By now you might be cursing the thousands of colorful leaves scattered across your yard, your driveway, your deck, and your garage. But, before you take a match to the season’s most popular symbols consider gathering up a few to create fun art projects that will keep your kids busy for hours.
Here are some of my preschooler’s favorite fall leaf projects:
Stuffing. Rake up a bunch of leaves and use them to stuff a homemade scarecrow.
Masks. Go on a leaf hunt and see who can collect the most colorful bunch. Then, glue the dry leaves to a store-bought or homemade mask to make a seasonal showpiece.
Centerpieces. Have your children collect different colored leaves of varying sizes and use them to fill a glass bowl or vase. Then, surround the glass enclosed leaves with branches, fruits or seasonal vegetables to make an all-natural centerpiece.
Wreaths. Gather a bag full of colorful, dry (but not curled up) fall leaves. Next, cut out a cardboard ring and glue the leaves in a unique pattern to make a pretty fall wreath.
Turkeys. Trace the outline of your child’s hand on a piece of construction paper. Then, instead of using feathers to fill in the turkey’s shape, glue on pressed fall leaves and laminate the entire bird to make a lasting art piece to decorate your home on Thanksgiving.
Research Project. Take a field trip to a nature preserve or a local park and have your children collect different kinds of leaves. When you get home have your kids do research to find out what kinds of trees the leaves came from. Then, make a leaf chart using the leaves you collected.
Pressed Leaves. Before fall leaves get too dry and crunchy, gather the prettiest ones you can find and press them in between large books (or other flat weights). Once the leaves are pressed you can use them to decorate homemade cards or posters.
Related Articles:
Autumn Crafts for Kids: Fun with Leaves
How to Make a Unique Fall Wreath with Your Kids
Seasonal Decorating-Getting Your Home Ready For Fall