September is apple-picking season, which means a whole bushel of fun for you and your family! As the air turns crisp and the trees begin to show off their Fall colors, we at Heartland Academy look forward to offering your little ones many opportunities to discover and experience the season.
It’s no secret that apples are delicious and nutritious, but they also offer many opportunities for creative learning that engages all the senses! Below are some of the ways you can engage with your little explorers this Fall.
Children love to practice their creativity and fine motor skills through art! Art is much more about the process than the end product. Below are 3 fun apple-themed craft ideas to get your kids into the season.
Apple-themed Crafts
1. Apple Stamping & Printing
Slice an apple in half from top to bottom. Take out the seeds and save for a later activity. Use red, yellow and green paints to mimic apple skin colors. Allow children to paint the apple half and press it onto a large piece of paper. Allow them to experiment with colors and patterns. If you cut the apple cross-wise, children will discover a star shape in the center of the apple. Experiment stamping with this shape as well!
2. Ripped Paper Apple Collage
Give children red (or green) construction paper to tear into pieces and glue onto a paper plate or apple outline, then top with a stem and leaf. Tearing paper strengthens hand muscles, which is great preparation for handwriting!
3. Yarn and apples
Cut apple shapes from cardboard. You can make these apples large or small. Allow children to use long lengths of yarn to wrap around the apple shape. Using red, green and yellow yarn mimics the skin colors of different apples. You can also cut apple shapes out of posterboard, punch holes around the outline, and make lacing cards for your kiddos. If you have access to laminating paper, laminate the posterboard before giving to your child to lace, to add extra stability.
Learning Activities
We love teaching your children through sensory play at Heartland Academy, but learning doesn’t stop in our classroom! Here are some fun ways to foster learning with your preschoolers at home!
Sensory & Play Dough Experiences
- Cinnamon-scented apple pie play dough is a wonderful sensory delight! Children will enjoy the warm smell of Autumn while squishing, rolling and cutting the play-doh to their heart’s content!
- Sensory bins are another fun way to engage your child’s senses, and they are easy to make and won’t break the bank! Use a plastic container with a lid. Fill it with dry oatmeal and apple pie spices. Then get creative with little items your child can discover in the bin. Consider small fall items like plastic leaves (table confetti), acorns, small squishy apples. The possibilities are endless. You might use an empty egg carton for kids to store their treasures. Use small plastic shovels or tweezers for the dig!
Apple-Inspired Counting Cards
Craft paper apples out of colored paper and label them with numbers 1-10. Then, glue matching seeds or beans to reinforce counting and number recognition!
Books
Never underestimate the power of a good book. Reading together promotes bonding and early literacy. Check out these fun apple-themed books to read with your child.
- “Johnny Appleseed” – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9u0_ogyU7fs
- “How Do Apples Grow?” – by Betsy Maestro
- “Apple Picking Day!” – by Candice F. Ransom
- “Ten Apples Up On Top” by Dr. Seuss
- “The Apple Pie Tree” by Zoe Hall
- “Apples, Apples, Apples” by Nancy Elizabeth Wallace
Music and Movement
Get Musical with your kiddo to help reinforce learning. The song, I Like to Eat Apples and Bananas, is silly and fun while helpinig to teach vowel sounds. The song, Way up High in the Apple Tree can incorporate motions and reinforces number learning.
Fun Fall food for little hands
No apple season celebration would be complete without some creative ways to EAT these delicious delights! Your family may enjoy a trip to a local farm to pick apples in the orchard. Or maybe you prefer selecting your produce from your local grocery. Either way, the treats you choose to make together are sure to be tasty. Aside from the classic apples and peanut butter or apple pie, here are a few snacks that are espceially good for little hands.
1. Apple “Donuts”
Slice apples into rings, remove the core, and let children spread nut butter or cream cheese on top. Add fun toppings like granola, cinnamon, raisins, or a few mini chocolate chips.
2. Warm Cinnamon Apples
Dice apples and sauté them with a little butter and cinnamon for a cozy, soft snack that feels like dessert—but is still healthy!
3. Apple & Cheese Kabobs
Skewer apple cubes and mild cheese cubes for a fun, balanced snack. It’s a great way to encourage trying new textures and flavors.
4. Applesauce Taste Test
Offer a few varieties of applesauce—store-bought, homemade, cinnamon-flavored—and let kids vote on their favorite. It’s a great chance to talk about preferences and practice using descriptive words like “smooth,” “sweet,” and “tangy.”
We love getting to enjoy the change of seasons with your child. We hope this article has inspired you to take the fun and learning home with you! To find out more about Heartland Academy, book a tour today.