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This fall fingerprint tree craft is the perfect blend of creative expression and motor skill development. By engaging in this simple, hands-on project, children not only create a beautiful piece of art but also build the fine motor strength needed for future activities. Plus, this activity is a great opportunity for parents or teachers to bond with children while encouraging essential skills in a fun, stress-free way.

How to Make a Fall Fingerprint Tree

Materials to Collect:

Directions:

Head out on a walk to gather sticks and small branches from trees or bushes.

Glue the sticks to the card stock paper to make it look like a tree.

Set aside and allow to dry.

Use the ink pads to make fingerprints around the tree for the leaves. I recommend the child wipe his/her finger off when switching colors to prevent mixing colors on the ink pads. Have a pack of baby wipes handy or a wet wash cloth/paper towel.

Continue printing leaves on the tree until you get the desired amount of leaves.

Then, display!

Tips for a Successful Activity

Use Washable Materials: Make cleanup easy by choosing washable ink or paint, especially when working with younger children.
Guide, Don’t Overcontrol: Let the child take the lead in this craft. Even if the tree doesn’t look “perfect,” it’s important that the child feels ownership of their creation.
Incorporate Learning: You can talk about the changing seasons, the colors of fall/autumn, or even the parts of a tree while working on the craft.

Why Focus on Fine Motor Skills?

Fine motor skills involve the coordination of small muscles, especially in the hands and fingers, and are essential for everyday tasks like writing, buttoning clothes, and using utensils.

For young children, developing these skills early is important for their academic success and independence. Using crafts is a wonderful way to strengthen these skills, and activities like the fall fingerprint tree offer a fun, hands-on approach to learning.

A fall craft featuring real twigs arranged as branches on white paper, surrounded by colorful fingerprint dots in red, orange, yellow, and green. Ink pads in fall colors are placed next to the artwork.

Fun Fall Fingerprint Tree Craft

Materials

Instructions

Head out on a walk to gather sticks and small branches from trees or bushes.
Glue the sticks to the card stock paper to make it look like a tree.
Set aside and allow to dry.
Use the ink pads to make fingerprints around the tree for the leaves.
Continue printing leaves on the tree until you get the desired amount of leaves.
Then, display!

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Heather Greutman, COTA

Heather Greutman is a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant with experience in school-based OT services for preschool through high school. She uses her background to share child development tips, tools, and strategies for parents, educators, and therapists. She is the author of many ebooks including The Basics of Fine Motor Skills, and Basics of Pre-Writing Skills, and co-author of Sensory Processing Explained: A Handbook for Parents and Educators.