Everyone gets excited about seasonal activities when fall arrives. The cooler weather and changing leaves make everything more enjoyable. Now’s the perfect time to create the ultimate autumn bucket list for your family, with inspired ideas that are fun for kids of all ages. Ask what your kids want to do and check local event calendars to see what’s happening around town, and you’ll feel like you accomplished everything you could possibly want to do before winter arrives.
No matter how you spend your time, you’ll make the most of every second before the weather turns cold and gray by adding these extra special activities in CafeMom’s best autumn bucket list.
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Paint Fallen Leaves
Invite your kids on a scavenger hunt in the backyard. If they find five wide, flat leaves, they can paint them on your porch. It’s an effective way to engage their hand-eye coordination skills while painting funny faces on a new surface. You could keep the leaf creations on your porch for decor or add them to a wreath to accessorize your home for all.
Pick Apples Together
Apples contain so many micronutrients that they prevent chronic diseases if you eat them regularly. Keep your family healthy this fall by picking apples at an orchard. Your kids will have a blast and might even eat more apples at home because they had a wonderful time picking the fruit off trees themselves.
Visit a Pumpkin Patch
Local farms host pumpkin patch activities that provide so much more than gourds to take home. While your family scouts for the perfect pumpkins, you might also find festival games and costume contests at your chosen farm. Browse pumpkin patch events happening in your town to find one that has activities for the whole family. You’ll leave with plenty of pumpkins to carve and even more wonderful memories.
Go for a Hayride
Hayrides provide a chance to engage with nature. Your kids might get to pet the horse pulling the wagon before you go on a tour of a local farm. Some fall hayrides also feature costume contests, so see if you can all dress up to wear your Halloween costumes and win some treats.
Decorate Your Front Porch
Ghosts and gourds aren’t the only decor for your front porch this autumn. You could also decorate with a wreath the whole family made together. It’s the perfect addition to an autumn bucket list because everyone can get involved and weave their personalities into the final result. After selecting the greenery for your desired wreath size, add pops of color with fall foliage like:
- Fir
- Rosemary
- Huckleberry
- Magnolia
- Lavender
Your kids could also have fun personalizing it with hand-traced turkeys or tiny plastic skeletons stuck within the greenery. You’ll have something cute for your porch through the autumn season and engage your family’s love of crafting.
Bake a Pumpkin Dessert
Fall is the best time of year to enjoy pumpkin recipes. Save a few to bake with your family. You could get your kids involved with making pumpkin pie or even pumpkin ice cream.
Letting kids help in the kitchen teaches them numerous essential skills like reading, problem solving, and following directions. It could start a new tradition they look forward to each year if you get their input on which recipe you should make together.
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Attend a Football Game
There’s always something exciting happening at an autumn football game. See if there are any taking place at a nearby university, college, or high schools. Or even pro or semi-pro games. Your kids could dress up in their favorite team’s colors and cheer in the stands while the whole family watches. Take lots of pictures to remember every moment, especially if you get to celebrate a win at the end of the night.
If your kids are too young to understand or pay attention to an entire football game, there are still ways you can enjoy the event together. Set up a picnic blanket to watch the game from a grassy spot with your children’s favorite toys. Walk them around the field to see if there are any activities, such as a face painting booth. You can always go home a bit early if they get exhausted from your big football adventure.
Go for a Hike
Even if you don’t live on a mountainside, there are plenty of opportunities to go for a hike. Consider if your town has nature trails or meandering paths around a reservoir. Your family will get some extra exercise while admiring all the beauty of fall foliage.
Spending time in nature can even improve your mental health, which might be exactly what your kids need if they feel stressed about upcoming fall midterms. Just make sure everyone wears comfortable walking shoes, sunscreen, and a light jacket in case there’s a chilly wind.
