Ideas for September Crafts for 1-Year-Olds: A Fun Collection of Autumn-Themed Projects

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.
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.

Here are some autumn craft ideas you can enjoy with one-year-olds.

From mushrooms and grapes to apples and fallen leaves, there are plenty of colorful, adorable creations.

For September projects, activities like finger stamping, painting, and handprints/footprints let children explore by touch and joyfully express the changing seasons.

Through hands-on creative activities, their sensibilities are richly nurtured.

All of the projects are simple in both preparation and steps, so enjoy a fun crafting time with the children! Because we introduce ideas that let children freely express their creativity, we use the term “制作” (creation/production) rather than “製作” (craft-making) in the main text.

[Age 1] September Craft Ideas! A Fun Collection of Autumn-Themed Projects (21–30)

Moon-viewing stencil

In September, when the moon looks especially beautiful, let’s try painting the moon using a stencil.

Prepare circular moon shapes in advance by cutting them out of construction paper.

Have the children add color on top using paint-dabbed balloons, stampers, or their fingers.

Simply coloring it nicely is fine, but if you also prepare construction paper cut into rabbit shapes and place one on the moon while stamping, then remove it afterward, you’ll get a picture where a rabbit appears to float within the moon.

The pop-pop stamping action is fun, so the children will enjoy the activity.

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Moon-viewing craft

Let’s create a craft themed around moon viewing (Otsukimi).

Prepare dark blue construction paper to represent a night sky with the moon.

Arrange pictures of the moon, rabbits, and moon-viewing rice dumplings (dango) on it.

You can draw each element, or you can make them with origami and glue them on—both are great options.

For the dango, you can also line up small balls made from crumpled tissue paper.

For the moon, try a collage style using torn pieces of origami or tissue paper, or make a stylish moon by cutting a circle from construction paper and adding color with marbling techniques.

Adjust the methods and techniques to suit the children’s ages.

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Grapes made with tissue paper

Autumn is full of delicious foods, and it’s especially the season when many fruits are harvested.

How about making grapes, a seasonal fruit you can enjoy in autumn? Roll purple tissue paper into balls to create the many round grape berries in a cluster, and have the children stamp their handprints in green on construction paper, cut them out, and use them as grape leaves.

Glue the grape berries onto a backing sheet of the same color.

The number of berries and how they are arranged will change the size and appearance, giving each piece its own personality.

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Moon Viewing with the Raccoon Dog and the Dragonfly

Wall decorations for moon viewing are perfect for autumn when the Harvest Moon (Jūgoya) arrives! Prepare parts like pampas grass, moon-viewing dumplings, dragonflies, and the moon, and create a moon-viewing scene on the wall.

If you want to make a display that children will love, be sure to add animal motifs like raccoon dogs (tanuki) and rabbits! Teachers can prepare the pieces in advance, and then have the children stick them on or draw the facial features to complete it together.

It’s also a great idea to read a picture book and explain, “This is what moon viewing means.”

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Autumn-colored owls with bleed painting and handprints

Here’s a fall-themed owl craft idea that lets you preserve children’s handprints.

Use diluted paint to cover a sheet of white drawing paper.

Once the whole surface is painted and has dried, cut it into the shape of an owl.

After attaching the eyes and beak pieces, add the handprints on the left and right to create the wings.

Finally, attach the feet pieces to complete the owl.

Using paint in brown tones will give it an autumn feel.

It’s a great craft idea that will become a memorable keepsake for a 2-year-old.

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mutō

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Crayon-resist mushroom painting

Let’s make mushrooms using a wax-resist painting technique! First, take a piece of construction paper cut into a mushroom cap shape and draw patterns on it with crayons.

Once your patterns are done, paint over the top with your favorite watercolor paint, using plenty of water for a solid wash.

The paint will resist the crayon marks, and the beautiful patterns will appear! After the paint dries, combine it with a piece of construction paper cut into the stem shape to complete your mushroom.

You can also add a face with round stickers or however you like.

Depending on the children’s ages, teachers should handle the cutting of the construction paper.

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Peekaboo Rabbit’s Moon Viewing

How about trying a craft that depicts a rabbit enjoying moon viewing? Arrange a rabbit, moon-viewing dumplings, and the moon on dark blue construction paper.

You can cut them out of paper, paint them with paints, or use sponge daubers to add color—any of these are recommended.

If you punch a slightly larger round hole in part of the paper and layer small pieces of tissue paper over it, the piece will glow beautifully like a real moon when you hold it up to a light.

Adjust the steps or modify the method to suit the children’s ages, and enjoy making it together.

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