Easy November Crafts and Activities for Young Children | Autumn Lantern Making & Quiet Alternatives to Fireworks
Hello GroWild Families,
November is upon us and the woodland leaves are falling fast, creating wonderful crunchy carpets beneath our feet and the evenings are drawing in earlier each day. It's time to embrace the cosiness of the season while still getting out and exploring.
As the days grow shorter and the evenings draw in, we’re turning our attention to festivals that celebrate light, warmth, and togetherness. This time of year is a cross-quarter point on the seasonal wheel, halfway between Samhain and Yule (the Winter Solstice, December 21st) when many traditions honour the idea of carrying our inner light into the darker months. It’s a natural moment to pause, share kindness, and find comfort in simple acts of giving and community.
This month, we’ll be making Kindness Lanterns to celebrate the light we each bring into the world, enjoying a fun Glow Hunt that’s perfect for dusky evenings, and sharing some wonderful local family adventures to help you make the most of November.
Wrap up warm and let's welcome winter together!
1st November, 10 - 2pm
Broadland Country Park
Dinojam performances, autumn woodland treasure hunt and craft activities.
1st November, 5 - 9pm
Wroxham Barns
Gentler fireworks, rides, mini-golf, go-karts & live music.
1st November, 3 - 9pm
The Norfolk Showground
Fireworks & funfair event with live music, Dick & Dom, street food & rides.
5th November, 5.30 - 9.30pm
Highfield Farm, Rollesby
Wildlife friendly firework display, children’s entertainers and funfair.
5th or 7th November, 10 - 11.30am
GroWild Kindergarten, Sprowston
Wintry themed nature crafts, campfire tales and nature exploration in the woods.
18th November, 6 - 7.30pm
Sweet Briar Marshes, Sloughbottom Park
Evening family event investigating glowing insects and exploring nature in a low-light.
A Quiet Alternative To Fireworks For Children - Bonfire Night Glowstick Fun
As the evenings draw in and November darkness arrives earlier each day, we've created a magical activity to keep your little adventurers entertained: The Great Glow Hunt!
This simple treasure hunt has the addition of the wonder of glowing light, making it perfect for cosy autumn evenings when you need an activity that works both indoors and out. It's also a brilliant, quieter alternative to traditional Bonfire Night celebrations. It has sparkle and excitement without the loud bangs that can overwhelm young children.
Armed with torches, your little ones become explorers searching for hidden glowsticks around your home and garden. The activity takes just minutes to set up but provides endless entertainment and we've made it even easier with our free downloadable clue sheet. Simply print, cut out and choose between picture clues for your youngest treasure hunters or word clues for older children ready for a challenge.
Whether you're looking for a gentle Bonfire Night activity, a rainy November evening entertainer or a new family tradition as winter approaches, The Great Glow Hunt brings a little magic to those darker days.
Download your free clue sheet and follow our step-by-step instructions below to get started!
The Great Glow Hunt - Instructions for Grown-ups
What you'll need:
- Glowsticks
- Torches (you could use your phone)
- Optional: Our free downloadable clue sheet (with pictures for younger children and words for older ones)
How to set up:
1. Choose your time - Best done at dusk or after dark for maximum glow effect!
2. Download and prepare clues (optional) - Print our free clue sheet and cut them out. We've included picture clues for younger children and word clues for pre-readers and early readers. Choose the ones that suit your child's age and ability.
3. Activate the glowsticks - Crack and shake them to get them glowing brightly before hiding.
4. Hide the glowsticks - Pop them around your home and/or garden. For younger children, keep them visible but in different rooms. For older children, tuck them behind cushions, under plant pots, or in bushes.
5. Add your clues - If using our clues, hand them to your child one at a time, or put them with each glowstick for them to follow in order.
6. Explain the rules - Show children how to use their torches safely and set boundaries (which rooms/areas are included in the hunt).
Safety note: Supervise torch use and remind children not to shine lights in anyone's eyes. Supervise any outdoor searching and stair use.
November’s book of the month is Hedgehugs by Steve Wilson
As autumn deepens and our woodland friends prepare for winter, Hedgehugs is the perfect November read.
This heart warming story follows Horace the hedgehog as he searches for the perfect hug…a tricky task when you're covered in prickles! The tale beautifully captures themes of friendship, problem-solving and acceptance, while gently introducing children to the idea of hibernation and seasonal changes happening in nature right now.
With gorgeous autumnal illustrations and a touching message about finding creative solutions, we love this story at GroWild because it’s a wonderful conversation starter for talking about which animals your children might spot preparing for winter on your woodland walks this month.
Dear Families
As autumn deepens and the evenings grow darker, this is the perfect time to pause and celebrate light, warmth, and kindness. Across many traditions, this turning of the season reminds us that we can all be light-bringers, sharing warmth, generosity and care with those around us as winter approaches.
The tradition of making and carrying lanterns through the November darkness feels especially close to our Forest School philosophy. It’s a beautiful way to embrace the season rather than retreat from it, and to show our little ones that even the smallest light can make a difference in the dark.
We thought you might enjoy creating Kindness Lanterns at home. Whether you use this as an opportunity for an autumn craft or an evening walk together, I hope it brings a little extra warmth and light to your November.
Holly x
What you'll need:
- Autumn leaves (collected on your woodland walks!)
- Colourful tissue paper / children’s drawings
- Clean jam/glass jars
- PVA glue
- A paintbrush
- Cotton thread or wool
- Battery-operated tea lights
How to make them:
1. Leaf collecting adventure - Head out on an autumn walk and gather colourful leaves in different shapes and sizes. Choose leaves that aren't too dry or brittle, as they'll crumble when you glue them.
2. Press your leaves - Once home, place your leaves between sheets of paper and press them inside a heavy book for 1-2 days until they're flat and dry. This helps them stick better to the jar!
3. Tear the tissue paper into small pieces or cut round the colourful drawings.
4. Start decorating - Paint a section of your jar with PVA glue, then carefully press a leaf/paper onto it, making sure glue covers the whole leaf/paper. Hold the edges down for a moment to secure them.
5. Seal it in - Brush more glue over the top of the leaf/paper to seal it down. Don't worry if it looks messy – it'll dry clear!
6. Keep going - Add more leaves and paper, overlapping them to create beautiful patterns. Each item should be glued underneath and on top.
7. Final coat - Once you're happy with your arrangement, paint a layer of PVA glue over the entire outside of the jar. This evens out the finish and gives a lovely soft glow.
8. Add colour - While the glue is still wet, wind colourful cotton thread or wool around your jar. This secures the leaves and adds a gorgeous decorative touch.
9. Let it dry - Leave your lanterns to dry overnight (or at least a few hours).
10. Light it up - Pop a battery-operated tea light inside and enjoy the warm, autumn glow!
Safety note: Always use battery-operated tea lights with young children, never real flames.
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The GroWild Team