As the leaves begin to change color and the air turns crisp, fall is the perfect time to engage young children in fun and tactile activities. These activities celebrate the season and help develop fine motor skills, enhance creativity, and encourage teamwork. Here are a few fall-themed explorations we’ve done in our classrooms that are perfect for little hands!
Leaf Painting
Materials Needed:
Freshly fallen leaves
White paper
Fall Colored Paint
Instructions:
Take children out to find fall leaves of varying shapes and sizes.
Tape the leaves to white paper.
Set out three fall-themed paint colors. Magenta, gold, and orange make a beautiful fall palette!
Use either paint brushes to paint over the leaves and around the edges of the leaves.
Children may have their own ideas about how to work with the leaves and paint, so let them explore! They may decide to use the leaves as paintbrushes or use their hands for painting.
Learning Outcome:
This activity lets children explore leaf shapes and textures and enhances their fine motor skills and creativity.
Pumpkin Painting
Materials Needed:
Small real pumpkins
Non-toxic paint in bowls
Paintbrushes
Instructions:
Set up a painting station with all materials. We’ve set up this activity both on the floor and on a classroom table. We often use three colors, putting the paint in three separate bowls.
Invite children to paint their pumpkins. We’ve found that silver, green, and purple make a striking combination, but others (magenta, gold, and orange) work as well. Children may also prefer not to mix the colors and that’s fine too!
Allow the pumpkins to dry and add them to your home or classroom decor!
Learning Outcome:
This activity allows for self-expression and color exploration and lets children work on their fine motor development.
Pine Cone Decorations
Materials Needed:
Pine cones
Paint and sponge dotters
Clear Glue
Glitter
Scissors
Yarn
Instructions:
Take children outside to gather large pinecones.
Set up a painting station with paint brushes or sponge dotters and silver, gold, and black paint, along with clear glue and glitter.
Invite the children to dip the brushes or sponge dotters into the paint and then to paint their pinecones. Then, children can drizzle clear glue onto their pinecones and shake glitter over the glue.
Allow the pinecones to dry for at least a day.
Once the pinecones are dry, set up a station of a few rolls of yarn and scissors.
Children can cut the yarn and then string it around the pinecones.
Learning Outcome:
This activity enhances fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination and problem-solving.
Fall Sensory Bin
Materials Needed:
Large Wood Or Plastic Bin
Add dried beans, corn, uncooked pasta or uncooked oats.
Small fall-themed items like mini pumpkins, acorns, and pinecones.
Instructions:
Fill the bin with the fall-themed items and uncooked beans/corn/uncooked oats. Add tools for pouring and scooping.
Invite the children to explore with their hands and the tools.
Embrace the mess!
Learning Outcomes:
Sensory bins are great for young children’s development in multiple ways: strengthening hand muscles, developing language and social skills as children talk about what they notice in the bin, sensory regulation, and so much more!
Conclusion
Fall is a wonderful time for creative and open-ended activities that inspire creativity, learning, and fun. These activities not only celebrate the beauty of the season but also help young children develop tactile, creative, and social skills. Engage with them through the process and ask them questions about their favorite pieces of fall. It’s important to let them lead the process in these activities and focus on the process, rather than the final product. This gives them a sense of independence and boosts their self-esteem and joy in learning.
Enjoy the fall fun!
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