4 Fun Fall Activities For Kids

August 10, 2022

The summer season is coming to a close which means it’s time to head back to school and get ready for cooler days ahead. But just because summer is coming to an end doesn’t mean your fun has to.

In this blog, we’ll share 4 fun fall activities for kids of all ages that you and your family can start trying out this season.

1. Pumpkin Picking

When thinking of fall activities for kids, pumpkin picking is what first comes to mind. Picking the perfect pumpkin is fun for everyone in the family. If you’re not sure where to go, consider visiting your local home and garden center. For example, Stauffers of Kissel Hill offers a variety of pumpkin types and sizes.

Whether you’re looking for something big or small, you’re guaranteed to find a quality pumpkin that’s ready for carving or simply to be set outside for decoration. When choosing your pumpkin, there are some things you should try to keep in mind.

Below, we’ve listed a few guidelines to follow as you search for your pumpkins this year.

Check the Skin

Your pumpkin should be firm and solid to the touch. Try poking the pumpkin, if it feels spongy, you’ll want to move on. In the same respect, you don’t want a pumpkin with soft spots or sunken areas. You should also examine your pumpkin’s flesh. Any cracks or splits may be a sign of decay.

Check the Stem

Similar to the pumpkin’s skin, you want to make sure the stem is firm and strong. You’ll also want to check the stem’s color. A good rule of thumb is to remember that the greener the stem, the healthier the pumpkin. Avoid any stems that are brown, mushy, or dried out.

Check the Sound

When picking your pumpkin, think about how you’d pick a watermelon. The best and healthiest pumpkins will have a deep, hollow sound when you tap on them. Try holding your pumpkin up with one hand and putting your ear to its side. Knocking on it with your knuckles, listen for an echoing sound. If you hear it, you’ll know it’s the one.

There’s a reason pumpkin picking is one of the most popular fall activities for kids. Once you pick your pumpkin, the fun doesn’t have to end. Try finding creative ways to carve or paint your pumpkins.

Decorate Your Porch

When brainstorming fall activities for kids, you can’t skip decorating your porch or home. There are many fall decor trends you can use for inspiration, but if you want to get the kids involved you may consider letting them make some of the decorations themselves.

Below, we’ve shared some inexpensive, but fun crafts your kids can try out which will make great additions to your home this season.

Puffy Painted Leaves

First, have your kids gather some colorful leaves from outside. Once they have a small pile, break out the puffy paint and take turns decorating each leaf. The great thing about this craft is not only is it a minimal cost, but you can also encourage your kids to be as creative as they want!

Once you’re done, you can tie the leaves onto a string of lights to hang from your porch or even tape them to the inside of your windows for anyone to see from the street.

Tin Can Pumpkins

Another inexpensive way to get your kid’s creative juices flowing while being eco-friendly is making these tin can pumpkins. Take some recycled tin cans and make sure they’re thoroughly washed out and all sharp edges are removed.

Have your kids paint the cans different fall colors, like oranges, yellows, and reds. You can choose from any material to create a stem, we suggest using felt or cardboard. When your pumpkins are done, you can place them on your porch steps or on your windowsill to show them off to your neighbors.

3. Spend Some Time in the Garden

Gardening with kids is a great way to spend time outdoors while also sprucing up your outdoor space. Whether you’re planting flower bulbs or adding to your vegetable garden, you may be surprised to find that getting your hands a little dirty is the perfect fall activity for kids of all ages.

Fall Veggie Gardening

Many people think that as the temperature grows colder and days become shorter, it’s time to put your gardening tools away. However, you’ll be pleasantly surprised to learn that many vegetables are higher quality and better tasting when planted in the fall.

You can get your kids more involved in the gardening process by letting them choose their favorite veggies to add. Below, we’ve listed some of the best options you and your kids can choose from when considering what you want to include in your fall veggie garden.

It’s important to note that, contrary to popular belief, you don’t need a ton of space to have a flourishing vegetable patch. Growing vegetables in containers have become more popular for homeowners because it can be just as effective, and it saves you some space.

Fall Flower Gardening

Similar to veggie gardens, there are certain plants, shrubs, and flower bulbs homeowners can focus on during the fall season. Below, we’ve shared the best spring flowering bulbs and shrubs to plant during the fall.

Spring Flowering Bulbs

If you want a flourishing garden blooming in the spring, there are certain bulbs you should be planting in the fall, specifically in September through October. Many flower bulbs need about 12-14 weeks of cool weather to break out of their dormant state.

Try to keep this fall activity going by showing your kids how to take care of the flower bulbs throughout the fall and winter seasons, that way they can learn something while having fun!

Below, we’ve listed some of the most popular choices for gardeners.

Tulips
Daffodils
Dutch Iris
Hyacinth
Allium

Shrubs & Foliage

Your garden can still be vibrant with colors throughout the fall. Planting certain shrubs and foliage can keep your outdoor space bright even as the trees fall. These plants may not last as long as those in the spring or summer, but they’re guaranteed to bring your garden to life for a few weeks during the fall.

Below, we’ve shared some great shrub and foliage options you and your kids can choose from starting today.

Fall Cooking Ideas

As the weather gets colder, you may want to find some fun fall activities for kids indoors, and nothing says autumn like a cozy pie or cider recipe. Start a yearly tradition by teaching your kids a new, or old recipe that they can pass on one day too. Below, we’ve given you some recipe inspirations to break out this year.

Make Apple Cider

The wonderful thing about learning how to make apple cider is that there are a variety of ways to do it. This means you can experiment with your kids to find the batch you both like the best.

While every recipe may call for different ingredients, the following are most commonly what you’ll need to start:

Large apples
Oranges
Cinnamon sticks
Cloves
Nutmeg
Brown sugar

If you don’t have a family apple cider recipe tucked away, try checking out this full apple cider recipe to start making your favorite fall sweet drink today.

Bake an Apple Pie or Pumpkin Pie

Baking an apple pie or pumpkin pie are also great options for fall activities for kids that will keep them busy and leave you with a delicious dessert.

Apple Pie Ingredients

Just like making apple cider, there are numerous ways to bake an apple pie. However, you can almost guarantee that you’re going to need these ingredients to begin:

Pie crusts
Large apples
Granulated sugar
Light brown sugar
All-purpose flour
Ground cinnamon
Ground nutmeg
Lemons
Eggs
Sanding sugar

Pumpkin Pie Ingredients

The good news is, that if you have leftover ingredients from your apple pie, you’ll have a headstart on gathering the things you need to bake a pumpkin pie. Below, we’ve listed the main ingredients a typical pumpkin pie recipe calls for.

Pie crust
Pure pumpkin
Eggs
Granulated sugar
Light brown sugar
All-purpose flour
Salt
Ground cinnamon
Ground ginger
Ground nutmeg
Ground cloves
Ground black pepper
Evaporated milk

You don’t need a decades-old recipe to start a family baking tradition. Check out this full apple pie recipe or full pumpkin pie recipe to gain some inspiration before beginning your baking fun.

Don’t miss out on dressing your outdoor space up for the fall season, check out the Stauffers of Kissel Hill online Home & Garden store today.