The weather will soon be changing (sadly) — this weekend may be your last chance to play outdoors without freezing, so get outside with your kids and enjoy!
The best part about the fall is that there are so many ways to celebrate it. Harvest, Halloween, there are so many activities to take part in. Here are a few ideas that will have you putting away the computer and phone, and spend quality time with the little stinkers.
Door Decorating
Decorating the door for Halloween or plastering it with fall colours is an easy and fun way to celebrate the month of October. It is also considerably cheaper than buying Halloween decorations that will only be used for a few days before being stuffed in a box. Simply purchase coloured paper and black or white electric tape and go to town. You can make a ghost, a mummy, a skeleton or a monster easily on the door. The rectangular frame of the door lends itself to making a face on the door quite easily. The kids will love designing it and can then enjoy the decoration going in and out of the house every day.
Painting using acorns
Instead of using store-bought painting supplies, why not collect a few acorns and use them instead. Find acorns and chop them in half to create elaborate stamps that can be dipped into the paint. You can also glue the acorns onto the page, and paint and decorate them if you want to make a fun fall craft. Grab a few leaves while looking for the acorns as well to use as stamps and decorations. The designs these fall nature items will create on paper will astound kids, and the scavenger hunt for supplies gets the little ones out in the backyard breathing that fresh fall air. That is a win-win in my books.
Bake Apple Chips
Apple picking is one of my favourite childhood memories. It is so enjoyable to fill a basket, and to see how big the apples can grow on the trees. The taste of locally grown apples can’t be compared to any other as well, they are delicious! If you collect too many apples, there are many fun recipes that include this delectable fruit. Baked apple chips are a healthy chip and are easy to make. Simply slice the apples into thin strips and bake them on low heat for about 45 minutes. They can be seasoned with a variety of tastes, but are still sweet if left untouched. Between crunching down on a fresh apple and munching on apple chips, you simply can’t go wrong.
Nature Walk
Taking fall nature walks is almost more relaxing than hiking in the summer. The weather is much cooler, which makes for a more enjoyable walking experience in comparison to a trucking through the woods on a blazing hot day. Collecting leaves and enjoying the beautiful fall colours is an experience within itself as well. Bring along a bag to collect fall nature items that the kids find along the way to make a collage later. This helps kids understand and absorb the transitions between seasons and gives a fun objective to a meander in the woods. Bring a thermos of apple cider to make your fall walk run perfectly.
Leaf Wars
If you want a more interactive fall experience with the kids, launch yourself into the well-known leaf war. The leaf war is the little brother of the snowball fight, and hurts a lot less. It involves throwing leaves at each other and basically ganging up on dad and knocking him over. It is also fun to pile leaves into competing camps and to play-wrestle each other into them. A little bit of pretend playtime with mom and dad is a kid’s dream, so dig in and enjoy. Disclaimer: take a moment to explain it is all in good fun, and shouldn’t make kids think violence is okay. We are all very kind to each other when we engage in leaf wars.
The popular saying, ‘winter is coming’, from TV show Game of Thrones, really sums it up. Before the cold winds and snowy days hits the city, enjoy the last rays of sunshine and tolerable outdoor weather. Get outside with the kids and dig into some enjoyable fall activities. Engaging in fall crafts teaches kids the importance of the changing seasons and most importantly, you are spending quality time with the little people who matter most in this ever-changing world.
What are your favourite fall activities with the kids? Let Women’s Post know in the comments below.
