A Selection of the Best Autumn Activities for Toddlers on Instagram

I decided to use my Instagram platform to get others to share with me their best Autumn activities for toddlers. My followers did not disappoint. So, I have collated a selection of the best Autumn activities for toddlers on Instagram to share with you here.

I love the creativity and ingenuity of these activities that were shared from various countries around the world. Please visit their accounts for the full captions and complete selection of images for each activity.

 

Coffee Filter Autumn Leaves

@keeping.up.with.isaac

A simple STEAM activity for toddlers to show water absorption in leaves. It is amazing how a plain white coffee filter is transformed into beautiful Autumn / fall colours.

Materials:

• Coffee filters
• Marker
• Scissors
• Bowl of water

Step-by-step:

1. Place 5-10 coffee filters on top of each other.
2. Trace a leaf shape on the top coffee filter and carefully cut the filters at one time.
3. Using a small circular cutter, draw a thick band of circles of different colours using markers. Leaving a small white portion in the middle.
4. Fold the coffee filter, then dip the center white portion into the bowl of water. Make sure to dip only the tip. You’ll see water travel up the leaf and spread the ink throughout.
5. Remove the leaf and let it dry.
6. Unfold and enjoy the gorgeous colours.

The result is beautiful. You can use the coffee filter leaves to make an Autumn wreath. There is an example of an Autumn wreath later in this article.

 

Apple Sensory Balloons

 @brody.the.lion 

* Please visit Dr Kristin Wegner´s Instagram to see the video of just how fun this toddler activity really is. She is a clinical psychologist who has worked with children with special needs for over thirty years.

These apple sensory balloons are super easy to make and are stimtastic. Perfect for everyone who stims!

Materials:

• Funnel
• Balloons (double layer is recommended)
• Filling (suggestions: water beads, giant water beads, water crystals, chia seeds, and beans).

To make:

Firstly, grab a funnel, choose a filling, and add a scoop or two (depending on what the filling is), add a bit of water and tie.

Secondly, we filled our balloons with water beads, giant water beads, water crystals, chia seeds, and beans (no water). I hung the apple balloons from the ceiling for an added sensory element.

Hanging the balloon from the ceiling is also a GREAT way to practice catching. If you’ve ever tried to play catch with an autistic child, you know that very frequently the act of throwing the ball in random directions can be more motivating than the actual back and forth aspect of throwing and catching (especially if catching is something your little is not so good at).  By hanging the balloon, the balloon automatically swings back and forth.

**Pro Tip – double up your balloons to add a layer of protection!

 

Autumn Leaf Creatures.

@vnmomschool 

This is one of the best Autumn activities for toddlers as it is simple and it makes use of leaves and twigs from the natural environment. While collecting these items take time to observe the gradient of colours in nature.

This activity is quite open-ended, choose an animal you would like to create that suit the leaf shapes you collected. For example, round leaves are good for a turtle’s body, feathery leaves for dragonfly wings, and oval leaves for a fish.

Materials:

• Construction paper
• Glue stick
• Scissors
• Freshly fallen leaves are best
• Twigs
• Googly eyes.

Step-by-step:

1. Collect leaves and twigs.
2. Press leaves under something heavy for half an hour.
3.  Arrange leaves in the shape of the animal you have chosen. You can combine leaves of different shapes and colours to create detail and texture.
4. Use small leaves for eyes, noses,and beaks. Note: if you can’t find the perfect leaf for these anatomical details, cut extra leaves to suit your purpose.
5. When you are pleased with the arrangement, carefully glue the leaves in place on a piece of construction paper.
6.  So the leaf creature dries flat, cover it with a piece of paper and place something heavy on top of it.

 

DIY Autumn Box

@montessoricraftymom

One way to get young children excited about the change of season is to create an Autumn display box. It can also double as a seasonal decorative display and a sensory play inspiration. It is a versatile toddler activity that can be created using the resources you have available in your area.

Materials:
– Old puzzle box
– Pinecones
– Chestnuts
– Acorns
– Empty snail shells (no snails were harmed during the process)
– Leaves
– Feathers
– Coloured paper for the box

-Paint and paint brush
– Hot glue gun.

Step-by-step:

1. Take an old puzzle box and glue it like in the picture.
2. Put a coloured paper to cover the box.
3. Paint a few pinecones if you wish.
4. Add the other Autumnal elements that you have collected.
5. For an extra effect, let the remaining glue strips be part of the DIY Autumn box to look like spider webs.

 

DIY Autumn Apple Tree

 @shrutik1 

This easy upcycling apple egg carton craft is great for keeping toddlers occupied for a while. I extended the craft idea to create a math game to practice number and colour recognition and understand quantity.

Materials:

• Small box to make dice
• Egg cartons
• Glue
• Construction paper
• Marker
• Tape
• Scissors
• Red and green paint and a paint brush.
• 5 sheets of green coloured A4 paper

Step-by-step:

The tree

1. Concertina or accordion fold along the longest side of each piece of green paper. With folds of approx 1 inch making up the nicely creased zig zags. If your child has difficulty with this, you can always find another way to represent that part of the tree.
2. Arrange them into a circular shape and glue them together to make a round fan shape.
3. Use some paper to represent the tree trunk.

The apples

1. Cut out and paint (red and green) each individual egg dimple.
2. Once dry, tape them onto the tree.

The dice:

1. On one small round box, write the numbers 1, 2 and 3.
2. On the other, use red and green (the colours of the apples).

The game:

Roll both dice. Pick the number and colour of apples the dice indicates.

For example, if it landed on red and the other dice landed on number 3. Pick 3 red apples.

 

Mixed Media Hedgehog

@djplayfuldays 

One of the reasons I love this Autumn activity is because you can do this even if your country does not really experience Autumn. These DIY leaves are made out of brown paper bags!

Materials:

• 1 or 2 brown paper bags
• Autumn coloured paints
• Paint brush
• Spaghetti
• Glue

Step-by-step:

1. Draw leaves onto the brown paper bags.
2. Paint the spaghetti brown.
3. Paint the brown paper leaves Autumn colours.
4. Once dry, cut out the painted paper leaves.
5. Draw an outline of a hedgehog onto brown paper and cut it out.
6. Cover the base of the hedgehog´s body with the DIY Autumn leaves. ︎
7. Cover the top half of the hedgehog´s body with the brown-painted spaghetti. Note: break the spaghetti into shorter lengths to suit the size of your hedgehog.

 

Apple Magazine Collage

 @twotolove_bairantwins 

This is one of the most simple and best Autumn activities for toddlers. It is another one of those activities you can easily do even if your country does not really experience Autumn.

This apple art project is great for fine motor skills development and hand-eye coordination.

Materials: cereal box, old magazines, scissors, and glue.

To set this up, draw and cut out apple shapes from cereal box and take out some old magazines, scissors, and glue.

Finally, invite your little ones to find colourful pages (red, green, yellow) of the magazines and cut them into pieces. Then glue them onto the cardboard apples

 

 

Autumn Tuff Tray Play

@meophamminiartists 

This is an open-ended setup to explore Autumn. It is a great sensory experience and you can use any materials that you have available to you.

Some items you may like to use include: cinnamon spiced oats, apples, pinecones, small squashes, and lentils. Then, add any Autumn-themed loose parts such as leaves, animal figurines, wood slices, scoops and sticks.

A final note, you do not need a tuff tray, you could use a cardboard box or a baking tray instead.

 

Simple Autumn Tree Coding!

 @auritroandmommy 

This is a fun and easy way to practice simple addition and incorporate some coding. I highly recommend you use some manipulatives to help solve the simple addition sums. You could even use the pompoms for this! For example, if the sum is 3+2, let your child count out 3 pompoms and then 2 pompoms. Ask them, how many are there altogether?

Materials:

• Autumn coloured pompoms.
• Marker
• Construction paper
• Colour markers
• Small piece of paper to make the colour code card.

Step-by-step:

1. Draw a tree with branches.
2. Write some simple addition sums on each branch. For example 2+2.
3. On a small piece of paper, write down the possible answers to each addition sum and give it a colour.

For example, the answer to the above sum was 4, assign a colour to 4 (red). Your child places a red pompom on any addition sum that has an answer of 4.

4. Continue solving the addition sums. Refer the colour code card each time to select the right colour pom pom to code the tree.

 

Simple DIY Autumn Wreath.

@the_mummy_teacher 

Such a simple yet beautiful toddler activity for Autumn. It maximises items found on nature walks and transforms them into a gorgeous seasonal decoration.

Materials:

• Conkers
• Leaves
• Pinecones
• Twigs
• Hot glue gun
• Cardboard
• Scissors
• Ribbon

Step-by-step:

1. Cut a a rough circle shape out of cardboard and remove the centre (doughnut shape).
2. Glue any light and flat items onto the cardboard wreath.
3. Your toddler arranges the larger and heavier items for you to hot glue into place.
4. Attach a loop of ribbon and hang from your door.

Note, you could always use a paper plate and remove the centre to form the base of this wreath for an easier alternative.

 

 

Autumn Collage / Collage de Otoño

 @j_de_jugar 

Original post was in Spanish. This is not a direct translation. Español abajo.

This is one of the best Autumn activities for toddlers. It is super creative and does not require a lot of materials to make.

Materials:

• Popsicle sticks
• Leaves
• Twigs
• Grated chocolate
• Glue
• Construction paper

Step-by-step:

• Glue the twigs into place to form a tree shape.
• Glue some leaves in an arc shape connecting one side of the tree to the other.
• Arrange some twigs and glue into place to make a treehouse in the middle of the tree branches.
• Add some details for the treehouse such as a swing, ladder, fence etc.
• Grate some chocolate to sprinkle around the base of the tree collage.

COLLAGE DE OTOÑO
Hoy empieza esta estación dorada. Cada año hacemos collage con elementos de la naturaleza al cambio de estación.

Os dejo unos ejemplos del #otoño anterior a la espera de preparar el de hoy. Es muy divertido hacerlo con los peques, puedes contar historias mientras lo hacéis.

Autumnal garland / Guirnalda otoñal.

@unamamimariposa

Original post was in Spanish. This is not a direct translation. Español abajo.

A sweet provocation with vine and string (braided together) to create a beautiful hanging garland. Mini wooden clothespins (pegs) are used to hold Autumnal leaves in place along braided vine and string. This is a great Autumn activity to practice fine motor skills and alternating patterns. In my opinion, an activity that can also serve as a beautiful decoration is one of the best Autumn activities for toddlers.

Materials:

• Lengths of vine
• Lengths of string
• Mini clothespins (pegs)
• Leaves and pine / fir leaves

Step-by-step:

1. Tie 3 to 5 lengths of vine and string together at one end.
2. Help your child braid or plait together the vine and string then tie that end together so the plait / braid is secure.
3. Fasten a leaf to the garland with a mini clothespin / peg.
4. Alternate a leaf with a pine/fir leaf and fasten with mini clothespin / peg until the garland is complete.
5. Hang the garland to decorate a room in your house.

Con las primeras hojas secas que nos brindaron las hadas  hicimos una guirnalda para dar la bienvenida al otoño.
La propuesta es una provocación con enredadera y cuerda (trenzadas entre sí), pinzas de madera y hojas, trabajando el conteo y la motricidad fina.

 

Thank you for Sharing the Best Autumn Activities for Toddlers.

I aim to provide a wide variety of toddler activities for you and your family to enjoy together. Thank you to everyone who has allowed me to collate a selection of the best Autumn activities for toddlers on Instagram to share with you here.

Thanks for your continued support.

Gracias a todos por su apoyo.