Fall is basically the unofficial season of crafts. Between the crunchy leaves, squishy pumpkins, and endless supply of toilet paper rolls, it’s like nature handed us the perfect excuse to slow down and make stuff with our kids.
These 20 fine motor activities are packed with fall charm and preschooler-approved fun. They aren’t just cute. I think each one is designed to help your child strengthen the tiny muscles in their hands that they’ll later use to zip coats, hold pencils, and open applesauce without launching it across the room. Agree?
Toilet Roll Sticky Tree by Taming Little Monsters
Help preschoolers build finger and hand muscles while having fun with this sticky tree.
Sticking leaves to the sticky branches will help them with their dexterity.
We love using crafts like this as home decor.
Apple Lacing Craft by This Tiny Blue House
Lacing crafts offer a fun way for kids to strengthen fine motor skills, and these printable apple cards are a perfect fit for the fall season.
Just print, cut, and let little hands get to work threading around each apple shape.
Kids practice focusing with the bonus of improving hand-eye coordination. Plus, you can reuse them as quiet time activities on repeat. It’s a win-win.
Fall Cutting Practice by Life with Darcy & Brian
Give a preschooler scissors and a piece of paper, and they’ll find a way to create confetti.
These printable fall-themed cutting sheets give that instinct some structure and you might even end up with a few pieces you want to keep.
With fun fall-themed designs, these printables add a seasonal twist to the activity.
Acorn Craft by Fox Farm Home
Picking up paper squares and gluing them to this cute acorn printable is a great way for kids to work on precise motor control.
In addition, they can use scissors to cut out the squares, adding even more fun and developmental benefits at the same time.
Fall Fingerprint Tree Craft by Growing Hands-On Kids
This charming fall fingerprint tree project is fridge-worthy for sure.
Simply glue gathered sticks and twigs onto paper in the shape of a tree, then add colorful fingerprint leaves using a stamp pad.
It’s a sweet keepsake and a gentle reminder that messy hands can still make beautiful things.
Corn and Popcorn Fall Science & Sensory Play by A Little Pinch of Perfect
We’re big on sensory bins around here.
If your child lives for scooping, dumping, and transferring, this corn and popcorn fall bin will be a huge hit.
Using corn and popcorn kernels with scoops, spoons, or funnels gives them a chance to build grip strength while they pretend they’re working the fall harvest. I love it.
Printable Owl Pumpkin Craft by Mommy Made That
A big part of the fun of fall is decorating pumpkins, and this printable owl pumpkin template lets kids do just that. Plus, cutting out all the pieces themselves offers a great chance to build scissors skills.
Pumpkin Playdough by Rock Your Homeschool
Playdough is a top favorite for helping kids develop fine motor skills.
This DIY pumpkin playdough adds an extra touch by filling the house with a cozy scent.
Playtime is enjoyable for both preschoolers and parents alike.
Dot Pumpkin Art by Little Bins for Little Hands
This printable dot pumpkin template offers two great ways for kids to develop hand strength as well as motor skills.
They can use a hole punch to punch out loads of orange and green circles, then glue those to the template to color the pumpkin.
You’ll be surprised how long they stay entertained.
Make Playdough Pumpkins and Jack-O-Lanterns by Barley & Birch
Gather this printable template, a couple of empty cereal boxes, and the DIY pumpkin playdough from before for a fun-filled activity.
Kids can mix, match, add, and subtract pumpkin facial features on their playdough pumpkins as many times as they like.
How to Make Pumpkin Art with Pointillism by Coffee and Carpool
Dots, dots, and more dots. Using a Q-tip as a paintbrush makes this pumpkin art with pointillism activity great for building hand control.
Don’t worry. Kids don’t need to know what pointillism means to enjoy making a pumpkin one dot at a time. They’re going to love this one.
Thanksgiving Turkey Handprint and Lacing Craft by Crafty Kids Play
This turkey handprint craft combines a printable template, handprint craft, and a lacing card for one fun project.
Kids can make a turkey and then add some color by lacing yarn through the lacing card portion.
Apple Stamping Craft by Natural Beach Living
Apple stamping is a great way for littles to work on grip strength and precise motor control.
Slice an apple in half, dip it in paint, and stamp away.
You can even set up a little target basket made of paper strips for them to aim for.
Felt Corn Craft by Barley & Birch
This felt corn craft is easy to create, but the true benefit lies in the process.
Weave felt strips through slits in a corn shape, and suddenly your child is working on pattern recognition, bilateral coordination, and fine motor precision.
As kids weave felt strips through, they bring the corn to life and strengthen their fine motor skills.
Pumpkin Sensory Bin by Two Pink Peonies
Grab a clear cup, draw on a jack-o’-lantern face, fill a bin with orange beans, and let your preschooler go wild.
Scooping, pouring, and stuffing the beans into the pumpkin cup sensory bin is exactly the kind of busy hands you want to see.
Fall Leaf Pom Pom Painting by Kids Activity Zone
This is fall painting without the mess of brushes and still builds control.
Add a leaf cutout underneath and let your child use pom poms to dab fall colors around it.
Hang it on the fridge and admire the artist’s fine motor skills making art.
Yarn Wrapped Fall Tree Craft by I Heart Crafty Things
Keep things simple, yet pretty with this fun little yarn wrapping tree craft.
Have them wrap yarn around a cardboard tree outline.
It strengthens hand muscles, improves coordination, and gives your house a very Pinterest-in-the-best-way vibe.
DIY Fall Harvest Sensory Bin by The Mindful Toddler
Here’s a scoop-and-sort dream. This fall harvest sensory fine motor activity is a quick and simple sensory experience perfect for younger kids.
Fill a bin with fall-colored beans, fake sunflowers, mini pumpkins—whatever you have. Add some tongs or kid tweezers for a bit of challenge.
You’ll be surprised how long it holds their attention.
Fine Motor Leaf Cutting Activity by Hands On As We Grow
Give kids a chance to practice cutting using a classic fall favorite: leaves. Kids can gather the leaves, then practice cutting on them, before scattering the fall confetti back over the yard.
Send the kids outside to collect leaves, then hand them some scissors and let them cut along the edges.
The crunch, the scatter, the joy of turning nature into tiny scraps is oddly satisfying in this fall fine motor leaf cutting activity.
Thanksgiving Turkey Sensory Activity by Meaningful Mama
Think of this thanksgiving turkey sensory activity as a build-your-own turkey bar.
Give them a felt turkey base, and let kids add feathers, buttons, pipe cleaners, and googly eyes however they want. Then they can rip it apart and do it again. And again. And again.
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