to make the kendama ball.
At this time, attach one end of a piece of kite string (both ends tied in firm knots) to the ball as you tape.
Next, tape the other end of the string to the outside bottom of a paper cup.
Then cut out eyes and a fallen-leaf-like body for the bagworm from construction or origami paper, and stick them around the cup—and you’re done! The ball is easier to catch than with a regular kendama, so kids can have lots of fun playing with it.
You can make the whole body! Squirrel origami
Let’s make a cute animal squirrel with origami.
First, fold the paper diagonally to make a crease.
With the white side facing up, fold the left and right corners in to meet at the center.
Open it once the creases are made, then fold again along those creases in the same way.
Fold the paper in half along the horizontal center line so that the white side is on the outside.
Next, take the top layer of the top corner and fold it down to match the height of the upper corners of the triangles on the left and right.
Fold the remaining top corner to the back.
Fold the left and right sides at positions about 1 cm outside the vertical center line, then fold the left, right, and bottom corners to align with the slightly visible triangular corners.
Now the squirrel’s face is complete.
We also introduce how to make the body, so please try making it too!
Perfect for walls, too! Chrysanthemum origami
Here’s an idea for making a chrysanthemum using an accordion fold.
Prepare two sheets of origami paper: 15 cm for the flower and 7.5 cm for the leaves.
First, accordion-fold the paper for the flower.
Once folded, take both pieces, align the ends, and fold each in half.
Trim off the two corners at the ends to shape the petal tips.
Open the paper once, apply glue along the center line on both sides, then fold it back in half.
Also glue the inner edges of the folds to form a fan shape.
Glue the two pieces together while spreading them into a circle, and place a round sticker in the center to complete the flower.
Make leaves from green origami paper and attach them to the back of the flower.
Make it with handprints! Wobbly bagworm
Here’s a craft idea for making bagworms using children’s handprints and footprints! First, create the bagworm’s body out of colored construction paper.
Next, take origami paper in your favorite colors and tear it into long, thin strips.
Paste the strips onto the body with glue, and use the child’s handprints to make a cute outfit.
Draw the face, attach a piece of yarn to hang it, and you’re done! You can also decorate with yarn instead of or in addition to origami paper.
Making lots in different colors and displaying them looks super cute, so it’s highly recommended.
Be sure to have fun tearing and pasting together with the kids!
One sheet of origami! Cute mushroom
First, fold the origami paper in half into a square twice, then fold both corners toward the center to make triangles.
Flip it over, fold the unfolded section up toward the middle, and flip it over again.
Fold both sides toward the center crease, then fold the top corner down and open it to make a crease.
Using this crease as a guide, fold upward in stepped layers, then fold the corners of the folded-up section and open them.
Finally, fold each corner to round the shape, draw mushroom patterns as you like, and you’re done! Make lots of them and enjoy them as an autumn display!