Need family-friendly DIY projects your kids will love creating? With fall just around the corner, ideas for crafts are emerging in full force. Fall is both relaxing and exciting because there are so many activities you can do as a family. When you think of the season, your mind immediately goes to crisp air, a cool breeze, fallen leaves, pumpkins, and Halloween.
So, if you are a parent, build on your kids’ excitement by encouraging them to participate in fall-themed school or neighborhood activities. Encouraging such participation will create lasting memories and spark their interest in other activities, such as crafts. Interestingly, crafts do not have to be expensive projects. Therefore, these projects can be done using items you probably already have lying around your home. So, what can you do with these materials? Here are three fall project ideas to please the whole family.
DIY Puppets With Construction Paper
Perhaps one of the most straightforward and fun projects you and your children can do this Fall is making puppets. The approach may sound old-fashioned but try to think outside the box. You can do this with items around your home, like construction paper, stencils, pipe cleaners, glitter, stick-on eyes, popsicle sticks, and glue. If you don’t have any of these items, however, don’t worry.
Other successful ways include using brown paper lunch sacks, markers, or crayons. Also, remember that all the items needed for this project are inexpensive at discount retail stores like Dollar Tree and Walmart. Start by tracing and cutting out your favorite Halloween shapes, such as bats, cats, pumpkins, or owls. Trace or stencil the shape of your choice onto a piece of construction paper and cut it out.
Then, move to customizing it with glitter, faces, etc. Once you customize it to your liking, you can use liquid glue or a stick to add a popsicle stick. Ta-Da, now you have a puppet worthy of hanging up and even using to put on a show. If you plan to do this using a brown paper bag, you can flip the bag upside down, use the underside of the bag, and add construction paper if you choose. Or draw your favorite Halloween shape on the bag. You can insert your hand inside and make it move laterally.
Paint Pumpkins Instead of Carving
In addition to having your kids spice up your decor with puppets, don’t forget you can decorate pumpkins, too. Traditionally, we often revert to carving faces onto the pumpkin using a stencil or free-handed. Instead of sticking with tradition, get creative and design your pumpkins via painting. It’s best to use waterproof and non-toxic acrylic paint and a set of multi-sized brushes that you can purchase at any craft store or big-box retailer.
You know your kids won’t mind getting messy, so make sure you have paper towels handy. Do you need a stencil? The long and short of it is no. This is all done free-handedly, so have fun and be creative. Remember that doing this as a family will
encourage your kids to break into habits later in life. What’s also great about this is it gives your family the freedom to be expressive and creative.
Consider your pumpkin a blank canvas. Add glitter or glue on macaroni noodles, feathers, paper, or anything else that engages your children while emphasizing fine motor skills. Allowing your kids to pick up these items piece by piece and hold a paintbrush enables them to explore their sensory perception on a new level, and most of all, it’s fun. It’s also much safer than traditional carving with a knife or kit.
Decorate Hangable Ornaments
An idea you probably haven’t thought of is decorating clear Christmas ornaments for Fall. Many craft stores sell these, which are strictly clear with removable tops so you can customize them. You can fill them with fall confetti, candy corn, glitter, sand, or paint them. This activity is entertaining for kids because they enjoy filling things up and pouring them out.
But don’t sweat the mess. This activity is also great for heightening sensory skills like touch and carrying out multiple tasks simultaneously. It also reassures kids that you have created a fun activity that enriches their sense of the family dynamic and education. Maybe even suggest activities like these to your child’s school or teacher for fall party planning ideas.
These ornaments are great for hanging up around your home for simplistic decor, or if you decide to, you can purchase a Halloween. Most are less than ten dollars, and you can adorn your child’s creations on the tree. It will give them something to be proud of, knowing they display their art for all to see.
Final Thoughts
Do-it-yourself activities are fun for the whole family, not just kids. This statement rings especially true during the Fall because the ideas are limitless. Let your children get in on the fun. Provide awareness of other engaging activities besides pumpkin farms and hayrides. The cognitive stimulation and sensory activities these projects bring will make your kids feel more comfortable doing things independently.
It will improve their motor skills and give them a sense of what being part of a solid family dynamic means. Creativity sparks the imagination and makes us who we are as individuals. So, think of it as a learning experience, too. Remember, don’t limit what you can do as a parent to help your child grow and become fulfilled. More importantly, have fun and don’t sweat the small stuff.
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