[For 3-year-olds] Perfect for September! A Collection of Craft Ideas to Enjoy Autumn Nature

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.

September makes craft time with children even more fun.

Here, we’ll introduce craft ideas for three-year-olds using seasonal themes like moon-viewing, mushrooms, and cosmos flowers.

Let’s enjoy autumn crafts together using stamp daubers, origami, and everyday materials.

Through activities that highlight each child’s individuality, their interest in autumn’s nature will grow.

You’ll find plenty of tips everyone can enjoy together, so please use them as a reference.

Because we emphasize ideas that harness children’s free imagination to create works, in the main text we use the term “seisaku” (制作, creation/production) rather than “seisaku” (製作, craft-making).

[For 3-year-olds] Perfect for September! A collection of craft ideas (51–60) to enjoy autumn nature

Torn-paper collage mushroom

How about adding patterns to a mushroom cap using torn-paper collage? First, cut out the mushroom cap and stem from construction paper.

If the children are old enough to use scissors, let them do it themselves; if not, the teacher should prepare the pieces in advance.

Next, tear colored origami paper into small pieces.

Then randomly glue the pieces onto the mushroom cap to decorate it.

Once you’ve covered it enough, attach the cap and stem to complete the mushroom.

If you like, draw a cute face on the stem with crayons or pens.

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SAKI

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The smeared moon and the footprint-shaped rabbit

This is a cute craft idea that uses a paper plate as the moon and children’s footprints as rabbits.

First, take the children’s footprints on black construction paper and draw the rabbits’ ears and faces.

After wiping their feet clean, have them make the moon using yellow paint.

Encourage them to spread the paint over the surface with their hands or fingers.

If you put the plate and paint in a sealable bag, you can keep things mess-free.

Once the moon is finished, glue it onto the background and add pampas grass and rice dumplings to complete the scene.

It’s also a great idea for an autumn wall decoration.

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sasashina

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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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Rolling Acorn

How about enjoying a craft activity with children that makes the most of acorns, one of autumn’s natural treasures? In fall, kids have more chances to pick up acorns outdoors.

Paint the acorns in any colors you like and roll them around on construction paper—they’ll transform into wonderful art! Then cut the paper into leaf shapes and stick origami acorns on top to complete a piece that’s full of autumn vibes.

It’s also a great idea to decorate with the colorful fallen leaves you actually collected.

It’ll make a wall display brimming with both the children’s individuality and the essence of autumn.

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[For 3-year-olds] Perfect for September! A collection of craft ideas (61–70) to enjoy autumn nature

Grapes with stickers

When it comes to autumn fruits, grapes are a must, right? So, how about making grapes as an autumn craft? Beforehand, have an adult cut grape shapes and branches out of construction paper and glue them together.

Then let the children stick round stickers or circles cut from construction paper on top to complete the grapes.

The process of peeling and sticking the stickers helps train their fine motor skills.

Having a few types of stickers ready makes it fun for the children to choose, and it also creates a more vibrant finish if you use the crafts for wall decorations.

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sasashina

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A mushroom pen holder made from a toilet paper roll

Let’s turn a cute, autumn-icon mushroom into a pen holder! This idea reuses a toilet paper roll to make the stand.

For the mushroom cap, let kids decorate by sticking on stickers or using stamp daubers to create patterns—any technique works.

By expressing themselves freely, children can nurture creativity and enjoy a sense of accomplishment.

It also makes a perfect gift for Respect for the Aged Day in September, so have fun making it!

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miyabi

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Stylish mushrooms made with masking tape

Masking tape comes in all sorts of designs and patterns.

How about using that tape to make stylish mushrooms? On a sheet of white drawing paper, stick your favorite masking tapes randomly—vertically, horizontally, and diagonally.

Once you’ve added as much as you like, cut the paper into the shape of a mushroom cap, then pair it with another piece of paper cut into the shape of the mushroom stem to complete the craft.

Each child will choose different tapes and arrangements, resulting in wonderfully original creations.

Depending on the children’s ages, teachers should handle any steps that involve using scissors.

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SAKI

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