Autumnal crafts for under 5’s

As the leaves start to change outside and we begin to welcome in the autumnal season, we wanted to show you just a few autumnal crafts you could do as a family, perfect for those under five years of age. 

What makes these craft activities even better is that they can be done both at home or one of the many last minute caravan holidays many UK destinations are offering this time of year.  

Each crafting activity below focuses on promoting creativity, sensory play, and the development of fine motor skills while exploring the wonders of autumn. So, if you’re ready, let’s see what you could all be making this autumn. 

Handprint autumn tree 

This activity turns your child’s hand into the trunk and branches of a tree. Start by painting their hand and wrist brown and pressing it onto paper or card. 

Once it dries, children can add “leaves” by dipping their fingers in red, yellow, and orange paints. This simple yet effective activity helps children learn about autumn colours and works on their fine motor skills, as they use their fingers to dot the paint, mimicking leaves falling from trees. 

What’s best is these make for a beautiful keepsake, capturing a moment in time of your child’s growth. 

Pumpkin painting 

Whether at home or on an autumnal staycation, why not visit a local pick-your-own pumpkin patch? While there, you can pick out your favourite pumpkins and take them back to your accommodation to decorate, ready for the Halloween festivities. 

One way to decorate your pumpkin is to paint it rather than carve it. This allows your little one(s) to decorate their pumpkin however they wish rather than sitting back and watching you carve the chosen design. 

Once decorated and dried, you can place your pumpkins in pride of place either by the fireplace, on the door step or wherever your little wishes to display their work of art! 

Autumn leaf banner 

This activity encourages children to gather fallen leaves of various colours during a nature walk and then create a gradient banner by arranging the leaves from the lightest to the darkest shades. 

Firstly, you’ll need to pop on your raincoat and wellies and head outside. Explore the nature around you while collecting leaves of all shapes, sizes and colours. This activity alone is a great way to bond with your children whilst getting them out in nature, letting them explore new habitats and wildlife as well as visual and textured sensory opportunities. 

To make the leaf banner, string the leaves together with twine or yarn, and children can also add twigs or small autumn-themed decorations. Sorting leaves by size or colour helps them understand natural patterns and develop categorisation skills, while the tactile experience of handling different textures boosts sensory awareness. 

Each of these activities offers a mix of sensory play, creativity, and educational value, making them ideal for young children to enjoy and learn from during the autumn season. They provide opportunities for hands-on learning and a fun way to celebrate the seasonal changes in the natural world.