When the weather starts to cool and the leaves begin to change color, your child will undoubtedly be looking for new activities to keep them busy. Don’t worry! We’ve got a number of fall activities for kids—whether your child is in preschool or elementary school. Take a peek at our favorite fall activities like baking a pie, carving a pumpkin and going on an autumn-themed scavenger hunt!
8 Fall Activities for Kids in Preschool
Collect Leaves for an Art Project
As the leaves start to turn, it can be fun to show your little one the colors of the new season. Start by going on a “nature hike” around the neighborhood, collecting colorful leaves as you go. Once you’re home, have your child create a beautiful art piece by using glue to add leaves onto a piece of paper!
Have a Picnic at the Park
To take advantage of the gorgeous autumn weather, pack up a healthy lunch and head to a nearby park. Bring some of your child’s fall favorites like roasted pumpkin seeds, warm apple cider and a tasty dessert like apples drizzled with caramel sauce. Don’t forget the blanket!
Capture a Cute Pumpkin Patch Photo
Whether you’re able to find a local pumpkin patch or simply take advantage of the nearest grocery store parking lot for a makeshift pumpkin patch, it’s a great idea to document this time in your little one’s life. Throw on a cute Halloween costume for extra “aw” factor!
Make Pumpkin Playdough | Natural Beach Living
Looking for fall activities for kids that can be done indoors? We’ve got you covered. Not only is this pumpkin playdough super easy to make—it smells amazing too! Your preschooler will have a blast making this playdough and even more fun cutting out fun shapes with fall-themed cookie cutters.
Go On a Scavenger Hunt | How Wee Learn
By the time your child is in preschool, it’s most likely the first fall they will remember. Take advantage of this time and showcase all the amazing changes happening outdoors. A scavenger hunt is a great way to do this! Walk around the neighborhood or nearby park with your child and see how many acorns you can find, or how many different colors of leaves you can discover.
Jump in a Pile of Leaves
There is nothing glamorous about this fall activity, but your child is guaranteed to love it. When you’re doing yard work, make some extra time to pile all the leaves and let your little one jump! Once they’re done with the fun, ask for a little extra help picking the leaves back up.
Take a Family Bike Ride
The beautiful weather of fall certainly doesn’t happen year-round, so it’s important to take advantage of it while you can! When you get an especially gorgeous day, round up the family and head out for a fun bike ride around the neighborhood.
Create Turkey Art
It’s one of the most common crafts done around Thanksgiving, but your child will love seeing how their handprint can turn into a turkey just like that! Not only is this a fun way to create some nice artwork for your fridge, but it’s also a great way to remember when your preschooler’s hands were this tiny.
9 Fall Activities for Kids in Kindergarten
Make Caramel Apples
When your child gets a sweet tooth, caramel apples are a great fall treat to make together. Can you think of anything better than a delicious red apple bathed in gooey caramel? Use a simple caramel apple-making kit and then keep the fun going by bringing the leftover apples to your neighbors!
Visit a Local Farm | Kids Yoga Stories
Show your child where their food comes from and enjoy a day at a local farm this fall! Many farms will even have special fall activities for kids like a hayride or a corn maze.
Create a Fall Wreath | Happy Hooligans
The next time you’re trying to think of fall activities for kids, be sure to include this easy fall wreath. All you need to create this is a paper bag and a few artificial flowers and leaves—and your child will be so proud to hang this on a door in the house!
Build a Halloween Costume Together
Most kids start getting excited about Halloween once they’re in school, so this is the perfect time to get your child interested in helping out with their costume. Get creative and try to make one from items you have at home to save money!
Make a Pinecone Bird Feeder | The Outdoor Parent
With so many pinecones on the ground during fall, it’s the perfect time to build a home for your backyard birds. Using just a few simple ingredients—like peanut butter, oatmeal, string, and birdseed—your child can create a bird feeder in no time!
Visit a Pumpkin Patch
Make a tradition out of visiting a local pumpkin patch each year. Many pumpkin patches have fun fall activities for kids like hay bales, hot apple cider booths and tractor rides. Your little one will look forward to this trip every fall!
Make Leaf Rubbing Art | Maternity Comfort Solutions
Your child will love this simple and fun fall activity. The first step is to take a nature walk with your child to collect several different shaped leaves. Once you’re back home, find a solid surface (like a countertop) and place a piece of white paper on top of the leaf. Have your child gently rub a Crayon over the leaf and voila! You’ve got beautiful artwork.
Fly a Kite | My Domaine
There are plenty of windy days during fall, so pick an especially windy one and head outdoors to fly a kite with your little one. Your child will love watching the kite dip and loop through the sky and the fresh air will be good for you both.
Roast Pumpkin Seeds
As your child is carving their pumpkin, have them scoop out the seeds inside and set them aside for future use. Pumpkin seeds are both nutritious and delicious—and they will have so much fun eating their hand-picked snack.
9 Fall Activities for Kids in Elementary School
Build a Scarecrow
There are few things more festive during the autumn months than a scarecrow. Have your kids help gather supplies like clothing, a broomstick and some hay. Don’t forget the hat on top!
Create Fall-Themed Goop | Sara J Creations
There’s no denying that kids love playing with slimy things like goop. The best part? Making the goop can be just as much fun as getting to turn it into shapes and letters afterward.
Find an Apple Orchard to Visit | Lasso the Moon
There are few things more freeing for a child than running around an orchard picking apples. It’s also a great tradition to begin with your family. Once you’ve gotten home, try making some caramel apples for a tasty treat!
Carve a Pumpkin
A couple of days before Halloween, pick up a few large pumpkins for some fall fun! Closely monitor your child when they are using the pumpkin carving kit to avoid accidents from the cutting knife. Get creative with funny faces and other cute designs.
Get a Game of Touch Football Going
When the weather starts to cool off, it’s the perfect time to get the kids outdoors for a fun game of touch football—one of the most classic fall activities for kids. This is a great excuse to get your neighbors outside too!
Dress Up Your Door for Halloween | Red Tricycle
As Halloween approaches, get your child excited for the holiday by decorating your front door in preparation for trick-or-treaters. Check out these 10 delightful ways to dress-up your Halloween Door from Red Tricycle!
Bake a Pie
If you’re looking for tasty fall activities for kids, this one tops the list! Whether you prefer pumpkin or apple, baking a pie with your child can be a great way to spend a cool autumn day. Here are some great fall pie recipes to check out.
Have a Movie Day
If you come across a blustery fall day, what better way to spend it than by making popcorn and enjoying a movie? Have your child help pop the corn and spice things up with fun popcorn flavorings.
Make a Thankful List
Teach your child the importance of being grateful by building a thankful list in preparation for Thanksgiving. Sit down together and write down the things you’re most thankful for—from family to the great fall weather.
I hope this collection of fall activities for kids will give you some fun things to do with your kids this season! If you have ideas of your own, I’d love to hear more and add them to my fall bucket list.
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