“Fall is in the air and on the ground” is what Amelia Bedelia says in my 8-year-old daughter’s favorite Autumn-themed book: Amelia Bedelia’s First Apple Pie. Like me, she loves all things fall.
In our family, welcoming this season is a big deal. Not just because we have four birthdays to celebrate in October (gasp!), but because it’s our favorite season of the year.
Trees are bursting in color and vibrancy, pumpkin spiced lattes fill the air at local coffee shops, pumpkin patches await excited children and adults, chili and bonfires warm your insides, football games are in full swing, and so much more.
There's no doubt, fall is the perfect season to savor memories with your family. Here are 20 activities I hope will help make this autumn season the best it can be for you and your family.
20 Easy & Fun Fall Activities for Your Family
1. Rake leaves into piles. Kids will rake and play in the leaves for hours. Be sure to relive your childhood and jump in the leaves with them.
2. Roast pumpkin seeds. After pumpkin carving, have your kids google recipes for the seeds. You can find all kinds of sweet or salty recipes. Roasted seeds are a yummy and healthy snack.
3. Host a backyard dinner party. Play some relaxing music. Make a bulk soup or chili. Put up some lights and invite your friends.
4. Collect acorns and leaves. Have your kids make a craft out of their nature collection and help them hot glue their findings to a canvas or construction paper.
5. Go to the library and check out Autumn-themed Children’s books. There are so many adorable and beautifully illustrated books. Get in the spirit and read them each night to your kids.
6. Stop at a roadside farm stand. Buy local and take your time exploring the names of all the different apples, berries, and produce. Talk to your kids about the hard work required for a bountiful harvest and how you’re enjoying the fruit of the labor.
7. Go on a nature walk. Play the game “I Spy” with your kids and have them find something interesting. Talk about the changes taking place in nature and on the trees.
8. Surprise friends with pumpkins wrapped in a ribbon on their porch. Our friends did this for us one year and we loved it. Your friends will appreciate it.
9. Schedule a professional photo session. You might as well get a head start on your Christmas card and utilize the colorful backdrops in nature. Plan while most photographers aren’t swamped in holiday sessions.
10. Make home-made chili. Delicious chili recipes are endless. There are so many variations and anyone on a diet can find a recipe they can eat. Don’t forget the cornbread or cinnamon rolls as a side.
11. Bake pumpkin pie, pumpkin scones, and pumpkin chocolate chip cookies. My girls made pumpkin pie with me the other day and they loved the process from mixing, baking, and waiting for it to set. They ate it for the next few days and want to make more!
12. Take a trip to Hobby Lobby. Get inspired by filling your home with cozy fall décor. Have your kids pick out a fall craft.
13. Print photos off your phone and send them to Grandparents. If you’re like me, you’re probably due for sending photos of the kids to your parents. Send them your fall photos with a sweet card in the mail.
14. Make an autumn-inspired wreath. Pinterest has endless ideas for DIY wreaths that look tasteful and are easy to make.
15. Gather friends together to watch your favorite football team. Make some appetizers and enjoy the game days together. It’s even more fun when your teams are rivals.
16. Host a cookie exchange. Last year, I made invitations on PicMonkey.com, texted moms to meet at my house and bring their favorite fall inspired goodie. We had a blast exchanging sweets and talking over coffee and cider.
17. Decorate Pumpkins. Kids love being creative with their pumpkins. You can paint them, put glitter on them, spray paint them, draw faces with markers, put string for hair on them, write sayings with gold sharpies, and more. Kick it up a notch!
18. Make a gratitude tree. Have your kids cut out a tree with paper, draw and cut out leaves and put what they are thankful for on each leaf. Tape it on the wall in your kitchen or living room to see each day.
19. Fill mason jars or glass hurricane jars with candy corn. Set an LED candle or artificial flowers on top of the candy. It’s a cheap and easy way to decorate your house and no doubt your kids will love it too.
20. Build a blanket fort. While the weather is so pleasant, have your kids collect blankets or sheets to make a fort outside. Play with them and serve hot chocolate or chai tea. I guarantee you they will love it!
Which number would you like to attempt first? I'm going for #13!
Samantha Krieger is the author of Quiet Time: A 30-day Devotional Retreat for Moms in the Trenches. Her writing appears regularly on Her View From Home, TODAY Parenting, KirkCameron.com, and For the Family. Connect with her on Instagram and Facebook.
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