10 Easy Apple Crafts for Toddlers
When September arrives, so does apple season (my favorite!). Orchards are overflowing, back-to-school lessons are in full swing, and toddlers are ready for hands-on fun. My family loves to go apple picking in the fall, so what better way to tie in some seasonal fun than with apple crafts! Apple crafts for toddlers are the perfect way to celebrate the season while sneaking in fine motor practice, sensory play, and early learning skills. Apple crafts are more than cute—they’re developmentally supportive for toddlers and preschoolers.
In this post, you’ll find 10 simple apple craft ideas that are:
Low-prep (set up in 5 minutes or less)
Budget-friendly (using everyday supplies)
Perfect for toddlers and preschoolers (they can easily be modified for older kids too!)
Thematic for September, apple season, and back-to-school
Why Apple Crafts Are Perfect for Toddlers in September
September is often tied to apple themes in preschool and homeschool lessons, making it the perfect time to integrate these crafts! Apples tie into:
Back-to-school learning (letters A, colors red/green/yellow, counting)
Seasonal themes (apple orchards, fall harvest, apple picking)
Sensory play (apples offer scent, texture, and taste inspiration)
Here are some of our favorite apple crafts for the fall. My 3-year-old daughter has so much fun doing these little crafts - and I love how easy they are to set up (and clean up).
10 Easy Apple Crafts for Toddlers
1. Apple Stamping Craft (Classic Toddler Favorite)
The most iconic apple craft for preschoolers and toddlers is apple stamping.
How to do it:
Cut an apple in half.
Dip the flat side into red, green, or yellow washable paint.
Stamp onto paper.
Add stems and leaves with markers or construction paper.
Learning benefits:
Fine motor control (pressing apples)
Color recognition (red, yellow, green apples)
Early art exploration
Supplies needed: Apple, washable paint, construction paper (optional: some stems and leaves from your backyard—my daughter loved doing this, and it added some fun texture to the craft!)
2. Tissue Paper Apple Collage
This one’s simple, colorful, and nearly mess-free.
How to do it:
Print or draw a large apple outline.
Have toddlers crumple tissue paper squares.
Glue them onto the apple shape until it’s filled.
Learning benefits:
Crumpling paper strengthens hand muscles for early writing.
Supplies needed: Apple template, red/green tissue paper squares, glue sticks.
3. Paper Plate Apple Core Craft
This one always gets giggles from my little one!
How to do it:
Paint a paper plate red or green.
Cut out “bite marks” from the sides.
Glue black paper “seeds” in the middle.
Add a stem and leaf on top.
Learning benefits:
Talk about healthy eating and what’s inside an apple.
Practice cutting skills with preschoolers.
Supplies needed: Paper plate, washable paint, black and green construction paper (for the apple seeds, leaf and stem)
4. Dot Marker Apple Tree Craft
Dot markers are a toddler must-have! My daughter spent 30 straight minutes playing with hers when we first got them. And they are so easy for little hands to use.
How to do it:
Print a bare tree template.
Give toddlers red, yellow, and green dot markers.
Let them fill in the leaves with apple “dots.”
Learning benefits:
Easy for toddlers with no mess.
Reusable idea—switch colors for different fruit trees.
Supplies needed: Tree template, red/yellow/green dot markers
5. Pom-Pom Apple Stamping
A no-fruit-needed alternative to apple stamping!
How to do it:
Clip a pom-pom into a clothespin.
Dip in paint.
Stamp onto paper for round apple shapes.
Add stems and leaves with markers.
Learning benefits:
Strengthens toddler pincer grasp.
Encourages hand-eye coordination.
Supplies needed: Pom-poms, clothespin, washable paint, construction paper, washable markers
6. Fingerprint Apple Tree Craft
Toddlers love crafts that use their hands! This one is a little bit messier since it involves finger painting, but messy hands are a great sensory experience for little ones!
How to do it:
Draw or print a tree outline.
Let toddlers dip their fingers in paint.
Stamp “apples” onto the tree.
Learning benefits:
Practice counting apples as they stamp!
Supplies needed: Tree outline (printed or drawn), washable paint
7. Torn Paper Apple Craft
This one doubles as a fine motor activity.
How to do it:
Print an apple outline.
Have toddlers tear red or green paper into small pieces.
Glue inside the apple shape.
Learning benefits:
Tearing paper is excellent for hand strength and pre-scissor skills.
Supplies needed: Apple outline, construction paper, glue stick
8. Apple Sensory Bag Painting
A no-mess craft that’s also sensory-rich.
How to do it:
Squirt red, yellow, and green paint into a zip-top bag.
Tape it to the table.
Toddlers squish colors together with their fingers.
Optional: Tape an apple outline under the bag as a guide.
Learning benefits:
Perfect for toddlers who don’t love messy hands.
Supplies needed: Washable paint, zip-top bag, painters tape
9. Cupcake Liner Apple Craft
This craft is adorable, simple, and textured.
How to do it:
Flatten red or green cupcake liners.
Glue them onto paper.
Add stems and leaves.
Draw a tree around them or group into baskets.
Learning benefits:
Toddlers love “building” with pre-made shapes.
Great for classroom bulletin boards.
Supplies needed: Red/green cupcake liners, glue stick, washable markers (optional: some stems and leaves from your backyard)
10. Apple Garland Craft
Have some fun turning apple crafts into decorations! My daughter hung up her garland in her playroom, and she loves seeing it and talking about how we made it.
How to do it:
Cut out multiple apple shapes (paper or felt).
Let toddlers decorate with crayons, tissue paper, or stickers.
String onto yarn for a September garland.
Learning benefits:
Perfect for homeschool spaces or classroom displays.
Supplies needed: Green/red paper or felt, yarn, crayons/markers/stickers/washable markers
Apple Crafts in Homeschool & Classroom Settings
Homeschool: Tie apple crafts into orchard field trips, apple-themed books (like Ten Apples Up On Top), or snack time (taste-testing apple varieties).
Classroom: Use dot marker trees or stamping for quick group activities that don’t require much prep.
Co-op groups: Try garlands, mobiles, or collages—anything collaborative and displayable.
Supplies to Keep on Hand for Apple Crafts
Washable paints (red, yellow, green, brown) (shop on Amazon)
Glue sticks and liquid glue
Tissue paper squares
Paper plates & cupcake liners
Markers, crayons, dot markers
Construction paper
Scissors (toddler-safe) (shop on Amazon)
Pro tip: Keeping a “craft basket” ready ensures you can do apple crafts anytime without stress.
More Ways to Extend Apple Learning
Apple crafts aren’t just for fun—they connect to early learning goals:
Math skills: Count apples on trees, compare sizes.
Color recognition: Red, yellow, and green apples.
Literacy connections: Pair crafts with apple books (Apple Farmer Annie, Ten Apples Up on Top).
Science learning: Explore apple life cycles, seeds, and orchard themes.
Final Thoughts: Why Apple Crafts for Toddlers Matter
Apple crafts are the perfect September activity—they’re seasonal, educational, and most importantly, fun for toddlers. From apple stamping to tissue paper collages to apple garlands, these projects keep little hands busy while teaching real skills.
Whether you’re homeschooling, teaching preschool, or just looking for fall activities for toddlers, apple crafts bring the season to life in a hands-on way. I have so much fun doing these fall crafts with my little one, and I hope you do too!
🍎 Grab some paper, paint, and a few apples, and you’re ready to create memories this fall.
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