Fall Fun Indoors and Out

Cooler weather and falling leaves make the perfect backdrop for outdoor fun with your little one in autumn, and there is plenty to do outdoors in the fall. But what about on those rainy or surprisingly cool days, or the days you just feel like staying cozy and warm inside? We have plenty of ideas for indoor days too!

Whether you’re looking for festive fall ideas for outdoor fun or playful ideas for indoors, we’ve got you covered! Keep reading to discover some great ideas for both indoor and outdoor play this fall!

Festive Fall Ideas for Outside

Nature Walk BINGO

Nothing says outdoor fall fun like going for a walk. Kids love playing in the leaves and can enjoy more time playing actively because it isn’t so hot outside! Make your fall walk a game by playing BINGO. How many of the items can you and your child find? Can you complete BINGO in just one walk, or will it become a multiple-day event?

 

 

Click on the link above to visit Teachers Pay Teachers for a free, downloadable Autumn Walk BINGO board. 

 

Found Art Collecting

While you’re on one of your fun fall walks, take a bucket or bag along and collect found items to create art! Found item art is precisely what it sounds like; it is art made from items you find!

 

You can create found item art using natural materials or things around your home. For example, buttons, pieces of string, wrapping paper, and recycling!

 

 

The outdoors, especially in fall, is an excellent resource for found art items. Sticks, leaves, rocks, flowers, acorns, and pinecones are all perfect for creating art! Don’t worry about what or how much you’re collecting on your walk or what you will make with it, because sorting it is part of the creative process!

Apple Picking

Apple picking is a fun way to get the entire family involved in outdoor fun! If your child is too young to reach the trees, they can always pick up apples from the ground, or you can hold them up to reach!

 

 

Additionally, apple-picking farms usually offer a wide range of fun fall activities and delicious treats like apple cider donuts!

Fall Photo Shoot

If you’re the type of family who loves an organized photo shoot, fall is the perfect time to snap memorable photos! From pumpkin patches to colorful fall foliage, the autumn outdoors offers a wide range of super photo spots!

 

 

If professional photography isn’t in the budget, most smartphones take excellent photos nowadays. Ask a friend or family member to be your photographer or experiment with the timer settings. 

Cozy Fall Ideas for Inside

Indoor PJ Party

Rainy, cold fall days are the perfect time to have an all-day, indoor pajama party! Put on your coziest or zaniest PJs and just enjoy playing and snuggling indoors. Decide to have a stress-free, no-housework day and enjoy activities like watching movies, playing games, creating art, or whatever else brings you and your little ones happiness!

 

There’s no wrong way to have an indoor PJ day as long as you’re enjoying yourselves. 

 

Indoor Camping

There’s something special about a fort or indoor tent; even as adults, there’s a magical feeling when we crawl inside. Not all kids are ready (or interested) in outdoor camping, but everyone can enjoy an indoor camp!

 

Add some twinkly lights to create an outdoor, starry night effect, and eat hot dogs and hamburgers sitting on a picnic blanket or camping chairs. 

 

 

Keep the outdoor theme alive and add an LED campfire. Make s'mores over the stovetop or, even simpler, heat up s’mores Poptarts! Continue the camping vibe by telling each other stories over the campfire or by enjoying reading books aloud. 

Baking

Nothing says fall like the smell of a fresh apple or pumpkin pie baking in the oven. But any baking project that involves your kid is a fantastic indoor fall experience! Baking teaches children math, science, and literacy skills.

 

 

Ask your child what they would like to try baking, or give them a choice of two or three recipes. Include them in the entire process by taking them to the store to pick up the required ingredients and tools. 

 

Allow them to measure, stir, chop, pour, or whatever is in the skillset! The more you can involve your child in the process, the more they’ll learn and want to do it again!

Corn Kernel Play

Playing with corn might sound odd, but dried corn kernels are an excellent sensory experience. If you’ve visited a local farm in the past few years for a fall kids' event, you might have seen large silos of corn kernels for kids to play in.

 

 

While hXaving an enormous container, for example, a kiddie pool, filled to play in is a fantastic experience, kids can have just as much fun playing in a smaller bin. Add some silk leaves, measuring cups, funnels, and other fall-themed items to create a uniquely fall-themed sensory bin. 

 

Look for corn bird seed for the authentic farm experience, or use uncooked popcorn kernels. Corn kernels are small and present a choking hazard, so young children playing with them should be supervised at all times. It is also not recommended for children under three who frequently put items in their mouths. 

 

With so many fantastic ways to play and explore with your child this autumn, nothing is stopping you and your little ones from having a fantastic fall!