It’s fall y'all, and those leaves outside aren’t just fun for a frolic. One of our favorite fall crafts for preschoolers is to leaf press with tempera paint sticks, and it’s not nearly as messy as you might imagine.

Don’t be fooled by the “paint” in tempera paint sticks, which have the consistency of lipstick and make bright, satisfying marks with virtually no mess. They also happen to be the perfect material for making leaf prints, as we discovered by accident when my toddler colored on a leaf and smacked it on a piece of paper in a fit of rage. His oncoming tantrum was thankfully deflected when we noticed the print left behind.

After experimenting a bit, we found that parchment paper was the perfect match for our leaf pressings, with a slippery surface that grabs right on to the tempera. A big bonus is that it dries super fast, plus the transparent quality of the paper allows the prints to double as simple sun catchers when hung in a window.

Read on for instructions on how to leaf press with tempera sticks and make your autumn an artsy one. Check out our Boredom Busters for Kids Guide for more crafts like this, including our list of 100 awesome art projects for kids. Or, bring some royal flair to your fall with our leaf crown craft.

If you need the world’s easiest homemade playdough recipe, look no further. My kids love playing with clay, but our store-bought playdough always seems to dry out or end up jumbled in a mixed-up mash of muddy colors. That’s when we take matters into our own hands and whip up an easy batch of homemade playdough.

And when I say easy, I mean EASY. This playdough recipe uses only three ingredients that we always have in the kitchen—flour, salt, and oil. I candidly shudder at playdough recipes that include ingredients like “cream of tartar”. (Who has that on hand? Not me, anyway…)

Read on for our easy playdough recipe that comes together in just a few minutes. Then visit our Boredom Busters for Kids guide for more at-home activities, from awesome art projects to fun Magna-Tiles building ideas.

Run up the Rocky Steps and head on in to the Philadelphia Museum of Art for a creative family outing at one of the country's largest art museums.

What Philly kid doesn't love a romp up the Rocky Steps? It's a rite of passage to run up those iconic stairs and strike a victorious pose--but the real question is when was the last time you went inside to see the astounding art collection behind that famous facade? To take that a step (ha!) further, have you ventured into those glorious galleries with kids in tow? Though art museums aren't always the most obvious spot for young kids, the Philadelphia Museum of Art is hands-down our family's museum of choice, where you'll find some of the city's most creative kids' programs and engaging educators at a place that transcends age. Did I mention kids are always...FREE?

Here are all of the things we love about visiting the Philadelphia Museum of Art with kids, including a list of some of our favorite galleries, programs, and insider tips. Visit our Guide to Philly Museums for more reviews like this, and browse our list of 50 indoor places to explore when it's too cold or rainy outside, featuring museums, playspaces, and more.