As a working mom, I don’t have a ton of free time to do fun, crafty activities with my kids. I recently had a day off and while I was walking around Target waiting for preschool pickup, I saw these cute, unfinished wood crafts in all sorts of fun fall shapes from pumpkins to bats to ghosts. I’ve seen them around as you can find them at any craft store like Hobby Lobby or Michaels (most are $5 and under!), but I’ve never actually thought to buy one. This time, I took the plunge and opted for a cool 3-D pumpkin, because once the craft was completed, I thought it would be fun to display in his room this season.
Anyone else out there with toddler boys knows they have an infinite amount of energy and at least mine is ALWAYS on the go. I crossed my fingers and hoped this would be an activity that would keep him somewhat still for a short time while channeling his creative side.
Here’s what you need:
- Any wooden cutout from a craft store (seasonal ones are always cute and get the holiday conversations started!)
- Kid-friendly, washable paint (I already had a Crayola neon set so this can be super cost effective- the paint goes a long way and can last a while if you store it correctly)
- Paintbrushes (Again, I already had some Crayola assorted size set from a previous project)
- Paper plate
- Newspaper
- Cup for water
First off, I will admit that I’m a little bit of a neat freak, so anytime the paint comes out, I panic a bit. I’m worried about clothes, countertops, cabinets, everything! This is why kids washable paint is crucial- it will give you peace of mind!
The setup was quick. I simply laid out some newspaper on the counter, put a small amount of each paint color on a paper plate and filled up a water cup and we were ready to go!
When we started, I thought it was really just something fun to do, but I was surprised at how educational it turned out to be for him, too. Not only does it help with practicing his fine motor skills, but I was able to teach him all about how you paint, how mixing colors can make different colors and how the sun and wind can help dry the paint. All in all, we both enjoyed the time we spent together: him exploring his creative side and me being able to teach him and watch his mind grow.
If you’re looking for a fun, quick and inexpensive fall activity with your little one, I definitely recommend this one! Not only did he have fun painting and learning, but the best part was the pride he had when we finished and checked out the final product.
**Fun Tip: For little ones that are too small to carve pumpkins, bust out the paint again for more fall fun!**
