6 Cheap & Easy DIY Montessori Fall Tray Ideas for Toddlers
Fall is my favorite season of the year! The colors, smells, and weather are so cozy. With all the cozy vibes, I wanted to create a few quick and easy DIY Montessori fall tray ideas for your toddler. I set up these activities when my twins were 20 months old, and they could do every one of them. All the activities can be done with simple things you find around your home and a quick trip to the dollar store if you desire! I will share some alternatives that won’t require you to purchase anything!
If you prefer to watch and get inspiration that way, check out this video!
Pumpkin Tee Hammering
This is such a simple DIY fall tray idea for your Montessori home! It will help with hand-eye coordination as your toddler pounds the golf tee into the pumpkin.
To set this up, pre-hammer the golf tees into the pumpkin so your toddler can more easily hammer them in. Offer a toy hammer on the tray, and optional pliers for the child to remove the tees when they are finished. I used a hammer that came with another toy, but if you want to purchase one separately, here is one I would recommend!
Materials
- Pumpkin
- Golf tees
- Toy hammer
- Tray
- Pliers (optional- for removing the golf tees)
Leaf Drop
A coin drop activitiy is a classic Montessori toddler material. I had an empty coffee tin that I knew would be perfect for something! Any container would work for this.
Here are some alternatives: a yogurt container, a large spice container, or an ice cream bucket. I picked up a small package of these fake leaves from the dollar store, but you could do this with real leaves you collect in your yard!
Materials
- Coffee tin or another continer
- Fake leaves (or real leaves)
- Cardstock paper
- Festive Ribbon
- Small basket
- A tray
- Hot glue gun
- Spray adhesive
Directions
- (Optional) Cut out a paper circle the size of the lid of your container.
- Use spray adhesive to secure the paper to the lid.
- Cut the slit. A smaller slit will be more challenging; a larger slit would make this activity easier.
- Secure the ribbon using a hot glue gun to make a border on the lid and around the opening. This is completely optional! I didn’t like the color of my lid, so I added a fall touch.
- Put some leaves into a small basket. You can just put as many as you want to clean up around your house. I put 6 or 7 in mine, even though the package had about 50!
Transfer Activitiy
Transfer activities are some of my twins’ favorites! This easy DIY Montessori-inspired egg carton fall tray idea is so easy to set up.
Materials
- Egg carton with top cut off
- Small basket
- 12 fall objects: acorns, pinecones or mini pumpkins
- Miniature tongs
- A tray
I went outside and found some pinecones and put them into a small basket. I set up the egg carton, the basket of pinecones, and a small pair of tongs on a tray. When I was at the dollar store later that week, I found these adorable mini cloth pumpkins that I knew would be perfect for this activity, and they are! You really could use any small object that fits into an egg carton. My toddlers, at 20 months, enjoy trying to use the tongs but are still mostly just transferring with their hands.
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Fall Play Dough Kit
I had this idea of doing playdough kits after I saw something from Nicole at The Kavanaugh Report! I thought it would be so fun to make fall-scented playdough. You can find the recipe for homemade pumpkin pie, cinnamon, and apple pie-scented playdough here!
Here’s what I included in our playdough kit
- Fall-scented playdough
- Condiment cups with lids
- Fall cookie cutters
- Miniature rolling pin
- Small box with seasonal press-ins
I picked up these little condiment cups with lids from the dollar store and they are the perfect size for just the right amount of playdough for a toddler to get started with. Seasonal press-ins are such a great addition to playdough. I also found these hard plastic maple leaves, pumpkins, and acorns at the dollar store. Find a container that holds all of the things you want to include in your playdough kit. You could definately add additional playdough tools, this is just what I had around my house. Use what you have! You could also search for natural press-ins like rocks, pine cones, and acorns!
Posting Leaves
Posting activities are great for refining and developing fine motor skills. This DIY Montessori leaf posing fall tray activity is simple to set up and offers an opportunity for purposeful work.
Supplies
- Strainer
- Fake leaves with stems
- Small basket
- A tray
You may need a strainer with slightly larger holes depending on the leaves you get. At the dollar store, I got a bouquet of fake leaves. I cut off the leaf from the metal stem, leaving just enough stem for my toddlers to post them into the strainer.
Popcorn Shaker
This is maybe the simplest and least messy DIY craft idea you will find. Here’s what you need!
Supplies
- Small plastic craft bottle
- Small pitcher of popcorn kernels
- Small funnel
- Seasonal ribbon
- A tray
- Superglue
Set this activity up on a tray so if there are any spills, popcorn kernels won’t roll everywhere. Fill a small pitcher with popcorn kernels. Offer a funnel and show your child how to set up the funnel in the bottle and then pour it into the funnel. Superglue the lid on for safety. Tie a ribbon around the neck of the bottle and then add this to your set of musical instruments as a seasonal fall maraca! Change the ribbon for another season and you have a year-round toy!
Looking for more fall inspiration?
Are you looking for more ways to bring the fall season into your home with your little one? Check out some of these other popular fall posts for more inspiration!
Fall Toddler Practical Life Activities in a Montessori Home
How to FALL In Love with Your Child: 20 Fall Ideas
40 Fun Family Fall Activities When You Have Kids
16 Fun and Simple Fall Activities for Toddlers
Simple Homemade Fall-Scented Playdough Recipes
LOoking for Fall Picture Books?
There isn’t much better than a cozy fall day and a good book. Check out my favorite and ultimate fall picture book list!
