16 Easy Autumn Activities and Crafts for Kids

Autumn is one of the most colourful and exciting seasons of the year, making it the perfect time to get creative with children. From crunchy leaves and conkers to pine cones and acorns, nature provides plenty of free materials for fun and educational craft activities.

Whether you’re looking for ways to entertain little ones during the school holidays, on rainy afternoons or at weekends, these easy autumn crafts are suitable for a range of ages and encourage creativity, imagination and a love of the outdoors.

If your child enjoys making, painting and creating, Club Hub UK can help you discover local arts and crafts classes, creative workshops, holiday clubs, family events and other children’s activities across the UK.

In This Article

1. Go on an Autumn Nature Walk
2. Leaf Rubbings
3. Autumn Leaf Collage
4. Pine Cone Animals
5. Handprint Autumn Tree
6. Paper Plate Pumpkin
7. Acorn Painting
8. Stick Picture Frames
9. Nature Printing
10. Make an Autumn Wreath
11. Salt Dough Leaves
12. Autumn Tree Painting
13. Hedgehog Crafts
14. Create an Autumn Nature Box
15. Learn About Autumn
16. Read Autumn-Themed Books

Why Autumn Crafts Are Great for Children

Craft activities are about much more than creating something colourful to take home. They help children develop important skills while having fun.

Autumn crafts can support:

• Fine motor skills
• Creativity
• Hand-eye coordination
• Concentration
• Problem-solving
• Confidence
• Imagination

Collecting natural materials also encourages children to spend time outdoors and learn more about the changing seasons.

1. Go on an Autumn Nature Walk

Before you begin crafting, head outside to collect natural treasures.

Look out for:

• Colourful leaves
• Pine cones
• Acorns
• Conkers
• Twigs
• Feathers
• Seed pods
• Small stones

Talk about the different colours, shapes and textures you discover along the way.

Remember to leave living plants and wildlife undisturbed, and only collect items that have already fallen to the ground.

2. Leaf Rubbings

Leaf rubbings are one of the easiest autumn crafts for children.

Place a leaf underneath a sheet of paper and gently rub over it with the side of a wax crayon or coloured pencil.

Children will be amazed as the veins and patterns appear.

Try using different leaf shapes and colours to create an autumn collage.

3. Autumn Leaf Collage

Arrange colourful leaves into pictures of:

• Owls
• Hedgehogs
• Foxes
• Trees
• Butterflies
• Autumn wreaths

Glue the leaves onto card and add extra details using pens, paint or googly eyes.

This activity encourages creativity while making the most of nature’s colours.

4. Pine Cone Animals

Pine cones can be transformed into a range of woodland animals.

Use craft materials to create:

• Hedgehogs
• Owls
• Foxes
• Squirrels
• Turkeys

Add felt, paper, pom-poms or googly eyes to bring each creation to life.

5. Handprint Autumn Tree

Paint your child’s hand and arm brown to create the trunk and branches of a tree.

Once dry, use fingerprints or scrunched tissue paper to create autumn leaves in shades of red, orange, yellow and brown.

This makes a lovely keepsake to remember each autumn.

6. Paper Plate Pumpkin

Turn an ordinary paper plate into a cheerful pumpkin.

Paint it orange before adding:

• A green paper stalk
• Black card facial features
• Googly eyes
• Glitter (if you don’t mind a little sparkle)

This is a simple craft that’s perfect for younger children.

7. Acorn Painting

Acorns can be used in lots of creative ways.

Children can:

• Paint them bright colours
• Add patterns
• Turn them into tiny characters
• Use them in autumn displays

Older children may even enjoy creating miniature woodland scenes.

8. Stick Picture Frames

Collect straight twigs during your autumn walk.

Glue four sticks together to make a rustic frame before decorating it with leaves, berries, pine cones or dried flowers.

Add a favourite autumn photograph inside.

9. Nature Printing

Dip leaves, pine cones or sticks into paint and press them onto paper.

Experiment with different colours and materials to create unique autumn artwork.

Children will enjoy comparing the different patterns each natural object creates.

10. Make an Autumn Wreath

Using a cardboard ring as a base, glue on:

• Colourful leaves
• Pine cones
• Acorns
• Twigs
• Seed heads

Hang your finished wreath on a bedroom door or display it at home.

11. Salt Dough Leaves

Make a simple salt dough using flour, salt and water.

Press leaves into the dough to create detailed imprints before baking.

Once dry, children can paint their decorations using autumn colours.

These also make lovely homemade gifts.

12. Autumn Tree Painting

Draw or paint the trunk of a tree before inviting children to create leaves using:

• Fingerprints
• Cotton buds
• Corks
• Pom-poms

This activity is suitable for toddlers, preschoolers and primary-aged children.

13. Hedgehog Crafts

Hedgehogs are one of autumn’s favourite woodland animals.

Children can make hedgehogs using:

• Paper plates
• Cardboard
• Pine cones
• Leaves
• Handprints

Talk about how hedgehogs prepare for winter while creating your craft.

14. Create an Autumn Nature Box

Fill a shoebox with your collected treasures.

Children can sort items by:

• Colour
• Shape
• Size
• Texture

The box can also be used for imaginative play, storytelling or future craft projects.

15. Learn About Autumn

Crafting provides the perfect opportunity to talk about the season.

Discuss:

• Why leaves change colour
• Animals preparing for winter
• Harvest time
• Different tree species
• Seasonal weather
• Woodland wildlife

Combining crafts with learning makes activities even more engaging.

16. Read Autumn-Themed Books

After crafting, enjoy a story together.

Encourage children to:

• Draw their favourite character
• Create their own autumn story
• Make puppets based on the book
• Write interesting autumn facts

Reading and crafting complement each other beautifully.

Find Children’s Activities Near You

If your child loves getting creative, there are plenty of opportunities to continue their artistic journey.

With Club Hub UK, you can search for:

• Arts and crafts classes
• Pottery painting
• Creative workshops
• Holiday clubs
• Family events
• Baby and toddler groups
• Drama classes
• Music classes
• Dance classes
• Children’s activities near you

Simply enter your location, choose your child’s age and browse thousands of activities taking place across the UK.

Whether your child enjoys painting, drawing, sculpture or seasonal crafts, you’ll find plenty of creative opportunities throughout the year.

Get Creative This Autumn

Autumn is the perfect season to slow down, head outdoors and make the most of nature’s colourful treasures. From leaf rubbings and pine cone animals to homemade wreaths and salt dough decorations, these easy autumn crafts are fun, affordable and suitable for children of all ages.

Looking for even more inspiration? Club Hub UK helps families discover arts and crafts classes, holiday clubs, creative workshops and thousands of children’s activities across the UK.

Start your search today and help your child discover new skills, make friends and enjoy a season full of creativity.

Looking for even more seasonal inspiration? Don’t miss our guide to The Best Autumn Activities for Kids, packed with outdoor adventures, family days out and fun ideas to enjoy throughout the season.