Suggestions for fun activities that celebrate the beauty of the fall season
My fall leaves activity is a fun, creative way to incorporate a fall theme and help practice gross motor skills. In keeping with the fall/autumn theme, I thought I’d suggest more fun leaf-themed preschool and daycare activities.
Art/Creative
Leaf Wreath
- Take the children on a nature walk, collecting leaves, pine cones, acorns. Cut out the center of a paper plate, let the children paint the plate brown, then let them glue the items to the plate to create a wreath.
Leaf Cookies
- Cut cookie dough from leaf shaped cookie cutters and bake. Let the children decorate them with autumn colored frosting (red, brown, yellow, orange)
Cognitive development
Matching Leaves
- Collect or (create from construction paper) various types of fall leaves. Arrange two of each kind of leaves and ask the children to match the pairs.
Storytime
- Leaves! Leaves! Leaves! By Nancy Elizabeth Wallace [Marshall Cavendish Children's Books, 2007] Children learn about leaves and trees with Buddy Bear and his mom.
Physical
It has been my experience that collecting leaves is, in itself, a fun activity for kids. Take a nature walk with the children. Discuss what you see and hear. Collect leaves, pine cones and acorns. When you return sort and separate the items, discussing their colors and textures. Have fun with it!
