Autumn Leaf Activity Ideas for Toddlers and Preschoolers

We love autumn when the leaves start to change colour and then fall. It is the perfect time to introduce some seasonal arts, crafts and activities to your toddlers and preschoolers as well. We’ve put together some of our favourite autumn leaf activities for you and your tots to enjoy so check them out below.

collage of leaf activities for toddlers and preschoolers (20 different ideas)

What You'll Find on This Page

Fall Leaf Activities and Crafts for Toddlers and Preschoolers

colourful autumn leaves with pens on a spotty table cloth

Before we start, make sure that you have some leaves to use. Head out on a nature walk and collect as many different leaves as you can. Save some for the activities below but also try preserving some to use for decorations and more with this guide of 6 different methods for preserving autumn leaves.

Now your ready to go…

Leaf Arts Activities

It’s time to get creative and there are so many activities you can try with your leaves.

Finish the leaves with this leaf art activity that combines maths and art to create the finished picture of the leaves using just half of them.

Turn leaf art into a practice on prewriting with this simple fall based activity for toddlers and preschoolers to create beautiful leaf art patterns.

Decorate leaves with silver and gold markers to not only make beautiful decorations but also practice prewriting skills. Check out this leaf art for preschoolers for the downloadable dice as well.

We love these Giant Colorful Watercolor Fall Leaves for Kids from Toddler Approved. Big art is wonderful for toddlers and preschoolers to create and with the size of the leaves your little ones will be able to get really creative.

Have you used a light table with your tots before? This leaf art on the light box from Mama Smiles is a great way to use the leaves you collect and let your toddlers and preschoolers get creative in a mess free way.

Fall leaf crafts for kids to make using real leaves

Looking for more ideas then check out these leaf crafts that all use real leaves we love the wreath and have created some for the house this year.

Check out even more Apple Activities for Learning with Preschoolers here!

Literacy Activities Inspired by Leaves

These letter and word leaf activities are a simple way to including some seasonal learning into your time with the toddler and preschoolers at home.

preschooler playing in the autumn leaves with covers of books to read aloud all about leaves

Before you check out the individual activities why not stock up your book basket with some of our favourite books and stories about leaves for toddlers and preschoolers.

We have added these to our nature table book selection and a couple in the book box in the lounge.

Learning About Letters with Leaves & Falling Leaves Song from Kori at Home
Beginning Sounds Activity: Leaf Sticker Tree from Growing Book by Book
Letter Recognition Game with Free Leaf Printable from JDaniel’s4 Mom
Leaf Name Sticky Wall from Inspiration Laboratories
Leaf Tracing Pre-Writing Activity from Books and Giggles
Leaf puppets from Messy Little Monster
The leaf prewriting activity showcased above would work for improving writing skills as well.

Math Activities with Leaves

Natural materials make great manipulatives for maths. These simple activities are ideal for encouraging your little ones to develop their number sense and if your short of leaves you could always use sticks to do some ordering and sorting too!