This is my very first Fall without a preschool classroom or a playroom to decorate in years and I am really going into withdrawal! I am getting desperate to fingerpaint something the colours of the changing leaves, or peel some crayons for leaf rubbings! If you are lucky enough to have a preschool-aged child at home, here are a few of my favourite autumn-inspired art activities:
Nature Walk
Grab a paper bag and some gumboots and head outside for a walk around the neighbourhood, a park or a forest path! Encourage your child to look around and collect the things that look interesting – acorns, chestnuts, coloured leaves, sticks, moss – anything goes! Once you get home, try some of these:
Leaf rubbings:
All you need are some beautiful coloured crayons with the paper peeled off. Place the leaves underneath a piece of paper and rub the crayon on its side around the paper. (larger crayons work a bit better for little hands). Enjoy the different shapes and colours!
Nature Collage:
With some strong white glue and a piece of cardstock, start making a collage with the natural materials you found on your walk as well as other things you might have around the house (string, wool, felt, cotton, seeds, beans, coloured tissue paper etc). An alternative and slightly mess-free approach is to collage straight onto mac-tac paper (generally sold at dollar stores and hardware stores for lining cupboards and drawers!). Collage between two pieces, or just use one sheet and attach the collage straight to a window!
Happy creating!
away we go! 