Crisp air, crunchy leaves, cozy scarves, apple cider, and a little pumpkin spice. Fall is in the air here at Weaver Child Development Center (CDC)!
We love honoring the changing seasons and making the most of the time we have together. As warm summer days shift into cooler fall weather, there are still many chances to go outside. Explore, create, and later bring some of that discovery indoors.
Nature is full of possibilities because there is always something new to notice, collect, question, or create with. Whether kids compare fallen leaf colors, smell new scents, or make art from nature, each day offers discovery.
These fun fall activities bring that same spirit of discovery home. They give families a chance to enjoy the season together.
1. Make a Trip to an Orchard an Autumn Tradition
Apple picking. Pumpkin patches. Corn mazes. Hayrides. Why choose just one?
A trip to a local farm or orchard lets your family have several autumn activities in one place. Luckily, Northeast Ohio has plenty to choose from.
We recommend checking out some local farms with fall festivals. We like Nickajack Farms’ Pumpkin Days, Maize Valley’s Fall Harvest Festival, and Arrowhead Orchard’s Fall Festival. They all offer many outdoor fall activities including kids’ play areas, farm animals, fall treats, wagon rides, and more.
Steps:
- Pack comfortable shoes, layered clothing, snacks, and a towel for the ride home in case things get muddy.
- Purchase tickets in advance if your chosen farm offers online admission.
- Head to the farm and start exploring!
- Pick apples or pumpkins. Tackle a corn maze. Take a hayride. Drink apple cider. Enjoy whatever catches your family’s eye.
- Bring home apples, pumpkins, mums, treats, or another reminder of your adventure.
On the drive home, ask your children what they liked the best, what surprised them, and what they would like to do next year. These conversations give children an opportunity to reflect on their day and can turn a simple family outing into one of your autumn traditions.
Pro Tip: Check whether your local farm has a market or farm stand. You may be able to enjoy the fall atmosphere and bring home seasonal treats without buying festival admission.
2. Go on a Leaf Color Match Walk
Fall puts on quite the color show. A leaf color match walk is an easy way to encourage kids to slow down and closely look at how things change.
For this activity, grab a few free paint swatches from your local hardware store. Or download this handy color wheel we made. Then turn a walk through your neighborhood, park, or backyard into a color hunt. This is one of those simple fall activities for kids that can lead in all kinds of directions depending on what your child notices.
Steps:
- Gather your color sample or paint swatches, comfortable shoes, and clothespins if desired.
- Head outside and search for leaves and plants that match your colors.
- Compare different shades. How is one green different from another? Can you find an exact match for that deep orange?
- Collect a few fallen leaves and observe their colors, shapes, edges, and textures.
- Use clothespins to attach leaves to their closest color matches.
Pro Tip: Bring some of your leaves home. You can use them for two more activities on this list!
3. Painting Pumpkins
Carving pumpkins is one of the classic fun fall activities. But sometimes, you want the pumpkin decoration without all the seeds, carving tools, and mess.
That’s where painting pumpkins comes in. Instead of giving children a design to copy, let them decide what their pumpkin should become. A ghost, an abstract design, a silly face, polka dots, rainbows, or the Loch Ness Monster? The possibilities are endless!
Steps:
- Gather a pumpkin, acrylic craft paint, brushes, a palette or paper plate, water, and paper towels.
- Wipe dirt from the pumpkin with a damp cloth and let it dry.
- Set up your supplies on a flat, easy-to-clean surface.
- Portion out paint onto your palette or paper plate, set out brushes, have a cup of water handy to clean brushes between colors.
- Paint your pumpkins!
- Let the pumpkin dry completely before displaying it.
Pro Tip: Cover your table with newspaper or a disposable tablecloth for easy cleanup.
4. Make Leaf Art with Hapa Zome
Hapa zome is a Japanese technique that uses the natural pigments found in plants to create prints. You do it by arranging leaves and flowers between two pieces of natural fabric or paper. Then hammer the plants to leave behind their colors for stunningly detailed transfers.
Steps:
- Forage for leaves and flowers.
- Grab your canvas of choice, such as a strip of fabric, a linen tote bag, or a light piece of craft paper, and a rubber mallet or kids hammer.
- Fold your canvas in half and place your plants between the two sides of your fabric.
- Hammer across the plants to release their natural pigments.
- Gently peel the two halves apart to reveal your symmetrical design.
- Let dry completely and display your art.
This craft is messy, experimental, and a great way to bang out any frustrations. It makes a great addition to your family’s autumn activities.
Pro Tip: When foraging for materials, it is always best practice to take only as much as you need. Fallen leaves and flowers provide plenty to work with.
5. Try Fall Sensory Activities
What does fall smell like?
Cinnamon, apples, oranges, cloves, pumpkin, vanilla, and nutmeg can all bring the season to mind. Exploring scents encourages children to slow down, use their senses, describe what they notice, and connect smells with memories.
Steps:
- Gather a wide array of fall spices and foods, cotton balls, and small containers with lids
- Add a small amount of each spice, juice, or food to separate containers with a cotton ball.
- Close the containers and gently shake them.
- Smell each one together. Ask your child what they notice, whether they like the scent, and if it reminds them of anything.
- Turn it into a matching game by asking kids to pair each mystery scent with the original spice or food.
Open-ended fall sensory activities like this give children space to interpret what they experience in their own way.
Pro Tip: When you’re finished, use some of your ingredients to make a simmer pot and fill your home with the smells of fall.
6. Create Leaf Rubbing Art
After collecting leaves from other outdoor fall activities, it is time to put them to work.
Leaf rubbing art is simple enough for young children but still interesting for older kids. As the veins and shapes appear on the page, they reveal details kids might have missed outside.
Steps:
- Gather fallen leaves, white paper, and crayons. Old crayons with the wrappers removed work really well for this project.
- Working on a flat surface, place leaves under your piece of paper.
- Turn a crayon on its side and gently rub to reveal the texture of the leaf underneath.
- Move that leaf around or add different leaves and colors until you fill the page.
Try reds, oranges, yellows, and browns for traditional fall colors. Or let your child choose something unexpected. Part of the fun of leaf rubbing art is seeing where their creativity takes them.
Pro Tip: Color the space between the leaves, called the ‘negative space’, in a darker color to make the leaves stand out more.
7. Have a Cozy Fall Movie Night
Not every fall day is made for exploring outside. Sometimes, the best autumn traditions are simple. Put on cozy pajamas, grab some snacks, and curl up for movie night.
Steps:
- Grab some movie snacks like popcorn, warm homemade Chex mix, and apple cider.
- Gather plenty of blankets, pillows, and your coziest pajamas.
- Snuggle up on the couch or make a blanket nest on the floor.
- Pick a favorite fall movie. Some classics we like include Winnie the Pooh, It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, and Hocus Pocus.
- Put the phones away, settle in, and enjoy spending time together without other distractions.
Watching a movie as a family gives everyone a chance to slow down and enjoy uninterrupted time together. It can also get kids thinking and talking about what they watch. Ask what they thought about a character’s choices, what they think will happen next, or what their favorite part was. Or skip the questions altogether and just enjoy the movie!
Pro Tip: Build a blanket fort before the movie and watch from inside on a laptop or tablet. It takes a cozy movie night to a whole new level!
Bring Reggio Inspired Fun Fall Activities Home
Fall gives kids so much to explore. Leaves are changing, the air smells different, pumpkins are everywhere, and there are new things to see and discover. These autumn activities are simple ways to let kids experience the season, get creative, and follow their curiosity.
At Weaver CDC, that kind of exploration is a big part of how we learn. Whether you’re painting pumpkins, spending an afternoon at a farm, or snuggling up to watch a movie, not everything needs to be a preplanned lesson. Let your child explore, ask questions, get a little messy, and have fun!
Share Your Autumn Traditions with Weaver!
Trying one of these fall activities for kids and families? We’d love to see it! Snap a photo and tag Weaver CDC on Facebook and Instagram.
Looking for more ideas? Check our 5 Reggio Inspired Spring Break Activities and 6 Summer Activities for Kids posts!