It can be tough to say goodbye to the carefree days of summer, but fall can be a pretty cool season, too. After all, there is pumpkin and apple picking, not to mention Halloween. Autumn also brings those awesome fall colors. Who doesn’t like jumping into a pile of freshly raked leaves? Well, probably not parents, but the kiddos really love it. Before those leaves get bagged up, why not turn them into some amazing autumn decorations?
Leaf art for kids is a wonderful way to welcome the change of seasons and get ready for the fun holidays on the horizon. Kids always come home with cool fall leaves. Instead of keeping the pile and waiting for them to turn brown, try these easy and fun arts and crafts projects where fall leaves take center stage.
Leaf art for kids
Arts and crafts projects are great for rainy days or whenever the kids are bored. They’re also a wonderful addition to a fall family fun night. Leaf art is a simple way to get creative with those autumn collections children manage to accumulate on walks home from school or the bus stop.
With these easy leaf art projects, kids can get creative and make some cool decorations to get the house into fall mode. All of these leaf art creations begin with a fall walk where picking up those pretty fall leaves is a must. The bigger the collection the better for these fall artistic endeavors.
Leaf prints
One of the simplest leaf art projects is to make leaf prints. All you need are fall leaves, washable paint, paper, and paintbrushes. Foam brushes work best, but any paintbrush will work. Before the kids start making leaf prints, it’s a good idea to cover the table with a plastic tablecloth from your local dollar store. Doing so makes cleanup so much easier. If it’s a nice day, take the leaf printing outside.
Pour the washable paint colors onto paper plates. Place a paintbrush on each plate. You can give kids traditional fall colors like red, yellow, orange, and brown, but some kids may want to use other colors, too. It’s always a good idea to let kids experiment with colors. If kids want to mix colors, give them a separate plate. Then, the steps are basic.
- Have kids use the colors and brushes to paint the front of the leaves. Kids can stick with one color or apply multiple colors.
- Once painted, turn the leaf over and press them onto a piece of paper. Any type of paper will do, from computer to construction to finger paint paper. If you want thicker paper, poster board paper or scrapbook paper works great.
- Kids can paint and print different-sized leaves onto one piece of paper to make a collage.
- Allow to dry before hanging up.
Leaf print designs make for colorful placemats for Thanksgiving by covering them with contact paper or laminating.
Leaf wreath
If you’re looking for a hands-on DIY leaf art project for kids, try these leaf wreaths. All you need is a collection of fall leaves, paper plates, and glue. Before you call the kids to the table, take the paper plates and prep the wreath by cutting a circle out of the middle. Then, spread out the pile of leaves on the table. Using glue sticks, kids can make their wreaths by layering the leaves all around the paper plate. Allow them to dry before using a hole punch tool to make a hole for hanging.
You can hang using a piece of string, yarn, or ribbon. If kids encounter trouble getting the leaves to stick, use a glue gun. An adult can cover the paper plate in glue while the kiddos place the leaves on it. Leaf wreaths look stylish on the front door or on the windows.
Fall tree
A super simple leaf art project for little ones is to have kids draw a tree trunk on a piece of construction paper. Kids can paint or color in the trunk. To create a fall tree in all its colorful glory, have kids glue their collection of fall leaves to make the top of the tree. The more leaves the better to make a full tree. Leaves can also be glued all around the trunk to make a fall scene.
Leaf rubbings
This project has been around for ages. It’s sometimes used in science class to help kids learn the different parts of a leaf. To make leaf rubbings you can use pretty much any type of paper or writing utensil. Crayons, colored pencils, pens, and pencils work best. Recycled paper is earmarked for leaf rubbings.
Once the kids have gathered an assortment of leaves, place a piece of paper on top of the leaf and take a pencil, crayon, or pen to rub over the leaf. Be sure to rub over the entire leaf to completely trace its outline and interior. Leaf rubbings can also be turned into a collage by making multiple rubbings on one piece of paper.
Autumn leaf people
When the trees start changing color and the ground is filled with colorful fall leaves, acorns, and sticks, kids will typically start picking them up. Those fall collections can be turned into some unique autumn leaf people. All you need is a thick piece of paper to glue the creations to.
The leaf makes an ideal head for an autumn leaf person, and the stem creates the body. Small sticks can be added for arms and legs. If the leaf doesn’t have a stem, a stick can be used for the body. Acorns are perfect for the eyes, nose, and mouth. When it comes to making autumn leaf people, anything goes. This is a great project that allows kids to experiment and let those creative juices flow.
Of course, it can be sad to see the summer wind go, but the chill of autumn can be a welcome change, too. Embrace fall and your kiddo’s desire to collect leaves. That collection of leaves in the mudroom or on your front porch can be turned into colorful and creative leaf art. Fall leaf art for kids is a fun way to get children of all ages to embrace their artistic side. These five leaf art projects are easy to do, and the end results can be used as fall decorations inside and out.
