In case it’s not your favorite time of year or you are stuck for ideas, here are a few to get you started:
*Rake leaves just for the sake of letting your children jump in the piles. It’s definitely more work for you (just consider it extra exercise!) but so much fun for the kids. Who doesn’t remember jumping into a pile of leaves as a child and loving it?!
*Visit an apple orchard. We really like Cider Hill Family Orchard, butthere are loads around the metro area. I think there is something super cool and special about traipsing around an orchard, picking your own apples, tasting them along the way, and then bringing them home to make yummy treats with. A few apple recipes we enjoy are apple crisp, homemade applesauce, apple muffins (I particularly like this one from Spark People http://recipes.sparkpeople.com/recipe-detail.asp?recipe=488687), and simply slicing them up for an afternoon snack. You can also taste test different kinds of apples or do apple print making…the possibilities are endless!
*Go on a hayride
*Take a nature walk and collect different leaves from your neighborhood. Make leaf rubbings or a giant graph displaying the different kinds of leaves you found. You can also make a collage by ironing the leaves in between two pieces of wax paper. Sprinkle shaved crayon in and around the leaves before ironing for added fun!
*Campout in your own backyard…or at least make smores over a campfire! If you don’t want to, or have the means to campout, lay out a blanket, bundle up and stargaze while sipping hot cocoa or tea instead.
*Visit a pumpkin patch. Again, just like apple picking, visiting a real pumpkin patch is a unique and entertaining activity the whole family can enjoy. Once you’ve chosen pumpkins, head home to continue the fun. Pumpkins are math and science excitement waiting to happen…weigh, measure the circumference, count the lines, try a sink or float experiment, generate comparisons between each family member’s pumpkin. Eachperson can make an estimate first, then actually find the correct answer. What a fun, non-threatening way to be competitive as a family! Don’t forget to buy a few extra pumpkins for the sheer pleasure of decorating. Whether it’s carving, painting, glittering, or another option, it’s bound to get creative juices flowing and bring out lots of smiles too! Go online to KCParent.com for the low down on all the area pumpkin patches.
*Since October is Fire Safety Month take the opportunity to develop, review, and discuss your own emergency plan at your house. Visit your local fire station for a tour as well. In fact, take them some of those apple muffins you’ve made by now, or a freshly and creatively decorated pumpkin!
I hope you’ll have some fun this fall and maybe try one new activity whether it be from this list or not. I’d love to hear how you celebrate fall with your family too, so come and find me sometime!
Happy Fall!
Julie Collett
