Fall is the perfect time for parents to spend time with their children doing fun, autumn-inspired activities such as taking a fall nature walk or cooking a nice homely meal together. As the temperatures begin to cool and the leaves begin to change, this is an opportunity to get your child involved in fun and educational seasonal activities. 

In this article, we’ll look at the top autumn activities that parents and preschoolers can do together in the coming months. The great news: many of these activities can be done in a local park or your own backyard. 

Embracing Fall: Why This Season is Great For Quality Family Time

The fall season always brings to mind the scent of pumpkin-spiced candles, cozy sweaters, and nights by the fire. There are a number of reasons why the next few months are considered some of the best for spending quality time with family. 

Not only is it full of traditions and celebrations but it is also a great opportunity to spend plenty of time outdoors in the fresh autumnal air. While the summer may be already gone, this doesn’t mean that you can’t find plenty of ways to enjoy the season with your children in tow. 

As a parent, there are many fun and interesting ways that you can get your child involved in fall activities for preschoolers. Not only will these activities allow your child to continue enjoying the outdoors as the colder weather approaches but they will also teach them about the environment that is changing around them.  

Take them outside to collect fall leaves and acorns. Spend time watching birds collect seeds while walking through local parks and nature reserves. Explore fall fruits and vegetables in your local farmers’ market or grocery store. 

5 Fun Ways to Celebrate Fall With Your Preschooler

Having a preschooler is a lot of fun! Their personality is shining through every single day and their creativity knows no bounds. So, why not draw on their budding curiosity by including them in several autumn-inspired activities for young children. 

Below, are five of our favorite fall activities that all preschoolers will love: 

1 – Pumpkin Sensory Bag

An autumn-inspired pumpkin sensory bag is a great way to get your preschoolers and toddlers excited about the fall season. As we all know, pumpkins are a staple during the autumn days. That makes these fruits an ideal (and messy) sensory experience for young children. 

Simply fill a Ziploc bag with the seeds and insides of a pumpkin. You can throw in other fall-inspired surprises such as a leaf-shaped plastic toy or stickers such as and add candy corn. Then give it to your child to explore and see how many items they can find. 

2 – Make Window Art out of Fall Leaves

The reds and yellows of fall leaves are some of the most beautiful sights that you see in nature during the autumn months. So, why not get your preschooler to help you make some lovely window art using craft fall leaves? 

Using a white coffee filter, cut out leaf shapes for your child and lay them out on a table along with paint, crayons, or coloring pencils. Mix various shades of red, yellow, and orange to create the perfect fall leaves. Once the coloring is all done, use double-sided sticky tape and hang the leaves up in the window together for all your neighbors to admire. 

3 – Bake Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

Baking is a great way to spend quality time with your children during the fall season. There are so many comforting and delicious treats that are perfect for this time of year. One of our favorites is pumpkin chocolate chip cookies. These cookies taste just like autumn and are an amazing scrumptious treat to enjoy during the colder evenings. 

All you need is: 

• Pure pumpkin puree
• Melted butter
• Granulated sugar
• Eggs
• Vanilla extract
• Pumpkin pie spice
• Baking powder & soda
• All-purpose flour
• Salt
• Chocolate chips

Asking your child to help you bake is a great way to spend quality time together. Not only are they getting them to engage in a fun fall cooking activity for preschoolers but it’s the perfect activity for improving their receptive language skills and fine motor skills. 

For further baking instructions, check out this recipe on Foodie Crush.

4 – Fall Nature Walk

When the leaves start to change color is the ideal time to take toddlers and preschoolers on a fall nature walk or scavenger hunt. This will get your child curious and engaged about the changes in their surroundings. Many early learning centers recommend going on nature walks as it encourages children to develop important cognitive skills such as scientific inquiry. 

Make a list of all the things that you might see on your walk and ask your child to point them out to you. Take a notebook and some coloring pencils so that you can draw pictures and make leaf stencils. Ask prompting questions such as: 

“What do you notice about November?”

“What is the weather like on our nature walk?”

“What colors do you see when you look at the leaves?”

One of the best ways to celebrate the autumn season as a family is by getting out in the fresh air and observing all the wonderful changes that the season brings with it. 

5 – Make Apple Prints

Similar to pumpkins, apples are an iconic part of autumn. Think of warm apple cider and a delicious apple pie. But, they also make great craft supplies. Apple printing is a simple yet creative activity that the whole family will enjoy. 

You’ll need apples cut in halves or quarters, pieces of white paper, and watercolors. Show your preschooler how to dip the apple in the paint and print interesting shapes on the paper. Afterwards you can display your artwork up in your home.

Easy Fall Activities to Enjoy With Your Family Today

Every season is a new opportunity for your child to learn about the world around them – autumn is no different. Here at Vivvi, we encourage children to explore the interests that pique their curiosity the most. Whether that is science, music, reading or exploring in nature. 

As part of our early learning program, we incorporate an inquiry-based learning approach to inspire your children to develop vital early childhood skills through a range of engaging and fun activities. Our experienced early childhood educators meet you where you are: in the office, in one of our NYC campuses, or in-home.  
For more information about our early learning program, book a virtual tour or get in touch with the Vivvi team today!