Do you ever feel like it would be fun to do a craft or fun activity with your kids, but just don’t have the energy to come up with this elaborate thing? Well, I got you! Just in time for fall, I have 3 EASY, fun ideas for craft time with the kiddos. These ideas work for any age! Seriously. I mean, if they are under 1, you might just be dipping your baby’s hand in the paint and pretty much doing it all, but you’re totally welcome to if you so desire! Summer is almost gone and I just can’t believe it! To combat the goodbye summer blues, I went to work to come up with a few fun crafts to do with the kiddos. I’ve tried them with my 1-year-old, 3-year-old, and their 9 and 13-year-old aunt and uncle and they all had a blast! Check ‘em out!
For this craft, you will need:
- Paper
- Printer (or artistic skills and a pen)
- Plate
- Red washable paint
- Orange washable paint
- Yellow washable paint
- Green washable paint
- Cup of water
- Rag or paper towel
Instructions:
- Print out a picture of a tree with no leaves. You can also download mine here or draw a tree yourself. On mine, I wrote “Autumn Breeze and Fall Leaves”.
- You then get a plate and put a dab of each colour of paint: yellow, red, orange, and green.
- Set your child up at the table with the paper and paints. I would recommend removing clothes if you’re worried about stains!
- Show them how to dip their finger in one colour and dab fingerprints all over the tree to make leaves. I would recommend doing a bunch of one colour before rinsing the finger and going on to the next colour. Don’t be too involved, though! The kids just love to get creative and have fun with it!
- Once the tree (and possibly other places on the paper!) is all full of leaves, put it somewhere to dry!
And voila! Super easy, and so much fun for your child
For this craft, you will need:
- Paper
- Printer (or artistic skills and a pen)
- Plate
- Paintbrush
- White washable paint
- Orange washable paint
- Black permanent marker or washable paint
- Cup of water
- Rag or paper towel
Instructions:
- Print out my cute Halloween template or just write on a piece of paper: “Trick or Treat, Smell my Feet!”.
- Set out some orange paint and let your child paint a large section of orange on the paper. Let dry.
- Once paint is dry, set out the white paint. With the paintbrush, help your child paint the bottom of their foot with a thick layer of paint! You don’t want it too thin, or else the paint will dry on the foot and won’t transfer to the paper. You can choose to just do one footprint or a print of each foot.
- **PRO TIP** Do one foot at a time! I thought I was being so clever and painted both my son’s feet at the same time, and he had a hard time with trying to keep the paint off the table and taking his feet off the painting!
- Help your child step onto the orange section of the paper (so that the heel is facing the top of the paper) and then lift it off.
- Wash their foot and repeat with the second foot. Set aside to let dry.
- Once dry, paint or draw on ghost eyes and a mouth to the heel of the footprint.
And there you have it! Two cute little footprint ghosts!
For this craft, you will need:
- Paper
- Printer (or artistic skills and a pen)
- Plate
- Orange washable paint
- Green washable paint
- Paintbrush (optional)
- Permanent marker or pen
- Cup of water
- Rag or paper towel
Instructions:
- Print out my adorable Gratitude Pumpkin Patch template, or just write “Gratitude Pumpkin Patch” on the top of the paper.
- Put orange washable paint on a plate and set up your child with the paper and paint.
- With the paintbrush, have your child make a fist and only paint the top of the fist (the part that would connect if you were to punch someone).
- Have them firmly press their fist onto the paper. This should make a cute little pumpkin!
- Repeat for however many pumpkins you want to make.
- Wash hands and bring out a tiny bit of green paint.
- Your child can then use their finger to make fingerprint stems coming out of the tops of the pumpkins!
- Set aside to dry.
- After the painting is dry, have them tell you things they are grateful for while you write a different thing on each gratitude pumpkin! If your child is old enough, they can write the words out themselves!
You will be left with the cutest pumpkin patch you ever did see!
And there you have it! Three cute, easy crafts to do with your little ones! Remember to let loose and have fun. It doesn’t have to look perfect! Your child will have way more fun of you let them use their own creativity. I’d would love to hear in the comments below how it went for you! Let me know!