If you want a free craft, then this one’s for you! It’s finally autumn here in Sandy, Utah, and the leaves are falling, making for some beautiful and creative artwork mediums. We enjoyed going on a walk at a local park to find the all sorts of leaves. Taking the kids to the park to gather leaves gave us a chance to get some fresh fall air as we exercised and improved our vocabulary as we talked about the fall season, painting, and leaf collection. If you like fall preschool crafts, then you’ll love my easy Fall Potato Stamp Leaf Tree Craft, Turkey Headshot, Vampire Paper Plate Craft, Easy DIY Thanksgiving Sensory Bin, Thanksgiving Popcorn Sensory Bin, and Creepy Halloween Spaghetti Sensory Bin!
My easy Fall Leaf Painting craft is perfect for daycare, preschool, kindergarten, and homeschool! All you need to make this easy indoor toddler craft are leaves, paint, a palette, paint brushes, and posterboard.
Outdoor Leaf Hunt Benefits Brain Development
Take your kids outside for some fresh air and nature while you collect a bag of leaves for your leaf painting project. This project is beneficial for many reasons – one of which involves walking outside for exercise, and breathing fresh air. Breathing in fresh air has been proven to improve brain function and strengthen the immune system. It’s also been shown to reduce stress.
Painting around the leaves is one way to get the creative juices flowing in your little one. After we painted the perimeter of each leaf, we painted the leaf itself, and then gently pressed the painted leaf onto the white posterboard, making an imprint of various colors.
Language Development and Social Interactions
Leaf painting encourages language development as your kid tries to describe the colors, the leaves and their textures, and the paint colors that they are blending on the leaves. It also teaches your kid negative and positive space. Encourage your kid to talk about the colors, textures, and all of the exciting aspects of leaf painting.
Teaches Negative and Positive Space
In art, the leaf on the paper is the negative space, while the paint is the positive space. Although your kid may not know what negative or positive space means verbally, they sure know it from doing – via painting. Your kid is also fine-tuning their fine motor skills as they hold the paintbrush to paint. Mixing the colors together also supports the development of fine motor skills.
Benefits of Fine Motor Activities
Fine motor skills are imperative in life and toddlers should be constantly practicing fine motor skills daily to prepare them to do things later in life such as buttoning a button, tying their shoes, and writing their name. Fine motor skills enable children to develop their independence as they learn how to eat, speak, create, and are able to do many more things as these skills improve.
According to Early Impact Learning’s article, hand-eye coordination is another fine motor skill that develops from when we are babies into adulthood. When kids interact with fine motor activities, they are continually improving the link between what their eyes see and what they are trying to hold or touch.
One of the biggest reasons fine motor skills are so important is that they allow us to be independent. When kids have good fine motor skills, their self esteem improves as they are proud after building a tall tower of blocks by using the small muscles in their hands and fingers to make beautiful masterpieces they can take pride in.
Painting, sewing, threading, and weaving are fantastic ways for kids to use their fine motor skills. Many art and craft activities involve fine motor skills which allows toddlers and kids to express their creativity as they practice doing things independently.
Items needed to make Fall Leaf Paintings
Leaves. Take the kids on a nature walk and collect different leaves.
Paint. We use acrylic paint although non-toxic kid’s paint can also be used.
Palette. Use a palette or upcycled lid to pour the paint on.
Paint brushes. You’ll need to grab paint brushes to make this craft.
White posterboard. You’ll need white posterboard pieces to make this craft.
How to make the best Fall Leaf Paintings craft
STEP 1: Gather different sizes of leaves. The color won’t matter as you’ll be painting over them.
STEP 2: Pour different colors of paint into a palette.
STEP 3: Place the leaves over a piece of white posterboard.
STEP 4: Use paint brushes to paint the leaves and or paint over the shape of the leaves. If you paint the leaves, be sure to use different paint colors. Once you’re done, gently press the painted leaf paint-side down on the white posterboard. Remove the leaves and let dry.
STEP 5: If you make this craft, don’t forget to leave a rating and comment!
Recommended items to make this craft
- Paint. This is our favorite paint that I use for all my crafts along with my five-year-old.
- Palette. We like this one.
- Paint brushes. These are wonderful paint brushes.
More fall crafts and spooky recipes!
Creepy Halloween Spaghetti Sensory Bin
Easy DIY Thanksgiving Sensory Bin
Thanksgiving Popcorn Sensory Bin
Vampire Paper Plate Craft – Easy Toddler Halloween Craft
Coffee Filter Tootsie Pop Ghosts
Halloween Bloody Finger Hot Dogs
Final Thoughts
Finally, if you make this Fall Leaf Painting Craft, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this craft a rating! I love to hear from everyone who makes this autumn kid’s craft and always do my best to respond to all comments.
If you do make this toddler craft, don’t forget to tag #elisemccollister on Instagram! It makes me so happy to see your craft photos!
Fall Leaf Paintings – Easy Kid’s Craft
Materials
Instructions
- Gather different sizes of leaves. The color won’t matter as you’ll be painting over them.
- Pour different colors of paint into a palette.
- Place the leaves over a piece of white posterboard.
- Use paintbrushes to paint the leaves and or paint over the shape of the leaves. If you paint the leaves, be sure to use different paint colors. Once you’re done, gently press the painted leaf paint-side down on the white posterboard. Remove the leaves and let dry.
- If you make this craft, don’t forget to leave a rating and comment!
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