As the air turns crisp and trees begin showing off their vibrant colors, one of our favorite parts of the season arrives: apple season! At Hyde Park Play School, fall is a time of wonder, discovery, and delicious learning—and apples are the perfect way to bring all of that together.
Apples are not only healthy and tasty, but they also offer endless opportunities for creative crafts, sensory play, and fun early learning.
🍎 Apple Stamping: A Classic Fall Craft
One of the simplest and most beloved fall crafts is apple stamping—and preschoolers can’t get enough of it!
How to do it:
-
Cut an apple in half (either vertically or horizontally)
-
Pat the cut surface dry with a paper towel
-
Let children dip the apple into non-toxic paint
-
Stamp it onto paper to create colorful apple prints
For extra fun, use red, green, and yellow paint to mimic real apple colors—or go wild with rainbow hues for a playful twist. Some children like to mix colors and see what happens when their prints overlap, turning this into a mini color-mixing lesson!
Bonus activity: Use cinnamon-scented paint or sprinkle a little cinnamon onto the paper to make the art smell like fall.
🍏 Easy Apple Snacks for Little Hands
Apples are a great snack for preschoolers—they’re naturally sweet, high in fiber, and easy to prepare in a variety of kid-friendly ways. Here are a few of our favorite apple snacks we enjoy at school or recommend for home:
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, 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.”
🍂 Apple-Themed Fun in the Classroom
Here at Hyde Park Play School, our apple exploration goes far beyond snacks and art. We weave this seasonal theme into every part of the preschool day, encouraging curiosity, creativity, and connection.
📖 Apple Books We Love:
-
“Ten Apples Up On Top” by Dr. Seuss
-
“The Apple Pie Tree” by Zoe Hall
-
“Apples, Apples, Apples” by Nancy Elizabeth Wallace
These books help us learn about counting, the life cycle of apple trees, and the joys of autumn—all in a fun and age-appropriate way.
🔍 Science & Sensory Activities:
-
Apple sink-or-float experiments
-
Exploring apple seeds and comparing different apple types
-
Apple-scented playdough for hands-on, sensory-rich play
🎶 Music & Movement:
We sing songs like “Way Up High in the Apple Tree” and practice fine motor skills by picking pretend apples during movement games.
A Season to Celebrate
Fall is a time of change, growth, and simple joys—and apples are the perfect way to celebrate it all. Whether we’re painting with them, tasting them, or reading about them, apples help us connect with the season in ways that are fun, meaningful, and memorable.
We love sharing these moments with your children here at Hyde Park Play School, and we encourage families to continue the apple adventures at home. Who knows? You might just discover a new favorite snack or spark a love of science and storytelling along the way.
Happy apple season to all of our wonderful families!