In this post, we’ll look at 15 fall handprint crafts for toddlers that will be fun for your little one, and easy for you to set up AND clean up!
Published: 06/19/24
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I’m a firm believer that when it comes to toddlers, the simpler the craft, the better!
This is for a few reasons. First, as the parent of a toddler, you probably are running on low energy most days and don’t have the capacity for something elaborate.
Second, there’s no guarantee that a craft will hold your toddler’s attention for very long. No use wasting your time on a long set up if your toddler decides they aren’t interested in the moment.
Lastly, if something is too complicated or takes too long, they will struggle to grasp the concept!
That’s why handprint crafts are perfect for your little ones. Not only do they get the chance to be a little messy and explore different textures, but they get to feel accomplished in creating something.
Plus, there’s no better home decor than the kind that becomes a keepsake of the years your child spends as a baby.
Your home will have never looked better after displaying all these fun and easy fall handprint crafts for toddlers!
15 Fall Handprint Crafts for Toddlers
Related to Fall Handprint Crafts for Toddlers:
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1. Tissue Paper Trees
Credit: @madetobeakid
You’ll see a hundred different variations of handprint crafts to create autumn trees, but this variation is my personal favorite!
Adding some dimension with the tissue paper leaves is what brings this cute craft to the next level.
Your toddler will love outlining their hand and arm to create the trunk, but they’ll love gluing the colorful tissue paper pieces to their finger branches even more.
2. Scare Crows
I think any kind of handprint painting where you can use different colors on different parts of your child’s hand are extra fun.
That’s why I love these adorable upside down handprint scarecrows. The thumb and pinky fingers become the scarecrow arms, the pointer and ring finger his legs, and the middle finger his stake.
You can play up the color palettes to create multiple works of art with your toddler. Plus, these make the perfect fall fridge decor!
3. Awesome Acorns
Credit: @simplycraftykids
The adorable acorns will make your life extra easy as a mom because of their monotone color palette.
You only need one paint color to find success with this craft so say goodbye to a table full of paint bottle clutter!
Paint your child’s entire hand with brown paint for the hand print, then trace the shape of the top of the acorn over the palm of the hand print to finish this look. You can add googly eyes for an extra cutesy project for your little one.
4. Finger Print Leaves
Credit: Arty Crafty Kids
Like I said under the first item on this list of fall handprint crafts for toddlers, the most common project you’ll see is an autumnal tree.
How cute is this variation, though, with the multiple multicolored fingerprint leaves?
Your little one will LOVE dipping the tippy tops of all their fingers into the paint to create these polka dot patterns. What child doesn’t dream of poking all their fingers in paint?
5. Owls at Dusk
What I love about these autumn evening owls is it’s something a little less traditional than the classic fall leaves and pumpkins.
Owls have the perfect amount of spookiness, but also coziness to embody the feeling of fall without looking the same as the other decor in your home.
Encourage your toddler to name their owls and give them all unique faces and feathers because every animal is different!
6. Pretty Pumpkins
Credit: Frugal Fun 4 Boys
Though toddler hands don’t come in the shape of pumpkins, they’re round enough to make pumpkins work!
A great way to do handprint pumpkins is to create the circular shape of the pumpkin with orange and white construction paper, then let the hand be the coloring inside.
I love how the mom in the photo above also used little toddler fingers to create the pumpkin stem. Let your toddler then color or create whatever they want around the pumpkin image to allow for extra individuality.
7. Spooky Spiders
In a perfect world, spiders would have ten legs so every finger could be used in this adorable craft. It’s easy enough, however to leave the thumb out of the finger paint fun.
When working with black paint and toddlers, you want to always double and triple check that the paint you’re using is washable!
These spooky spiders will be a hit with your kiddos, plus the pattern is very simple and not easy to mess up or make look bad. All of your kids will be calling themselves pro artists after this one!
8. Ghoulish Ghosts
Credit: Simple Everyday Mom
If you’re like me and you love finding all kinds of spring and fall handprint crafts for toddlers, then you’re probably always looking for ways to use the dark shades of construction paper.
I have so many piles of black paper at my house because it’s hard to find uses for it! These cute ghosts are the perfect way to solve that problem.
A little bit of white paint on black paper creates a striking contrast that your toddlers will find so cool!
9. Classic Turkeys
Credit: Make Life Lovely
The classic turkey hand print craft is one I grew up recreating every year. It wouldn’t be a complete list without it!
Like I said earlier, I find the handprint crafts where you can paint different colors on parts of your kid’s hand to be the ones they enjoy the most.
That’s what makes these turkeys so fun! Getting to use a bunch of different colors on every finger is a blast. Make this a Thanksgiving tradition and watch your child’s hand grow year after year!
10. Autumnal Leaf Wreath
Credit: Today’s Creative Ideas
Seasonal wreaths are one of those decor items that just seems absurdly expensive to me. Why pay three figures for a decorative wreath when you can create something much more personal.
This hand cutout leaf wreath would look especially adorable if you have kiddos with hands of all different sizes. The array of “leaves” make for the perfect variety in your wreath.
This is a great project for smaller toddlers still learning to trace. Let them trace each individual leaf so they get all that good fine motor skill practice while having fun!
11. Cutesy Corn Cobs
Credit: Our Kid Things
If you would have told me as a kid that I’d get to do a craft involving paint AND bubble wrap, I probably would’ve hugged you.
Parents of littles know that once the bubble wrap comes out, you’ve already won the day.
Use construction paper and traced hands to create the corn husks. Then paint assorted fall colors onto bubble wrap and use it as a stamp on your corn to create kernels. Bonus tip, it would be fun to use yellow footprints as the base for your cobs!
12. Multiple Monsters
Credit: The Best Ideas For Kids
What I love most about these fall handprint crafts for toddlers is how customizable each little monster can be.
Let your little ones flex their creative muscles by making a rule that no two monsters can look the same!
Use up every color in your construction paper bundles, then pull out some googly eyes and foam shape stickers for endless monster fun.
13. Caramel Apples
Credit: Craft Corner DIY
I absolutely adore this creative spin on a fall handprint apple craft! Most every variation you see uses the hand print as the apple.
Instead, use the handprint as the caramel sprawling over top the apple. Then use different sprinkles or types of glitter to adorn your child’s little caramel apple.
This could be a fun way to introduce this tasty treat to your toddler before making it to prevent some food avoidance.
14. Jack-O-Lanterns
Credit: Taming Little Monsters
I know that making classic Jack-o-lanterns out of pumpkins is a beloved Halloween tradition, but sometimes I just don’t want to deal with the mess.
Don’t get me wrong, gutting pumpkins is fun and all, but cleaning up paint and construction paper is much less smelly.
Give your kiddos their Jack-o-lantern fix with this cute project instead and save yourself all the hassle and mess!
15. Thanksgiving Cornucopia
Credit: Kids Activities
When it comes to fall handprint crafts for toddlers, I tend to lean towards the more creative ones that use various kinds of materials.
They’re far more stimulating for your little one and will extend the project beyond the couple minutes it takes to place a painted hand on paper!
That’s why this Cornucopia is perfect. Create a “model” project of what it’s suppose to look like, then let your little one try to figure out what materials to use to recreate the image for some extra problem solving juice.
Related to Fall Handprint Crafts for Toddlers:
- 15 Brilliant Nature Toys for Toddlers
- The Comprehensive List of Low Stimulation Shows for Toddlers
- Creative Cabin Activities for the Whole Family
