During the fall there are some activities that you can only do during this time of year. Many of these activities are favorites among children. Here are a few fall things that you should with your kids while this season is still upon us.
Build a Scarecrow
This is a great outdoor family activity. Take make one that can lean on something or stay on the ground, all you need are some clothes and stuff with newspaper or leaves. To make it stand, first make a cross out of two pieces of wood (even an old yardstick or broomstick leaving one longer piece for the body and a shorter one for the arms.) Secure the 2 pieces of wood together with string or rope. Put a shirt on over the arms, and follow it with a pair of pants. Stuff both with the leaves and secure with string or rubber bands. For the head, you can use a small pumpkin and draw out a face or an old bucket. We used an old pumpkin shape trick o treat bucket which worked perfectly. If you want to get fancy you can add a hat, bandana, and other accessories.
Visit A Pumpkin Patch
There’s just something about pumpkins that make your home look more festive. Pumpkin patches are truly a place that you must visit in the fall. Your kids can pick out a variety of different pumpkins that you can use to adorn your front porch. Wherever you plan to go, look them up ahead of time to see their COVID-19 Protocols.
The Great Pumpkin Farm in Clarence, New York is filled with a lot of activities besides just pumpkin picking. There is mummy wrapping and scarecrow making & lots of food made from pumpkins. A favorite that brings visitors to the farm from near and far is the pumpkin slingshot where pumpkins get hurled through the air. Don’t forget to have some apple cider donuts while you are here.
The Dallas Arboretum & Botanical Garden is having their 15th annual Autumn festival where more than 90,000 pumpkins, gourds & squash in 50 different varieties, are used to make elaborate patterns and houses through the 66-acre garden. Popular characters, Charlie Brown, Peppermint Patty, and Marcie topiaries can be found behind the iconic brick wall made of pumpkins. There are also live musical performances, cooking demonstrations, theme nights & more. Named of America’s Best Pumpkin Festivals by Fodor’s Travel, the festival runs through October 31st. Reservations are required this year to allow for social distancing. Face coverings are required.
Most towns have plenty of pumpkin patches & festivals. Keep an eye out in your local newspaper or do a search for “pumpkin patches or fall festivals near me” on your phone.
Master A Corn Maze
There’s a good chance that your kids have some pent up energy that you want to get out. A corn maze is an excellent place to do it. Richardson Adventure Farm located in Spring Grove, Illinois is an excellent place to do that as it’s the largest corn maze in the world. The maze is around 9-10 miles in length and actually encompasses four different mazes. They all cover around 28 acres of corn. This corn maze is great for families as there aren’t any dead ends and there are maps and bridges to help you figure out where you are at in the maze. Once you are finished, you and your kids can enjoy a cup of hot chocolate, cider, and perhaps a donut or two.
Visit a Green Market or Farmers Market
Take a Saturday or Sunday to visit a market to browse local crafts, produce, and foods. Again check with local businesses in your area. A market about 30 minutes from us (Bender’s Farm Fresh Market,) offers a pumpkin patch, corn maze, wagon/hayrides, a petting zoo, and face painting for the kids, along with a refreshment stand, gourmet food trucks & lots of fresh produce handpicked from their farm.
Even if you don’t want to venture too far from home there are still plenty of things you can do with your kids.
Fall Things You Can Do With Your Kids At Home
- Food fun: Make some classic fall dishes such as chili, stews, soups, pot pies & casseroles using seasonal vegetables. Don’t forget fall desserts like caramel apples, pumpkin pie, rice crispy treats & s’mores. For a healthy snack roast some pumpkin seeds or apple chips. Go apple picking and make homemade applesauce or cider. Consider having a picnic in a local park, the backyard, or even an indoor picnic!
- Pumpkins: You could always take part in the popular family tradition of carving pumpkins as well. For younger children, you can color them with washable paint, markers, or use stickers.
- Crafts: For smaller children, there are plenty of simple craft ideas online like how to make a pumpkin from a paper plate, or how to make a turkey by tracing your hand. Gather fall leaves and make a leaf rubbing. (All you have to do is place paper over the leaf and rub with a crayon or colored pencil over it…the leaf image will appear right away.)
- Outdoor fun: Make a leaf pile and let them jump in! Collect & identify types of leaves. Plant a fall herb garden. Go for a hike. Go for a bike ride or hike. Take a family photo with the incredible fall colors as your background.
The fall is also a great time to travel. There are great early booking deals on Fall foliage tours and New England cruises for 2021. Disney Halloween cruises are one of the most popular choices for families in the fall.
Whatever you do, make sure you enjoy this fun season before it’s gone and you have to wait an entire year for it to roll around again.
