What is better than fall? Enjoying fall with your kids! Preschoolers are naturally curious, interested, and eager to explore the natural world and fall offers a countless of outdoor adventures.
A Fall Nature Walk
A great way to see the changes that fall brings is to get outdoors and take a walk! Head to a natural area or local trail, or just take a walk around your neighborhood—you don’t have to go far. Look at the leaves changing, see who can find the brightest red, gold, and orange leaves, or look for animals getting ready for the winter. Notice the chill in the air, how it is getting darker earlier, and enjoy the smell in the air. Kids love the little details, and will often find more interesting things than their parents! Make sure to get outside this fall and enjoy the weather.
Leaves!
Not only are leaves fun to look at as they change on the trees, but they are fun to play in! You could turn a fall chore into a fun game by getting your kids involved in the raking—and hopefully make some epic leaf piles in the process! Jumping in leaf piles is a kid fall tradition, and the bigger the pile the better! Kids also love getting buried in the leaves and scaring their friends and family. Raking can become a whole day of fun! Besides making leaf piles, finding beautiful fall leaves can become a treasure hunt that yields leaves you can press and save. Leaf rubbings are also fun to do (with leaves that aren’t completely dry), and make amazing notecards, wrapping paper, or artwork. Simply place a leaf under a piece of paper and rub a crayon back and forth until a beautiful picture emerges! Your kids will probably be able to think of even more creative ways to use leaves for art projects or just for fun.
Apples
Apples are abundant in the fall, and there are so many ways to enjoy them. Making your own applesauce, apple butter, or caramel apples is fun and can get the whole family involved and yield a delicious treat. An old-fashioned apple peeler and slicer is so much fun for kids and produces slices that are free from skin: a plus for many kids! Apples can be baked into pies or cooked into oatmeal, or even made into fruit leather. If you have an apple tree (or a generous neighbor with one) find some fun recipes to make this fall.
Enjoy a Warm Drink Outside
Kids love everyday activities that are made a little more special. Hot chocolate and apple cider are great on a crisp fall day, but even better outside! Grab a blanket and a thermos of a delicious warm beverage and head to a local park or just your backyard. Enjoy your steaming cup outside, watching the leaves fall, enjoying the last warmth of the season, and helping your kids appreciate the changing seasons.