When summer draws to a close, the days get shorter and, above all, wet and cold, Mom has to come up with one or two afternoon activities. Especially in autumn, however, this is not difficult because nature provides us with many things that are just right for children's hands. Since children also love to be out and about in the garden, in the forest, and in the park, you can also bring home the most beautiful treasures along the way: colorful leaves, acorns, or chestnuts are definitely worth an adventure.
Crafting with children using chestnuts
What you’ll need:
- Chestnuts
- toothpicks or matches
- possibly a small screwdriver to make holes
Armed with a few small plastic bags, head out into nature. Let the children explore the chestnuts and acorns. They love discovering the prickly shell and the smooth fruits hidden inside. Whether round as a ball or slightly flattened, whether tiny or as big as a small child's hand – you can conjure up many beautiful things with chestnuts. If you help yourself, for example, with a few toothpicks or matches, you can quickly create some hedgehogs, giraffes, or even snakes. In one afternoon, a medium-sized chestnut zoo can quickly come together. Be creative and let the children show you exciting imaginary animals.
Crafting with children: Creating pictures with acorns
What you’ll need:
- Acorns
- Paper
- Glue
Instructions:
Who would have thought that you could be so creative with acorns? On the way home, you walk past many an oak tree – in autumn, the sidewalks are full of the small, brown nut fruits. Let the children fill a few breakfast bags with these cap-wearers.
At home, you can now create fabulous acorn pictures on a nice piece of paper. Simply apply a little glue to the paper and press the acorns onto the glue. Through various arrangements, figures, shapes, and autumnal impressions are created. It is, of course, especially beautiful when green acorns are mixed with brown ones and some perhaps even still wear their caps. This trains children's hands and stimulates their imagination.
Crafting leaf prints with children
What you’ll need:
- Leaves
- finger paints
- Paper
- possibly a piece of cardboard
Instructions:
Whether in yellow, red, brown, or orange – the autumn colors are diverse, and children also notice the change of seasons quite quickly. Even if we adults might not notice it as much sometimes, children often point out the splendor of colors to us. Collect a few beautiful, different leaves and bring them home. Wet leaves are, of course, patted dry and set aside. Now you just need finger paints and sheets of paper.Let the children play with the finger paints and coat the back of the leaves. Now you can press this side of the leaf onto the white paper and then carefully peel it off again. The leaf structure and the sometimes fine veins leave beautiful patterns and bring color to the white, boring pieces of paper. Also, layer different leaves on top of each other so that the colors mix – the children will be thrilled.
Is there still a lot left over from all the crafting? Then lay a large piece of cardboard on the floor and let the children conjure up a large autumn picture with the chestnuts, acorns, colorful leaves, and perhaps also with branches and finger paints. This work of art must, of course, be presented later in the hallway, in the kitchen, or in another place in the house. Create a large, colorful picture together with the autumn treasures that will remind you all of the colorful season for a long time to come.
Posted on: 05.10.2012
Image by Janine, meinhaushalt.at
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