It is officially starting to feel like Fall! The morning air is crisp, the leaves have begun to turn colors and I am in the mood for anything made with apples.
This is most definitely my favorite season of all! I love everything it has to offer, like; apple picking, pumpkin patches, leaf piles, crisp Autumn walks, cozy baking and apple cider. This is also my favorite season to teach about. From apples to pumpkins and leaves to farms, there are so many amazing topics to cover!
And the possibilities of activities and crafts are virtually endless. It’s hard to narrow it down, actually!
With my kiddos homeschooling Preschool and Pre-K, I wanted to be sure to choose a variety of activities and crafts that were fun, covered a spectrum of skills, and gave me some keepsakes for the season.
This handprint Fall tree most definitely covers the fun and gives Mommy an adorable keepsake for the future! It also gave my littles some great fine motor practice with a focus on control. Here is how it breaks down:
Materials
- White card stock
- Paint: brown, red, orange and yellow
- 3 Cotton balls
- 3 Clothes pins
- Paint tray or cardboard for paint
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How To
Start by laying out all of your supplies. You want to be sure that you are set up before you start painting fingers!
Get Started!
1. Paint your child’s hand with brown paint. Be sure to cover every finger and the entire palm.
2. Firmly press your child’s hand on the paper in the middle. Press down gently on each finger to be sure it has made contact with the paper.
3. Have your kiddo wash his/her hand!
4. While your little is washing up, use the brown paint to add a trunk to your child’s handprint.
5. Let the paint dry! It can be tough to wait, but try one of these activities to pass the time and have some fun!
6. Once dry, squirt a blob of red, orange, and yellow paint on a paint tray, disposable plate, or cardboard piece.
7. Attach a clothes pin to each cotton ball (3 in total). And set one near each blob of paint.
8. Invite your kiddo to create a Fall tree by blotting his/her handprint with the red, orange, and yellow paint.
Using the cotton balls to paint added a great texture reminiscent of leaves on a tree. And, as a bonus, it’s much less messy than using fingers or even a paint brush!
Enjoy!
My kiddos really enjoyed this craft! It was fun, simple, and gave them the freedom to create in the way that they wanted.
What I love the most about it, is that the tree itself is a sweet handprint from my littles. And by using the cotton balls for painting, there is no way to ‘mess up’. This craft is perfect for kids of all ages!
I’d love to see what your little creates! Share with me on Instagram @momentsenriched and follow along on Pinterest for more fun and enriching ideas!
Looking for another way to get creative with your kiddos? Check out our Recycled Egg Carton Train for some lasting fun!
