Look, we’re not here to win Pinterest mum of the year, we just want some easy, fun activities that keep our little ones entertained without causing a major mess (or meltdown), right?
Here are some simple crafts that will keep your under-5 crew entertained without leaving you covered in glitter or glue for days.
1. Leaf Monsters
Collect a few big leaves on your next walk, then come home and let your child glue googly eyes on them. Add some pipe cleaner 'arms' and draw on little fangs with a marker. You could also let your little one paint the leaves and stick them onto some paper to create an Autumn collage. If you’re feeling brave, use glitter. If you value your sanity, skip it.
2. Pumpkin Stamps
Grab some mini pumpkins 🎃 or apples, cut them in half, and dip them into orange paint. Let your little one stamp away on paper, creating a whole pumpkin patch. Once the paint dries, you can add green stems or draw on little spooky faces.
3. Spider Handprint Art
Help your child paint both their hands black and then have them press their hands on a piece of paper, with their palms overlapping. Those eight little legs make the perfect spooky spider! Add some googly eyes or draw them on to complete the look.
4. Ghost Footprints
This one’s for those of us who like to pretend we’re crafting for the memories but really, we’re in it for the cute keepsakes. Get some black paper, white paint, and paint your toddler’s foot (get ready for giggles). Stamp their little foot onto the paper, toes facing down. Once it dries, add eyes and a mouth. The result? Adorable little ghosts 👻 that you’ll probably keep forever.
Parenting hack: Make sure the wet wipes are close by. It’s all fun and games until someone decides to run through the house with paint-covered feet.
5. Pumpkin Playdough
Playdough is a lifesaver, but homemade pumpkin playdough? Now, we’re talking. There are tons of easy recipes online, and you can add cinnamon or pumpkin spice to make it smell like Autumn (minus the actual baking). Give them cookie cutters or let them 'carve' mini pumpkins with a plastic knife. They’ll be entertained for a while, and your house will smell amazing.
Parenting hack: This is a great activity for when you need to buy yourself 20 minutes to finish that cup of coffee you made two hours ago.
6. Acorn Painting
Autumn means acorns are EVERYWHERE. Grab a few, toss them into a shoebox with some Autumn-coloured paint and a sheet of paper, then let your little one shake and roll the box around. The acorns make cool patterns, and your kid will feel like a mini artist.
7. Mini Mummy Jars
If you’re up for something a little more 'decorative', grab some empty jars, wrap them with strips of white fabric or toilet paper, and stick googly eyes on them. 👀 You’ve got yourself a mummy jar! Pop in a tea light (LED, please) and voila - your kid has made a spooky decoration, and you didn’t have to spend a penny.
Parenting hack: After your little one's gone to bed, you can 'fix' the jars so they look presentable without hurting anyone’s feelings.
Autumn and Halloween are perfect for getting creative with your little ones. The key is to keep it light, fun, and age-appropriate - because let’s face it, crafting with kids under 5 is more about the process than the final product. 🤪
Happy crafting, parents! You’ve got this 💪