Glue the Fall Leaves

Glue the fall leaves to make a fun art activity! At first, no one wanted to join me on my leaf hunt. Does it look a little strange for a grown woman to collect leaves on the roadside without kids in tow? Perhaps. But I knew that one of my kids began to glue the fall leaves, the side-eye would be well worth it. So head outside, and gather the colored leaves. This is a fun way to welcome autumn and look forward to a change of seasons. 

RELATED: Autumn activities are a blast! Here is a list of our 30+ Must-Try Ideas for Fall.

Table of Contents:

1. Yes, toddlers can use glue. 
2. Troubleshooting glue
3. Practice gluing with your child
4. Let’s set up Glue the Fall Leaves!
5. Let’s set up!
6. Empower your child with skills to thrive.
7. Glue the Fall Leaves
8. FAQ

Yes, toddlers can use glue. 

I know. The thought of handing over the glue to a young child can sound like opening a bottle of soda that has been shaken up. 

But let me assure you that with practice, gluing can become something done on the regular with minimal mess. Even big kids love to glue! 

My three-year-old is squeezing and using the glue for his fall leaf tree. Here, we keep the glue in our art cart, and you can store your glue anywhere you feel comfortable. Over time, you will see that your child gains responsibility when gluing. 

And I know. Gluing with kids is right up there with how to help a child hold scissors. Both skills aren’t for the faint of heart. (Kidding, kidding. You’ve got this).

RELATED: Kid activities at home are simple, hands-on, and fun. Here is a list of our favorite play ideas! 

Troubleshooting glue

We’ve all been there. We go to use the glue and nothing comes out. First, let’s prep your glue, so it is ready for your toddler and preschooler to use. 

1. Check to make sure there is glue inside the container. If you need to fill it, use a funnel and a larger container of glue sold at any craft store. 
2. Poke a hole through the orange top.
3. Wash out the top to get excess glue out.
4. Test out the glue to double-check it is ready. 

Our children will likely abandon ship if they don’t have a glue that works. Taking the time to test out the bond first will help build momentum in the fall activity. 

If you cannot get your glue to work correctly, grab a glue stick, and don’t look back. You can always try this activity at a later date with liquid glue. 

Practice gluing with your child

Gluing is a fine motor activity that improves hand strength. We want to spend plenty of time strengthening hands so that children can form letters, tie shoes, and button clothes. When fall leaves aren’t available, try gluing colored noodles.

You can read more about pencil grip and why fine motor activities are important here. 

RELATED: Mornings with young kids at home weren’t going well until we implemented this into our morning routine.

Let’s set up Glue the Fall Leaves!

Let’s keep the setup super simple, and use some supplies we can use repeatedly if you are new here, welcome. I make sure the setup is under five minutes. You’ll gather the leaves outside; the paper and markers are listed below.

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Let’s set up!

1. Tape the white paper on your tabletop. You can also use kraft paper or the back of a paper bag. 
2. Draw a simple tree. I use the fall books, TREE and Goodbye Summer, Hello Autumn to help guide my drawing. 
3. Invite your child to glue the leaves on the tree.

Once you glue your fall leaves, you can then try this leaf painting activity! Have mini pumpkins? Pumpkin ABC Memory is such a fun idea. 

So gather the leaves, and let’s get gluing!

FAQ