Fall is a great time to take a closer look at leaves.

On your next nature walk with your toddler, bring a bag along and gather some colorful fall leaves to take home. Try to gather leaves that are freshly fallen, as they are less fragile.

At home, spread the leaves out on a table and take a closer look. Talk about their colors, shapes, sizes, and so on. Select leaves that are long and thin to do this turkey craft.

Here is a fun turkey craft if you have leaves that look like bird feathers.

Tip: If your leaves are too curly or bumpy to work with, put them under a heavy book to flatten them.

You will need:

	Trace your child's hand onto a sheet of paper.
	Draw an eye and a beak where the thumb is.
	Draw legs where the heel of the hand is.
	Encourage your toddler to give the turkey a colorful tail by gluing long, thin leaves to where the fingers are.
	Glue on a short, round leaf to the middle of the hand for the turkey's wing.
	Let the glue dry before you hang it up or share it with a friend.

What else can you create with your leaves?