Easy Autumn Activities for Toddlers

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The days are getting cooler and the leaves are starting to change colors, finally, Autumn is upon us! The world is always full of wonder and excitement! I love being able to see the wonder in my children’s eyes when they’re off exploring or learning something new. And Autumn is especially a wonderful time for exploring nature with your little ones! So I’m going to be sharing some easy Autumn activities for toddlers, but younger ones and older ones can always join in!

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Leaf Rubbings

Do you remember doing leaf rubbings as a child? I know I do! It was always so amazing to see all the details of the leaves. And using different objects to color with, experimenting to see what all we could create! So, this is a perfect time to incorporate learning about a few different leaves that are native to your area too!

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Supplies

• Leaves from around your area
• White paper
• Crayons
• Markers
• Coloring Pencils
• Pencils

Instructions

1. Place one or more leaves at a time under a piece of white paper.
2. Then use crayons, markers, coloring pencils, or pencils to lightly rub over top of the leaves that are under the paper to reveal the shape and details of the leaves.
3. Additionally, use a variety of coloring options and pressure applied to see what new creations can be made.
4. When completed hang up or cut out and make a leaf banner.

Dipped Beeswax Leaf Garland

You have to admit Autumn leaves are beautiful! All the oranges, reds, browns, and yellows are the best, though the oranges are probably my favorite! But did you know you can preserve that beauty by dipping them in beeswax?

Supplies

• All different colors of Autumn leaves from your area
• 1-2 oz of beeswax
• Double boiler (optional)
• Pot
• Mason jar lid ring
• Mason jar
• Stir stick
• Tweezers
• Parchment paper
• String or twine

Instructions

1. Using a double boiler or creating your own.
2. (DIY Double Boiler): Place a pot on the stove with a mason jar ring lid in bottom, put at least 2-3 inches of water in the pot, place glass mason jar on top of lid.
3. Then place beeswax in glass mason jar.
4. Melt beeswax on low heat and stir occasionally.
5. Once beeswax is melted use tweezers to dip leaves into beeswax. Then place on parchment paper to cool.
6. Once beeswax dipped leaves have cooled, poke a small hole in each side of the leaves and run string/twine through the holes to create a garland.

DIY Bird Feeder

Supplies

• Paper plate
• Spoon or butter knife
• Paper towel or toilet paper cardboard roll
• Peanut butter
• Bird seed
• Wooden skewer
• String

Instructions

1. Use butter knife to apply peanut butter to the cardboard roll.
2. Once covered in peanut butter, pour out bird seed onto paper plate and roll peanut butter covered cardboard roll in the bird seed to cover.
3. Then using the wooden skewer poke holes through the top and bottom.
4. Lastly, use the top to place string for hanging and place wooden skewer in the bottom for birds to use as a landing.

Finger Print Autumn Tree Painting

Supplies

• Fall finger paint colors (red, brown, orange, yellow)
• Free Autumn Tree download (use form below to grab the free download)

Instructions

Once you’ve downloaded and printed the free Autumn tree download, allow your child to dip their fingers into finger paint to create leaves for their tree in all the Fall colors!

Leaf Color Sorting

Supplies

• 1 piece of construction paper for each color (red, orange, brown, yellow)
• Leaves from yard or park

Instructions

1. Once you’ve collected leaves from the yard or park lay out the 4 pieces of construction paper. After that, explain each color to your child.
2. Then allow child to place each leaf to the corresponding color of construction paper.

Sensory Bins

Supplies

You can include as many or little as you like of these:

• Sensory table, bin, or storage tote
• Popcorn kernels
• Any small, Fall craft supplies (ex: wooden pumpkins, autumn foil confetti, wooden acorns, leaf confetti, pinecones)
• Small bowls
• Spoons or scoops
• Small farm animals

Instructions:

1. Place popcorn in the sensory table, bin, or storage tote.
2. Then include any of the other items.
3. Lastly, play and have fun!

More Autumn Activities for Toddlers

Fall Playdough

I recently posted our Fall scented playdough recipe! It’s 100% natural, nontoxic, no cooking, or cream of tartar! A fun way to use this after you’ve made the playdough is to make nature stamps. Simply collect a few nature items, such as acorns, pinecones, leaves, and rocks and stamp them into the playdough!

Nature Walk & Scavenger Hunt

My kids love being outdoors and finding little treasures while they’re out is their favorite! They’re constantly finding different rocks, leaves, feathers, butterflies, bugs, worms…you name it, they’ve probably found something close to it! To add to the fun I made an Autumn scavenger hunt (use the form below to grab the free printable, then have some fun)! They enjoy the challenge of checking off the boxes.

Also, if you have several kids involved you can have them divide into to teams to see who can find the most objects first! Once a team has discovered all items, have everyone meet together to share what they’ve found!

Besides just having fun, this is a great opportunity to look up different leaves and other objects to learn more about them!

Autumn Booklist

Finally, to add to the fun I’ve included a list of some of our favorite Autumn books! Because during a chilly morning or afternoon what’s better than curling up with a snack, cup of tea, or coffee and reading a good book?

So, I hope these bring some inspiration for Autumn activities for your toddlers! I’d love to hear about any other activities you do during Autumn!

• Fletcher and the Falling Leaves
• In the Middle of Fall
• Pumpkin Circle the Story of a Garden
• Leaf Man
• Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf
• Strega Nona’s Harvest
• Count Down to Fall
• The Little Scarecrow Boy
• Fresh Fall Leaves
• Log Hotel
• Sara Squirrel and the Lost Acorns
• Corn
• One Leaf, Two Leaves, Count with Me
• We’re Going on a Leaf Hunt
• Because of an Acorn
• The Pumpkin Gospel
• Goodbye Summer, Hello Autumn
• The Scarecrow
• The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin

Lastly, if you want to grab all the free printables mentioned here, just drop your e-mail below and you’ll receive all of them for instant download! So, I hope you’ve enjoyed these easy Autumn activities for toddlers!