Explore Nature With These Fun Fall Activities

Kids seem to have an innate ability to embrace curiosity — especially when it comes to exploring nature. (There’s a reason so many of us can relate as we watch Curious George!) On our fall walks, my 4-year-old son often pauses to get a better view of an insect on the sidewalk or inspect (and delight in!) a colorful leaf in the grass.

Grown-ups tend to move through life quickly, but kids often have a special gift of showing us how to slow down and notice the world around us. It’s no wonder they make such great budding scientists and artists!

While I’m grateful for the ways technology connects us during these times of social distancing, it makes getting outside so much more important. As fall makes its arrival with a bounty of seasonal sights, smells, and textures, I’m reminded that autumn is a great time to get outside and explore together as a family. (I can’t be the only one with Dinosaur Train’s “Get Into Nature!” song in my head.)

Enjoy outdoor fun with these tech-free ways to make family memories this fall:

1. Get cozy under the stars. With the sun going down earlier as we transition into fall, plan an evening to enjoy the crisp autumn air under the stars. Grab some cozy blankets — and if you’re feeling fancy, a thermos of apple cider — and then see who can spot the Big Dipper first! After, create your own constellation centerpiece.
2. Identify trees via leaves. Take a walk on a mission: See how many different fallen leaves your family can collect. Then, learn together which trees they come from by making a tree reference book. (I did this and realized that, for years, I had no idea what kind of trees were in our yard!)
3. Embark on a fall scavenger hunt. Daniel Tiger is right: “There’s so much to explore when you’re outside.” Who can find a pinecone first? What about a spiderweb? Plan a fall scavenger hunt to find items and textures from nature. Print this Nature Cat scavenger hunt sheet to make things easy!
4. Take a field trip. Visit an apple orchard or pumpkin patch. Picking your own apples or exploring a pumpkin patch are fun ways to foster curiosity in young botanists. How do pumpkins grow? What makes an apple ripe for picking? Before you go, do a little research — some locations charge admission, but others are free to visit.
5. Become birdwatchers. Before our feathery friends head south for the winter, opt for some outdoor birdwatching fun. This step-by-step guide from Curious George shows how to transform a recycled plastic bottle into a simple homemade birdfeeder. Then, sit back and relax! If you’re feeling extra creative, transform a pair of toilet paper rolls into DIY binoculars by using a little duct tape and some imagination.
6. Rake a neighbor’s leaves. As Daniel Tiger reminds us, we take care of each other. Encourage your kids to be thoughtful neighbors by volunteering together! As leaves fall, rake the yard of a neighbor who could use a little extra help. Not only does raking leaves encourage empathy, but it’s great exercise — and a fun family activity, too.
7. Paint or carve a pumpkin. Pumpkin decorating is a favorite fall activity in my house. Sometimes, we opt for laying out old newspapers and painting or carving our pumpkins outside under the stars. I grew up watching Arthur, and now I get to enjoy it with my kids, so I’m planning on enjoying a little nostalgia this year by using this free Arthur pumpkin carving stencil.
8. Play together. Don’t under estimate the power of play! Throw on a cozy sweater or warm jacket and have some fun outside. Backyard hide-and-seek is a classic for our family, and our older kids love playing flashlight tag in the dark. (If you’re staying up past bedtime, why not do some nighttime nature exploring?) After, warm up with some apple cider!
9. Get colorful. Let the rich, vibrant hues of autumn inspire your little artist. For preschoolers, grab some crayons, markers, or watercolor paints and add a splash of color to this Letter A acorn coloring page with Elmo. For elementary-school-age kids, challenge them to a fall color hunt with this Nature Cat color wheel. And all-ages (grown-ups, too!) will enjoy grabbing some plain white paper and a couple of crayons to create some easy leaf and bark art.
10. Bring the outside in. Make fall decorating a family affair. Explore your neighborhood to hunt for pinecones, acorns, leaves, twigs to collect. (We love pulling our wagon for this!) Then, work together to make a fresh (and free!) fall centerpiece for your kitchen table.
11. Exercise outdoors. Feel sun on your face and breathe in the fresh fall air with some backyard yoga while enjoying fall foliage. Yoga is all about exploring and learning in a fun, safe, and playful way — and no special equipment is necessary.
12. Read a fall book outside. Bring a couple books to a favorite local park or your front stoop. Most public libraries are offering curbside pick-up, so put a few of these fall-themed children’s books on hold now for a seasonal storytime with the kids in your life this autumn.
13. Enjoy a park picnic. We live in the Midwest where winters can be pretty intense, so we try to soak up fall weather for as long as we can. An easy way to enjoy a sunny fall day together? Pack a simple lunch and enjoy it at a local park or nature reserve, which can be so picturesque in the fall. (And there are usually a few other fun things to do at local parks, too!)
14. Try a fall-themed science experiment. Spark curiosity with a simple at-home science experiment. Collect some leaves, grab a few basic kitchen ingredients, and pose the question: “What will happen if we put leaves in different liquids?” Follow these easy experiment instructions to guide your young scientists.
15. Make an outdoor fort. Gather old blankets and build an outdoor play space for some fall imaginative play. Tap into your imaginations and see what happens. Do you have a bed of leaves? Are the sticks and branches protecting your fortress? Are the acorns a special ingredient for your stew? Use the natural fall foliage around you to encourage kids to dream up new people and places!