Fall is my absolute favorite season. The changing leaves, crisp morning air, and spooky season fun to anticipate. 👻 I think I mostly love the kid fun in it (how can you not?!). We all know I love a good kid activity, as do my littles! Check out some of our favorites we’ve done in seasons past. 🎃
Sensory Bins
Sensory exploration is hands down the easiest, most rewarding type of play. It promotes independent imaginative play, while boosting those fine motor skills every little kid needs in order to be able to hold a pencil, cut with scissors, and more down the road. many underestimate the power of scooping, pinching, grabbing and more, that sensory play allows for. Bonus is that it is inviting and promotes language opportunities and identifying of what is in the bin, and a base for added toys! My kids love adding in their little figures for extra play (like Pokemon, little people, princesses, and more). Mostly all of the base and add ins I find at the Dollar store, Walmart, dollar spot, or Trader Joe’s/Aldi.
Play Dough Trays
Playdough is a magical tool in the realm of child’s play. Some can’t stand it, or are afraid of the mess. However, it is an incredible tool to help strengthen a young child’s hand muscles to prepare them for the years ahead when they will be expected to hold writing utensils and scissors! Give them a fun tray, gadgets, and dough and the kids think I have literally hung the moon.
Fizzy Science Fun: You can NEVER go wrong with baking soda and vinegar fizzy science! There are endless possibilities on how to cater it to whatever season you are in. In this case, bring on the apples, pumpkins, skeletons, jack-o-lanters, and more!
Fine Motor Straw Match: This DIY was just as easy as can be. I had orange and black straws leftover from a halloween party, and so I painted the bottom of an egg carton, and clipped some straws for some fun matching. Now my little girl is a little young to match the colors perfectly, but she enjoyed poking and pulling the straws through the little holes!
Falling Leaves:
Some faux leaves, contact paper, and painters tape! The leaves stick to the contact paper and “fall” when they lose their stick. My kids enjoyed “raking” them when they blew away from the bowl or fell down from the tree–or sticking them back up!
Learning Activities: Teach Talk Inspire has an incredible learning resource (for EVERY season). Below are some of the Fall/Halloween learning activities, which have been great for my littles ages 2-5. There are learning activities for each month, which below you’ll see an assortment of September, October, and November’s. You can find the whole learning bundle HERE.
Water Play
We can’t forget the most powerful kind of play of all. When in doubt, just add water!! This can be a plain tub of water, add in some tools, and Ta-Da! You’ve given yourself a few minutes to finish some hot coffee.
Below you’ll see one of our favorites, which is just water, cranberries, and a few sprigs of Rosemary. This is perfect after Halloween, as you’re transitioning into the Thanksgiving season! I can’t tell you enough, this is so easy, and so fun for littles. There’s something resetting in the brain when playing with water. Hence why littles usually love bath time so much!
We hope you’ll try some of our favorite fall fun activities! Don’t forget to tag us if you do, and be sure to follow along on Instagram for more ideas! Please reach out with any questions, too!
Xo,
Holly
Making Beautiful Messes 