Exciting September crafts for 4-year-olds! A special collection of fun ideas with autumn-themed motifs
When September comes, there are so many fun autumn crafts! Here are some ideas for seasonal projects like grapes, dragonflies, cosmos flowers, and moon-viewing.
Four-year-olds are at a stage where they’re starting to take interest in the nature around them.
Let’s encourage them to use their imagination and carefully create works with their fingertips.
Using familiar materials such as construction paper, origami paper, and paper plates, why not enjoy making autumn crafts together with the children? These activities let them savor the textures of the materials and experience the joy of expressing themselves freely.
Because the children’s creations are treated as works of art, we use the term “seisaku” (production/artwork) in the text.
September crafts for 4-year-olds are a hit! A collection of fun ideas with autumn motifs (1–10)
Colorful 3D dragonfly
As autumn arrives, we see more and more dragonflies gliding comfortably through the crisp fall sky.
Let’s make a three-dimensional, colorful dragonfly! First, prepare construction paper cut into the shape of wings, and decorate them with your favorite colors and patterns using crayons or similar materials.
Then, stick the wings onto a long, narrow strip of construction paper that will serve as the main body.
Next, take four pieces of origami paper cut to half size, roll each into a tube, and line them up on the body in any order you like.
Finally, add eyes—and it’s done! Since children can choose their own colors, you’ll end up with a variety of vibrant creations.
Three-dimensional grapes made from construction paper
This is a 3D grape craft that will make you want to pluck it right off the page! First, cut out the parts from construction paper: an upside-down triangle for the base of the grape cluster, several small rectangles for the grape berries, and a piece for the stem.
Glue the base and the stem together, and then it’s time to make the berries! Apply glue to one of the short edges of a rectangle, curl it into a ring, and stick it together.
Make six of these rings, then glue them onto the base in rows of 3 at the top, 2 in the middle, and 1 at the bottom.
Your 3D grapes are complete.
Enjoy crafting while chatting about delicious fruits that are in season in autumn!
dragonfly glasses
This is a craft where you make a dragonfly by crossing stick-shaped parts! For each dragonfly, cut construction paper to make one body piece, two wing pieces, and two round eye pieces.
Cross the wing pieces to form an X and glue them together at the center, then glue the body piece over the center to cover it.
If you score a fold line at the halfway point of each piece, it makes it easier to see where they should cross.
Finally, glue everything onto a backing sheet, attach the eye pieces, and draw the wing patterns, eyes, and background to finish! To help avoid confusion about where to place the dragonfly or how to assemble the parts, it’s a good idea to demonstrate with a sample as you go.
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!
Full moon rabbit made from a single sheet of origami
Perfect for moon-viewing events! Here’s an idea for a full-moon rabbit made from a single sheet of origami paper.
Autumn is the season for tsukimi (moon viewing), right? Some of you might prepare pampas grass and moon-viewing dumplings at school or at home and enjoy the beautiful moon.
This time, let’s make a full-moon rabbit that’s just right for such an event.
What you’ll need: yellow origami paper, scissors, glue, and a pen.
Some steps are a bit tricky, so it’s best to work together with a parent or teacher for safety and ease.
Be sure to give it a try on this occasion!
A chestnut that breaks on the eighth fold
When September comes, it’s the season when chestnuts are delicious.
Let’s fold autumn’s seasonal chestnuts with origami.
After folding the paper in half, fold the left and right corners toward the center line.
Flip the paper over and fold the bottom part of the chestnut toward the center line.
Finally, adjust the shape into a chestnut and you’re done.
You can enjoy different sizes of chestnuts by changing the size of the origami paper.
Also, by folding the corners to create roundness, the chestnut gains a three-dimensional look, resulting in a tasty-looking chestnut perfect for autumn.
Give it a try!
Acorn in origami
Acorns are one of the familiar parts of autumn nature for children—they find them among fallen leaves, collect lots of them, and use them for pretend play.
Let’s try expressing the autumn mood by making acorns with origami.
First, fold the origami paper in half into a square, then open it and fold the bottom edge up toward the crease.
Flip it over, fold it in half, and open it, then fold both sides in toward the crease.
Finally, fold in the four corners to resemble an acorn shape, and you’re done.
Make lots and decorate your room with them!