1. Fall leaf impressions

Materials:

Watercolor paper

Mallet/hammer/rock

Wax paper

Pretty leaves

The first step is to go out and collect some beautiful fall leaves. Next, arrange the leaves on the watercolor paper. Cover the leaves with wax paper. Use a mallet, rock, or another hard object to pound the leaves into the paper (the wax paper is there to keep the leaves from sticking to the mallet). After making sure all the leaves have been evenly pressed, remove the wax paper and carefully lift the leaves from the watercolor paper. You should be left with colorful leaf impressions and designs.

2. Pinecone bird feeder

Materials:

Pinecones

String

Creamy peanut butter

Birdseed

Spoon (optional)

You will need to begin with some decently sized pinecones (you can buy these from a craft/home goods store, or collect some from outside if you're near pine trees!). Tie a string to the top of the pinecone, making sure it is secure enough to hold a bird's weight. Depending on what's easiest for your child, you can use a spoon or just hands and fingers to coat the pinecone in peanut butter. Next, sprinkle the pinecone with birdseed until no peanut butter is showing. To finish, hang your pinecone up outside on a tree branch, plant hanger, or any other open space. Happy bird watching!

3. Fall wreath

Materials:

Wreath base

Felt fall leaves

Cloth fall leaves

Acorns

Gold paint

Ribbon or string

Hot glue and a glue gun

For this activity, you may want to make a run to the craft store. Find a simple, undecorated wreath ring- this can be any size and any material. Then gather other fun fall craft supplies. This is including, but not limited to, felt fall leaves, cloth leaves and gold paint (if you find other pretty supplies, feel free to use them too! (i.e. ribbon, glitter, fall flowers, etc.)) Help your child to hot glue the leaves to the wreath. If you like, gather acorns from outside, paint them gold, and glue them on as well. Use ribbon or string to hang up the finished product.

4. Classic hand turkey

Materials:

Construction paper (red, brown, orange, yellow)

Pencil

Scissors

Glue

Googly eyes

Have the child trace their hand onto a piece of brown construction paper. Continue doing this for each color of paper. The palm will serve as the turkey's body and the fingers as the feathers. Then cut out all of the traced hands. Layer the cut out hands on top of one another, shifting each until all of the different colored 'feathers' are showing. Then cut out a circle from the brown paper for the head, a waddle from the red, and two feet and a beak from the orange or yellow. Glue these pieces on as well. Lastly, glue on some googly eyes to complete the turkey face. Decorate with glitter glue if you're feeling extra crafty!

5. Yarn pumpkin

Materials:

Orange yarn

Brown and green pipe cleaners

Elmer's glue

A bowl

A fork

A balloon

Begin by blowing up a balloon half full. Next, cut several lengths of the yarn (about a foot and a half). Pour a reasonable amount of glue into a bowl (a little over half a bottle). Fully immerse each string of yarn in the glue. After taking the yarn out of the glue, run it through the tines of the fork to get rid of the excess (you could use fingers, but this may remove too much glue. Plus it keeps your hands from getting so sticky!). Press the yarn to the balloon, starting from either the top or bottom. Wind the string up, down, or across the balloon, making sure each section of yarn is in full contact with the surface. Repeat these steps for each piece of string. Now let it dry. The yarn should be fairly stiff. Pop the balloon and pull it out through an empty space between the strands of yarn. Next, coil the brown pipe cleaner around your finger, then slide it off and attach it to the top of your 'pumpkin' to serve as the stem. Make a vine with the green pipe cleaner be creating another, looser coil. If you especially enjoy this activity, create several and end up with a whole pumpkin patch!

These activities, while some help and guidance may be required, are great for children of all ages. They foster creativity and are sure to get kids excited for the fall. Happy crafting!