September always feels like a fresh start, doesn’t it? Back-to-school routines, cooler mornings, and the excitement of fall peeking around the corner. For little ones, it’s the perfect month to dive into seasonal crafts—easy, hands-on projects that spark creativity without stressing mom out. If you’ve got a preschooler at home, these September-themed crafts are simple, fun, and perfect for those cozy afternoons together.

Here are a few of our favorite September craft ideas (with tutorials!):

🍎 Apple Stamping

September = apple season! A classic preschool craft that never fails is apple stamping.

Supplies:

• Apples (cut in half)

• Washable paint (red, green, yellow)

• Paper plates

• White or brown craft paper

How to do it:

1. Cut apples in half and blot them with a paper towel so they’re not too juicy.

2. Pour paint onto plates.

3. Dip the apple halves in paint and stamp onto paper.

4. Let your preschooler decorate the “apples” with stems, leaves, or even glitter if you’re brave.

Mom tip: Turn them into homemade wrapping paper or frame-worthy art for the fridge.

🍂 Handprint Fall Tree

Handprint crafts are my favorite because they freeze that sweet little age forever.

Supplies:

• White construction paper

• Brown paint or marker (for the trunk)

• Fall-colored paint (red, orange, yellow)

How to do it:

1. Paint or draw a tree trunk and branches.

2. Help your child dip their hand into different colors of paint and stamp them around the tree as “leaves.”

3. Layer different handprints to give it a fall look.

Keepsake idea: Date it and save it—you’ll love looking back in a few years at how tiny their handprints were.

🐿️ Squirrel & Acorn Craft

September is also when little critters start gathering food for winter. Preschoolers love animals, so this one is always a hit.

Supplies:

• Paper plates

• Brown construction paper

• Googly eyes

• Glue sticks

• Scissors (for mom)

How to do it:

1. Cut a squirrel shape from brown paper (keep it simple—a big oval body with a curly tail works!).

2. Let your preschooler glue on googly eyes, a nose, and details.

3. Make an acorn by coloring or cutting a brown oval with a darker “cap.”

4. Glue the acorn to the squirrel’s hands.

Variation: Turn it into a puppet by taping it to a popsicle stick.

🌻 Sunflower Paper Plate Craft

Before the leaves fully turn, September still has plenty of sunshine and sunflowers.

Supplies:

• Paper plates

• Yellow paint

• Brown construction paper (or tissue paper)

• Green pipe cleaners

How to do it:

1. Cut a paper plate into petal shapes around the edges.

2. Let your child paint the petals yellow.

3. Glue brown paper squares or tissue paper balls in the center.

4. Attach a green pipe cleaner stem to the back.

These look adorable taped up in a window!

📚 Back-to-School Pencil Craft

If your preschooler has an older sibling heading to school, they’ll love making their own little “pencil” craft.

Supplies:

• Toilet paper roll

• Yellow paint or construction paper

• Pink construction paper (eraser)

• Aluminum foil (for the “metal” part)

• Black marker (tip of the pencil)

How to do it:

1. Cover the toilet paper roll in yellow.

2. Add pink on one end and wrap foil above it for the eraser.

3. Draw or glue a black triangle on the other end for the pencil tip.

Fun idea: Use as a desk organizer for crayons.

Final Thoughts

September crafts are all about apples, fall leaves, back-to-school, and those first cozy days of the season. With these simple tutorials, you don’t need to be super crafty to make fun memories (and a little mess!) with your preschooler.

👉 Moms, which one of these crafts do you think your kids would love most?