September: Autumn crafts! Ideas you can use in childcare

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 September, when the season gradually shifts from the hot summer to autumn, there are many chances to feel the change of seasons through nature and living creatures.

This is a must-read for teachers at daycare centers and kindergartens who are thinking, “We want to incorporate crafts that let children feel autumn!”

Here are some recommended craft ideas for September.

We’ve gathered a wide range of ideas—from those that incorporate familiar autumn elements for children such as fallen leaves and acorns, to ones that use unique techniques that stimulate the five senses.

With a bit of adaptation, these activities can be enjoyed by children from infants to the oldest kindergarteners, so please make good use of them.

Since we emphasize project ideas that make the most of children’s free imagination, we use the term “制作 (seisaku: creation/production)” rather than “製作 (seisaku: craft/production)” in the text.

[September] Autumn crafts! Ideas you can use in childcare (91–100)

Rock-paper-scissors with roasted sweet potatoes in a wet-on-wet painting style

This is an adorable craft idea featuring baked sweet potatoes playing rock–paper–scissors! First, wet a sheet of white drawing paper with water, then create a blotting effect using watercolor paints such as blue, purple, brown, and black.

Let it dry thoroughly.

Next, cut the painted paper into the shape of sweet potatoes and use round stickers or origami paper to make the faces.

Finish by attaching hands showing rock, paper, and scissors—done! Turn them into stick puppets to enjoy rock–paper–scissors games with children, or use them as fun autumn wall decorations.

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miyabi

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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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[September] Autumn crafts! Ideas you can use in childcare (101–110)

Grapes with a perfectly round stamp

Grapes are a popular autumn fruit among children.

Let’s express grapes using construction paper and stamps made from lactic acid drink containers.

First, as prep, cut out the overall shape of a grape cluster from construction paper.

Also prepare plenty of purple circles.

Using a variety of purple shades will make the final result look beautiful.

Have the children freely glue the circles onto the grape cluster, then use the lactic acid drink containers to stamp round shapes on top.

The overlap of the paper circles and the stamped circles creates an artistic finish.

Hang them up with purple raffia (suzuran tape) for display.

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tsukada moe

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Colorful 3D dragonfly

If you want to decorate your wall art in a vibrant way, three-dimensional shapes are a must.

This “Colorful 3D Dragonfly” is one of the simpler pieces among 3D wall art.

The highlight of this work is, above all, how easy it is to create a three-dimensional structure using straws.

Forming 3D shapes with paper can be quite challenging, but in this piece, the only three-dimensional elements are made from straws, making it easier even for those who aren’t very dexterous.

Give it a try!

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Ryo

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Three-dimensional grapes made with sticker pasting

This is a 3D grape craft made by sticking round-cut origami pieces onto a long, narrow strip of construction paper.

Put double-sided tape on the back of the cut-out origami circles, and have the children peel and stick them.

Once the origami pieces are attached, wrap the strip around a triangular piece of construction paper in a spiral.

Finally, add a pipe-cleaner stem and paper leaves to finish.

You can also use stickers instead of origami, of course.

Let the children choose their favorite patterns.

It’s a perfect idea for an autumn wall decoration.

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sasashina

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Cosmos with straw stamps

Here’s an idea for making a small, cute cosmos field using a straw.

Cut eight evenly spaced slits into the end of a straw so the tips become the cosmos petals, then crease them so they fold outward.

Dab a little watered-down paint onto the opened tips and stamp them onto paper.

The key points are not to cut the slits too deep and to thin the paint to a nice, loose consistency.

With those two tips, you’ll get an easy-to-use stamp.

Draw the cosmos leaves and stems with crayons.

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utatane

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Cosmos flowers colored with a sponge dauber

Here’s an idea for making cosmos flowers using a tampo (a dabber) that lets you have fun painting by dabbing to bring out color.

Stuff cotton into gauze, secure it with a rubber band, dip it into watercolor paint thinned with water, and then dab it onto paper.

The strength of your dabs changes the intensity of the color, which is part of the fun.

Cut the colored construction paper into long, thin strips, layer them in a radial pattern, and glue them down.

Stick a yellow piece of origami paper or a round sticker in the center, and your cosmos is complete.

Try making cosmos in lots of different colors!

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utatane

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