The Top 7 Fall-Themed Activities for Kids

Updated: September 29, 2022

By Brooke Weber, contributing writer

It’s that time of year again: the leaves have changed their hue, there’s a cold snap in the air, and Halloween pumpkins have quickly given way to Thanksgiving wreaths. 

Yep, we’re in the thick of fall, the season of change and coziness, the time for drinking warm tea and busting out your prized sweater collection. But what’s in store for autumn 2022?

How about some fun fall activities for the whole family? Besides outdoor activities, there are also some blasts from the past that’ll make you oh-so-nostalgic for your own childhood autumns. Here are the top 7 fall-themed activities for kids.

1. Take a “leaf peeping” trip!

Leaf peeping is all the rage! If this term is new to you, take a second to think about whether you’ve ever gazed at a particularly beautiful tree during fall, one that’s turning an amazing shade of red or yellow or any combination of the two. Leaf peeping just means taking that temptation and turning it into a fun outing!

If there are still leaves on the trees where you live, take a drive to your favorite spot and have a look around. This is a great way to practice mindfulness: notice the colors around you, and appreciate the moment. If the leaves have already fallen, that’s okay, too! Gather them up into a nice big pile and let your kids run through or jump in the leaves. There’s nothing like the satisfying crunch of perfect fall leaves!

2. Turn fallen leaves into art

There are infinite options for this one! Pick up fall leaves of different colors and stick them to cardstock or cardboard for a fun collage, paint one side of the leaf and press it down on a piece of paper to create an intricate impression of its veins and shape, or dip the leaf itself into the paint and use it as a paintbrush for a fall-themed landscape. Do whatever brings your kids (and you!) joy – that’s the fun of being creative! 

Activities don’t always have to have a distinct plan; you can take the leaf pile from the first kids’ activity, get out your paints, glue sticks, paper, glitter, and whatever other supplies you’ve got, and just let the kids do their thing. You never know – your little one might just make a nature-inspired masterpiece!

3. Playing with pinecones

If none of the kids’ activities above interest you, this one is sure to be a throwback for a lot of parents out there! First, gather some pinecones from your yard or any nearby park. Then, you can either cover the pinecone in glitter and glue to use as a fall decoration or slather the pinecone in peanut butter and roll it in seeds to make easy, natural bird feeders. If you don’t have peanut butter or if someone in your home is allergic, you can easily substitute sunflower seed butter, vegetable shortening or coconut oil for the peanut butter in this recipe! Whichever path you choose, wrap some string or twine around the pinecone and hang it up inside your home or outside on a tree branch for an easy and fun fall craft.

4. Make the most of Halloween pumpkins!

Halloween pumpkins are great fun but you don’t have to wait for Halloween to make the most out of fall pumpkins! You can also reduce waste and grow your own pumpkins, save the seeds and plant them in the spring! It’s easy for your little ones to help with this. All you need to do is scoop out the seeds with a spoon, put the pumpkin pulp and seeds in a colander, run water through it to separate the pulp from the seeds, and spread the seeds out on a baking sheet covered in parchment paper. Then, you can leave the seeds somewhere cool and dry for a few weeks, turning the seeds every so often so that each side gets dry. This is a great activity for teaching your little ones about patience! Once the seeds are finally dry, you can have the kids put the seeds into a paper bag and help you label them with the current date. Save these in a cool, dry place, and they’ll be good until it’s time to plant them!

5. Fall mask-decoration

If you’re looking for another fun activity, why not make some face masks! You can use them for Halloween or just wearing into crowded spaces. Try buying (or sewing!) masks made of one solid color, and gather up every piece of fall-themed bling you can find. Sequins shaped like leaves? Fabric pens in autumn shades? Iron-on decals of apples? You could even turn this into a contest to see who in your family can fit the most fall colors or decor on their mask!

6. Take your kids yoga routine outside

As we said earlier, outdoor activities are the key to fun this fall, and what better way to spend the last warm moments of the year than by doing yoga in nature? Whether you’re up for inviting the neighborhood children over for a kids yoga session or just want to keep it within the family, yoga for kids is a great way to combat anxiety and gain amazing mental and physical health benefits all at once. It’s also a great way to introduce joy and gratitude into your lives as Thanksgiving rolls around!

7. The classic hand turkey

It doesn’t get simpler than this! Break out all the markers you can find and have fun tracing everyone’s hands on pieces of paper. For a little extra creativity, you can use different hand shapes to turn the turkeys into different creatures, characters from shows or books you love or even members of your family! This can also become a great way to practice being thankful. Take some time to write one thing you’re thankful for above each finger on the traced hands. Let loose, be silly and remember all the good things in life!

HAve fun with Fall-themed activities for kids this Season!

Whatever the rest of this fall may bring, you’ll now be equipped with 7 fall-themed activities for kids. As you collect your pinecones and save your pumpkin seeds, you can also take stock of all the wonder and joy around you. 

And if you’re looking for a more structured activity that’s sure to get your kids up and moving, look no further than Pretzel Kids yoga! With classes seven days a week, there’s sure to be a children’s yoga class your kiddos will love! ?

And, if you want to have some real fun with the kids, you can learn to teach yoga and mindfulness, too!