As the leaves change color and the air turns crisp, fall presents the perfect opportunity to make the most of the season with your children. Whether it’s crafting with nature, preparing for cooler weather, or getting ready for school, these 36 child-friendly fall life hacks will help you and your family embrace all that autumn has to offer.
1. Nature Walk Scavenger Hunt
Transform an ordinary walk into an adventure by creating a fall-themed scavenger hunt. Include items like acorns, pinecones, different-colored leaves, and more.
2. Leaf Pressing
Collect leaves during a nature walk and press them between heavy books for a few days. Use them for art projects or make a fall leaf garland.
3. DIY Pumpkin Spice Playdough
Make homemade playdough with pumpkin spice for a sensory experience that smells just like fall.
4. Apple Stamping
Cut apples in half, dip them in paint, and stamp them onto paper for fun and easy fall-themed artwork.
5. Autumn Scented Sensory Bins
Create sensory bins with items like dried corn, acorns, small pumpkins, and cinnamon sticks to bring the scents and textures of fall to playtime.
6. DIY Leaf Rubbing Art
Place a leaf under a sheet of paper and rub over it with a crayon to create a beautiful leaf imprint.
7. Hot Chocolate Station
Set up a hot chocolate station with marshmallows, whipped cream, and sprinkles for a cozy treat on a chilly fall day.
8. Create a Fall Reading Nook
Set up a cozy corner with blankets, pillows, and fall-themed books to encourage reading during the cooler months.
9. Bake Apple Chips
Slice apples thinly, sprinkle them with cinnamon, and bake them for a healthy and delicious snack.
10. Pumpkin Bowling
Use small pumpkins as bowling balls and paper towel rolls as pins for a fun and festive game.
11. Fall-Themed Storytime
Pick out fall-themed books and have a special storytime session with your kids, complete with cozy blankets and hot cider.
12. DIY Bird Feeder
Make a bird feeder with pinecones, peanut butter, and birdseed to help feed the birds during the fall.
13. Personalized Trick-or-Treat Bags
Let your children decorate their own trick-or-treat bags with fabric markers, stickers, and other craft supplies.
14. Nature Collage
Collect leaves, twigs, and other natural items to create a fall collage on paper or canvas.
15. Fall-Themed Charades
Write down fall activities or objects on pieces of paper and play a game of charades with the family.
16. Pumpkin Decorating
Instead of carving, try painting or using stickers to decorate pumpkins with your kids.
17. Leaf Pile Jumping
Rake up a big pile of leaves and let the kids jump in – it’s a classic fall activity that never gets old!
18. Make a Fall Bucket List
Create a list of all the fun fall activities you want to do as a family and check them off as you go.
19. Autumn-Inspired Bath Bombs
Make bath time fun with homemade bath bombs that smell like autumn, using essential oils like cinnamon and clove.
20. Apple Pie Smoothies
Blend apples, cinnamon, and yogurt for a healthy smoothie that tastes like apple pie.
21. DIY Fall Wreaths
Use natural materials like leaves, acorns, and pinecones to create a beautiful fall wreath for your front door.
22. Nature-Themed Puzzles
Create puzzles by cutting up nature photos or drawings into pieces and letting your kids put them back together.
23. DIY Apple Cider
Make homemade apple cider with your kids by simmering apples, cinnamon, and cloves on the stove.
24. Cozy Movie Night
Plan a fall-themed movie night with warm blankets, popcorn, and your family’s favorite autumn films.
25. Mason Jar Lanterns
Make lanterns by painting or decorating mason jars and adding a small candle or LED light inside.
26. Fall Leaf Suncatchers
Use contact paper and colorful leaves to create beautiful suncatchers to hang in your windows.
27. Apple Picking
Take the family to a local orchard for a day of apple picking, and then bake a pie or make applesauce together.
28. DIY Scarecrow
Use old clothes and straw to make a scarecrow for your yard – a fun and festive fall project.
29. Create a Fall Memory Jar
Have your kids write down their favorite fall memories and put them in a jar to read later.
30. Pumpkin Pie Playdough
Make pumpkin pie-scented playdough for a fun and fragrant fall activity.
31. Build a Fort
Use blankets, pillows, and chairs to build a cozy fort indoors for those chilly fall days.
32. Make a Gratitude Tree
Use a branch as the base and have your kids write things they’re thankful for on paper leaves, then hang them on the tree.
33. DIY Cinnamon Ornaments
Make simple ornaments with cinnamon, applesauce, and glue – they smell amazing and are fun to create.
34. Fall-Themed Bingo
Create bingo cards with fall-themed images and play a game of bingo with the family.
35. Pinecone Animals
Use pinecones, googly eyes, and craft supplies to create fun animals like owls and hedgehogs.
36. Homemade Granola
Make fall-flavored granola with oats, nuts, dried fruit, and spices like cinnamon and nutmeg.
Embrace the Season with Fall Fun!
These child-friendly fall life hacks are perfect for making the most of the season with your family. From crafting and cooking to playing and exploring, these activities will help you create lasting memories and enjoy all that autumn has to offer.
Do you have any more fall ideas to share? We’d love to hear them! Submit your fall tips or stories to newcity.macaronikid.com/contact-us. Don’t forget to check out our article “Throwback Summer Outdoor Games” for more ways to enjoy time with your children!
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Macaroni KID New City—Nyack is a free local event and activities calendar, weekly e-newsletter, and website focused on fun family events and information in New City, Nyack, North Rockland, and surrounding rural areas. We gather all kinds of local family events and activities each week and add useful information about classes, family-focused local businesses, recipes, crafts, school and camp guides, and more.
Are we missing something? Please use our Submit an Event form to send us all the details! If you have original recipes, crafts, or family fall fun ideas that you would like to share with our Macaroni KID community, please email natanyab@macaronikid.com. Be sure to include a poster or image if you have one!
