Simple Fall Art for Toddlers Using Cookie Cutters

Last Updated on November 24, 2021 by Sheryl Cooper

Inside: Create simple fall art for toddlers using leaf cookie cutters and assorted paint colors. Young children love the stamping action while strengthening their fine motor skills!

Add some simple art during your leaf theme with cookie cutters!

This truly is one of the simplest process art activities out there.

In fact, you can do this year round by simply changing out the shape of the cookie cutter.

There is little preparation work involved (hooray!) and the only directions are:

“Press the cookie cutter into the paint and stamp on the paper.”

And yet, this activity builds important motor skills!

Plus, it’s just fun.

Toddlers love anything with action.

Hmmm… could it be due to their excessive energy levels?

I learned long ago not to fight that energy, but to instead create activities that allow them to move.

As I was planning our leaf theme I found a huge bag of leaf-shaped cookie cutters, accumulated over many years.

How about using them with a fall-themed art activity?

So, that’s exactly what I put together.

But, truly, there wasn’t much “putting together” involved.

This is probably one of the simplest activities to plan and prep.

With time always being an issue, I truly appreciate that!

Simple Fall Art for Toddlers Using Cookie Cutters

What you will need:

• Leaf-shaped cookie cutters
• Paper
• Tempera paint 
• Shallow containers for paint (make sure cookie cutters can easily fit inside them)

Preparation:

Pour a shallow amount of paint in each container. You only want enough paint so that it covers less than half of the cookie cutter.

We used several different colors – red, green, orange.

I like to use these trays as it makes clean up easier.

I simply place one tray at each spot and then set the paper on top, along with the tray of paint and cookie cutters.

Here’s what our table looked like after set up:

The Invitation to Stamp Paint

Once everything is set up (see how simple that set up is?), it’s time to invite your toddlers to get stamping!

You might need to demonstrate how to remove the leaf cookie cutter from the container of paint and stamp it on to the paper, but perhaps not.

Our toddlers seemed to know just what to do, and got to work quickly.

Dip the cookie cutter into the container of paint.

Stamp onto the paper.

Repeat.

And for many of our toddlers, this action went on for quite awhile!

Fine Motor Benefits

Even though this fall art activity for toddlers is super simple, it’s big on building fine motor skills.

The hands and fingers need to grasp the cookie cutter and control where it goes.

The stamping up and down on the paper moves the entire arm, too!

Related: 25+ Easy Toddler Fine Motor Activities

Some toddlers will stamp in the same spot.

That’s fine, but you can challenge them to move the cookie cutter around the paper, too.

This adds to building hand-eye coordination as they are purposely hitting different parts of the paper.

If you are using different sizes and shapes of leaves, you can ask your toddlers to point out the largest leaf. The smallest?

This is a fun way to work on size discrimination.

Stamping to Music

You can also turn on music while stamping. Here are some fun leaf songs:

Five Little Leaves (Lynn Kleiner)

Four Golden Autumn Leaves (All Together Music)

Autumn Leaves Are Falling Down (The Kiboomers)

Autumn Leaves (The Learning Station)

Leaves on the Tree (The Learning Station)

You can also find these on my Spotify November Playlist:

Some toddlers will do a few stamping actions, some will do a lot.

Since our art table is set out during free-choice centers time, the children can spend as little or as much time at the art table as desired.

We often will have some toddlers who will return for a second time, sometimes a third time!

This goes with their busy nature, and we work with it.

When finished, dry and either display in the classroom or send home.

(Our toddlers LOVE seeing their work on the walls!)

More fall ideas:

Watercolor Leaves Window Decoration

Paint and Wash Apple Activity

Fall Paper Plate Activities

 

🍎 Fall Activity Plans 🍎

I’ve teamed up with other early childhood teachers and homeschoolers to put together these hands-on fall activity plans for toddlers and preschoolers!

Easy to follow activities that include modifications and adaptations to meet the needs of all learners.

Note: This is a digital product. That means when you make a purchase, you will be emailed a link to the activities.

For more information, click on the graphics below: