According to the Arbor Day Foundation, one of the easiest ways to encourage young kids to connect with nature is through the study of trees. Autumn’s seasonal symbol - the leaf - presents many opportunities for kids to have hands-on experiences with nature that require little preparation or planning. Here are some simple ideas for being creative and experimenting with leaves.
Make Leaf Prints
Leaf prints can be very elaborate masterpieces or rustic decorations depending on the medium and technique used. For an easy no-mess craft with preschoolers try leaf rubbings using plain white paper and various colours of peeled crayons. Kids also enjoy dipping leaves in paint and making prints on paper. Leaf stencils can also be made by placing a leaf on top of paper and painting the outline of the leaf using a dry brush painting technique.
Collect Leaves
Almost every preschooler likes to collect things while on a walk, so why not make it a project? Let the kids collect all the fallen leaves they like, selecting different colours and shapes. Once home, press the leaves under large books for a few days to make them easier to handle and store. When the leaves are pressed, put the leaves in a photo album or glue them to pages in a binder. Another way to show off the leaf collection is to make a no glue leaf collage.
Play Games with Leaves
Preschoolers love to jump into leaf piles and throw leaves into the air. Elaborate on the basics by adding a few props and creating a safe space to play.
- Create an obstacle course using boards, balls, ropes and leaf piles.
- Make a game of throwing leaves over a net or into a box.
- Paint one leaf gold or silver and let the kids find it in a pile.
- Hang leaves on a clothesline and let the kids jump to grab them.
Look at Leaves
Take a magnifying glass to the forest and let the kids see what leaves look like up close. Let them touch and smell the leaves, noting different sizes, shapes and colours. Show them the veins in a leaf and talk about how a tree needs leaves in order to grow.
Experiment with Leaves
Do various experiments with leaves simply to see what happens.
- See how long leaves can float in a puddle.
- Time how long a leaf can stay in the air when it is tossed up.
- Measure leaves using a ruler.
- Roll up a green leaf and a brown leaf to see which one breaks first.
With a little creativity and imagination, kids can spend hours learning about leaves in their own backyard. For other seasonal activities for young kids, read Exploring Sand with Preschoolers and Simple Fall Theme Crafts to Make with Young Kids.
Angela Krueger - As an adoptive parent and PRIDE adoption trainer, Angela uses her insights to help others on their adoption journey.
