10 FALL ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS: CREATIVE PLAY FOR COOL WEATHER
When it comes to sensory play, there really isn’t such a thing as the “best season.” Fortunately, kids can enjoy hands-on play all year round! Yet, somehow, fall always seems to bring a little extra magic with it. The cool air, natural vibrant colors, crunchy leaves, and pumpkin seeds—autumn opens the door to so many unique multi-sensory experiences.
And the most exciting part? You can mix it up between cozy indoor activities and exciting outdoor adventures! Whether you’re spending the day apple picking and exploring fall festivals or keeping things cozy with a kitchen-table craft, the season makes it easy to keep little hands (and minds) engaged.
That’s why today, I’m rounding up some of my favorite fall activities for kids. First up: seasonal art, crafts, and sensory play ideas designed to make at-home days more fun and meaningful. After that, I’ll cover all of the festive ways you can celebrate the season with outdoor fun.
Are you ready to make the most of your little one’s golden autumn days? Let’s dive in!
10 Fall Activities for Kids: At-Home Fall Crafts and Sensory Play
Color Changing Tree Crafts: These color-changing trees are always exciting! All you need is two white cups, markers, and an X-acto knife to create a rotating fall foliage effect.
Printable Fall Activity Pack: This fall activity pack features coloring pages, matching games, and corn mazes to help practice a variety of early learning skills.
Fall Leaf Suncatcher: Print out a leaf template and cut out the center. Place a piece of contact paper onto the back, sticky side up, and let kids layer tissue paper for a stained-glass effect. Then, hang it against the window!
Crayon Leaf Prints: Place leaves under a sheet of paper and have kids color over them with crayons. Once they’re finished, they’ll have a unique piece of artwork totally inspired by nature!
Leaf Pile (Sensory Bin): Fill a bin with dried (or artificial) leaves and tuck in fall-themed items—like mini hedgehogs, pumpkin erasers, or small stones. Then, kids can scoop, dig, and discover!
Cinnamon Playdough: Add a dash of cinnamon to this taste-safe playdough recipe! It’s a cozy, sensory-rich way to build fine motor skills.
Hand-Painted Trees: Paint a tree trunk on a sheet of paper. Kids can dip their hands in fall-colored paint and stamp “leaves” on the branches. It’s texturally engaging, and you get a neat keepsake out of it!
Fall Sensory Wall: Remember the outdoor sensory wall DIY I shared? Same idea here. Attach anything from leaves to orange string lights to the wall and let kids explore!
Pumpkin Seed Mosaic: Draw a pumpkin on a piece of paper. Then, add a thin layer of glue, and have kids drop dyed pumpkin seeds to create a mosaic!
Paper Bag Scarecrows: Set up a “scarecrow creation station” with paper bags, construction paper, and googly eyes. Each one turns out adorably unique!
Outdoor Fall Adventures for Kids
Go apple picking: There’s something so special about going apple picking with kiddos! They achieve a huge sense of accomplishment from picking the perfect batch, which can also help boost their self-esteem. Best of all? You can make a yummy seasonal treat afterwards!
Explore a corn maze: To promote problem-solving skills, memory, and spatial awareness, go get lost in a corn maze with your littles. Not only can it be an exciting change of pace, but it’s also a great way to get outdoors and enjoy a little fresh air.
Visit a pumpkin patch: Similar to apple picking, choosing pumpkins offers a unique, sensory-rich experience. As kids explore the patch, they get to practice gross motor skills, fine motor skills, and language development! Just think of all the new things they get to explore. Not to mention, finally finding their “perfect” pumpkin is an excellent way to foster a sense of independence.
Play in leaf piles: Loved the leaf pile sensory bin, but prefer to take it outdoors? No problem! To really elevate the experience, use an actual leaf pile! Every kid has to do it at least once.
Have an outdoor picnic: Planning an outdoor picnic is such a special way to start this harvest season. Grab a basket and fill your snackbox set with fall-inspired treats! Think homemade snack bars, pumpkin-spice rice crispy treats, or a simple fruit bowl. Easy, delicious, and a memory you’ll never forget.
Create a fall-themed sensory path: Want a last-minute outdoor activity that doesn’t require leaving the house? Create a sensory path! All you have to do is lay a small pile of leaves on a flat, non-slip surface, and let your kids crunch away. Between the sound and texture, it’s an engaging way to provide an afternoon full of fun.
How to Enjoy Fall Season with Kids
If you’re wondering how to soak up all that autumn magic without feeling overwhelmed, you’re not alone! Maybe you want to keep things budget-friendly and relaxing without having to leave the house (totally doable!). Other times, you may want to plan an action-packed day full of outdoor-themed activities.
No matter what’s on your itinerary, one thing remains true for all parents… We often feel like we’re racing to squeeze in every bit of fall fun before we blink and it’s suddenly winter. But here’s the good news: there are so many simple, easy ways to incorporate the season into your routine.
Sometimes, the easiest activities create the most unforgettable memories. Nature walks crunching on leaves, baking apple pie muffins in the kitchen together, creating hand-painted fall foliage. These little moments remind us that magic isn’t in the planning, it’s in being together!
Other times, the real magic is simply seeing fall through your kid’s eyes. It might be wandering through a pumpkin patch, moseying through a local fall festival, or planning a themed picnic in the backyard. These outings may take a little more effort, but they’re far from extravagant! And to your kids, they feel like the biggest adventures.
So, plan your season in a way that reflects what matters most to you and which memories you want your kids to hold onto. They won’t remember what you skipped—they’ll just remember the laughter, the mess, and the magic of imagining, creating, and exploring through the season.
Celebrate fall with these exciting indoor AND outdoor activities!
A new season comes around, and you begin scrambling for exciting themed activities—I totally get it! But if this post has shown you anything, I hope that it’s that celebrating fall doesn’t have to be stressful, expensive, or overwhelming. From simple indoor crafts to easy outdoor excursions, there are plenty of ways to celebrate autumn in a way that feels memorable and engaging to kids—no matter their age!
Looking for ways to transform your home into a space that sparks creativity and connection year-round? Order our new book, Playful by Design! It’s an easy-to-follow guide designed to show you all the best ways to enhance playtime and foster essential developmental skills.
For more seasonal sensory activities, check out the Mothercould blog! I also share my favorite kid-approved recipes, helpful how-to guides, and creative ways to encourage developmental growth. Also, don’t forget to join Mothercould In Your Pocket—your resource for all things that make parenting easier and more exciting. You can find activity packs, play recipes, helpful tips, and cleaning hacks—as soon as you join!
