Lovely childcare

Preschool: Autumn-Themed Craft Ideas Recommended for November

20 years of experience as a nursery teacher / kindergarten teacherhiyoko sensei
I’m Hiyoko-sensei, a former nursery school teacher from Hyogo Prefecture. Ever since I was five, my dream was to become a childcare worker, and before I knew it, 20 years had passed since I achieved that dream. Through singing and playing with the children, I kept working with the spirit of someone in their twenties, even as I increasingly felt my physical limits year by year (haha). From here on, I’d like to share helpful information carefully and thoughtfully, drawing on my on-site experience.
9 years of experience as a nursery school teacherShibata Risa
I am an active nursery school teacher with 9 years of experience. After graduating from university, I worked at a daycare center. The time I spent happily with children—playing piano, singing songs, and doing finger-play—are priceless memories to me. Currently, while raising three children of my own, I work at an after-school day service, engaging with children and providing individualized developmental support. Drawing on my diverse experiences as a childcare worker and as a mother, I hope to express and convey my thoughts through writing.

In November, as the cold gradually sets in, we get to enjoy beautiful autumn foliage and delicious seasonal flavors.

Why not try some fun crafts that capture those delightful autumn moments?

In this article, we’ll share craft ideas for November that let you feel the season.

We’ve gathered a variety of ideas, including autumn foods made with different materials and projects using natural items like acorns.

They’re all activities children can enjoy!

As November gets colder, let’s make the most of autumn indoors!

Because the items children make are treated as works, we refer to them as “seisaku” (productions) in the text.

[Childcare] Autumn-Themed Craft Ideas Recommended for November (11–20)

Finger stamp mushroom

[Craft Play] Even 0-year-olds can do it! Let’s make fingerprint-stamp mushrooms

Finger stamp mushroom

Even children who aren’t confident with crafts or drawing can have fun trying finger-stamp mushrooms.

Finger stamping is an art activity where you dip your fingertip in paint and create patterns.

It’s not just about tapping—there are many variations, like drawing lines or making tiny dots with your nail.

All you do here is add patterns to mushrooms using finger stamps, so it’s easy and helps nurture children’s creativity.

It can also be fun to reproduce real mushroom patterns by looking at a mushroom field guide instead of inventing your own designs.

That way, it doubles as food education, too.

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Mixed juice with autumn fruits

Recommended for practicing scissors! November/Autumn craft book: “Let’s make a delicious mixed juice with autumn fruits♪” — For ages 3–4 [Nursery/Kindergarten]

Mixed juice with autumn fruits

Making mixed juice using autumn fruits looks so delicious that it makes you want to drink it just by looking.

To make it, cut origami paper into the shape of a cup, draw whatever you like with crayons, and then stick colored cellophane on top while imagining the color of your favorite juice.

On the base construction paper, glue on the large basket you made and the fruits.

It’s best to use paper that’s easy to hold in your hand—this also makes for good scissor practice.

Once you’ve glued the mixed juice onto the construction paper and finished, displaying it on the wall is a great way to feel the season.

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Making a crown out of fallen leaves

[Autumn Craft] Let's make a crown with fallen leaves!

Making a crown out of fallen leaves

Speaking of autumn, it’s the season when going for a walk feels especially pleasant, isn’t it? So, let’s make a crown using the fallen leaves you pick up on your walk! The method is very simple: cut an A4 sheet of copy paper into three equal strips to create the base for the crown, and then start building it.

Have the children stick the fallen leaves onto the crown however they like.

Finally, adjust it to fit the children’s head sizes and staple it together—your fallen-leaf crown is complete.

It’s a craft that helps you feel the season while connecting with nature.

Use colorful leaves to make a one-of-a-kind crown!

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Acorn balancing toy

[Craft Play 052] How to Make an Acorn Balancing Toy — Cute Yajirobe

Acorn balancing toy

A balancing toy (yajirobee) made from acorns your child eagerly collected is a great two-for-one: it gives you something fun to do after gathering them.

It’s an easy craft—just drill a hole in each acorn and insert a toothpick-like twig.

However, acorns straight from outdoors are quite hard to drill, and they may contain insects, so it’s best for an adult to steam them first using a steamer or similar tool to make the work easier.

Kids can experiment with sizes of the left and right acorns to find good balance, or draw a face on the pivot acorn—it’s a craft that lets them think and create in their own way.

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Hoshino Takashi

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Acorn spinning top

[Craft Play 053] How to Make an Acorn Spinning Top: Colorful Acorn Tops

Acorn spinning top

Let’s make a simple and cute spinning top toy using everyday items.

All you need is acorns you can pick up at parks or along the roadside.

Collect lots of nicely shaped ones and turn them into tops.

To prevent bugs, start by boiling the acorns.

Use an awl to make a hole in the bottom of each acorn and insert a toothpick.

Use colorful markers to draw patterns or characters.

Once the ink is dry, cut the toothpick if it’s too long.

Trim it to a length that spins well.

To make it last and keep the colors from wearing off, spray it with varnish.

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