Fall is one of the best times of year in Boston. Between pumpkin patches, cider donuts, and the crisp morning air, there is so much to enjoy about the season. But my favorite part is the fall tradition my oldest daughter and I started two years ago — a leaf hunt followed by the creation of “leaf art.” This is an art project I did as a child, and I love that I now can share it with my children. Try it out with your littles this autumn!
Materials needed:
- Wax paper
- Crayons
- Autumn leaves
- 2 Ziploc baggies of different sizes
- Hammer
- Iron
- Excited child(ren)
In order to gather the leaves to create a preschool masterpiece, my daughters and I go on an outside adventure to find autumn’s most “perfect” leaf. It’s a great reason to get outdoors and play, and it feels like we are on a treasure hunt. We love to find leaves of varying colors. (Plus, this adventure can always lead to a great science conversation about how and why the leaves change color!)
Once the leaves have been collected, it’s time to get out the crayons. While you could easily buy new crayons for this project, my daughter and I prefer to find broken crayons from her crayon box to upcycle. (Pro tip: Soak crayons in water to make it easier to take off the wrapper.)
Next, put the crayons in a sandwich-sized Ziploc bag, and place that baggie in a quart-sized bag. Then, take the hammer and break those crayons! It’s a great chance for kids to learn to use tools and work on some practical life skills. We like to make the crayon pieces as small as possible.
Take out a large piece of wax paper, and place the leaves on it. Then, sprinkle the little bits of crayons on top.
Carefully place another piece of wax paper on top, and iron it until the crayons have melted.
Finally, hang the project in a window that catches some light, enjoy the masterpiece your family has made, and relish in the memories you’ve just created!
