Fall Family Activities

 

Well from the smells outside, the cooler temperatures and the changing of the leaves on the trees…I would say Fall is clearly on it’s way. If you are anything like me you are wondering what types of activities you might be able to come up with to spend some time with your children while enjoying the changing seasons. Here are some ideas for fall activities you can do with your children to keep them busy and you being able to spend quality time with them.

No Small Potato!

Items Needed:

1 Firm Sweet Potato

Toothpicks

Disposable Clear Cup

With pointy end of the potato down, help your child push 4 toothpicks into the sides of the sweet potato.  Put the pointy end of the potato into the clear cup and the fill almost to the top with lukewarm water.  Place in a sunny spot and change the water every 2-3 days.  Before you know it roots will begin to sprout along with stems and leaves!  As an extended project you can plant it 3-4 inches deep in a pot filled with moist soil.  The sweet potato is a member of the morning glory family that you can train the vines to grow wherever you want!

Backyard Camping

Items Needed:

Tent

Flashlights

Sleeping Bags

Snacks

Stories to tell

Pick a nice Saturday afternoon to set up your tent with all other items inside.  If available take time to roast marshmallows and make smores or circle around and tell stories in the dark with the flashlight!  This can be a fun time without having to be out in the woods, just the comfort of your backyard!

Eating Shapes

Items Needed:

Cookie cutters of the 4 basic shapes

Bread, Favorite sandwich fixings

Objective: Matching Shapes

Procedure: Let the child cut the bread into shapes using the four basic shapes, 2 of each shape. Have the child choose 2 of the same shape to make their sandwich. Repeat steps.

Leave Friend

Items Needed:

Variety of autumn leaves

paper

glue

pencils, pens, or crayons

Procedure: Go outside to collect a variety of leaves. Glue them to a piece of paper and use the pencil, pen, or crayons to make the creatures complete. Ex. Maple leaves can be the wings on a butterfly.

Family Fall Wreath

When the leaves start to turn in the fall take a family excursion to the local park and let your children collect the beautifully nature colored leaves. They can catch falling leaves and place them in their own bag to create a beautiful fall wreath. Place the leaves between layers of newspaper and press down with a heavy object as the newspaper will absorb the moisture.

Items Needed:

9 inch paper plate (not Styrofoam)

glue

scissors

dried leaves

ribbon

Cut out the middle of the paper plate leaving an open circle in the middle of the plate. Glue dried leaves all around the plate covering all the white of the plate. You can also add acorns, nuts or any nature items from your fall excursion to the plate. Attach a small ribbon to the top center. You have now created a beautiful fall family wreath and your children have discovered the beautiful changes that come about in the fall!

Butter for Thanksgiving Meal

The children will delight at helping with the Thanksgiving meal and what better a treat than actually making homemade butter for those delicious dinner rolls to be served.

Items Needed:

heavy cream

plastic air-tight container with lid

Pour the whipping cream into the container filling about two-thirds full. Have the children take turns shaking the container until you feel and see the butter separating. Using a colander rinse the butter slowly with cold water until the water runs clear. You can now salt to taste. Store the butter in the refrigerator ready to be spread over those warm delicious dinner rolls.

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