It probably does not assuage your irritation to know that the 15 minutes your toddler spent in the act of emptying your wallet contents was good for their fine motor skills. You'd probably have preferred they'd practiced their fine motor skills with one of these clothespin activities.

However, I can offer you a solution.

A toy wallet.

If you don't already have an old wallet in the back of your closet, you can find very inexpensive wallets at the dollar store or thrift store.

Keep expired membership cards, discount cards, old coupons and similar items to stock the toy wallet.

You may also find kid oriented trading cards. Our toddler loves his Thomas the Train trading cards and they made a great addition to the toy wallet.

In order to pull the cards out of the toy wallet, your child will engage and strengthen those all important fine motor skills. Putting the cards back in the wallet will be more challenging, but toddlers are nothing if not persistent!

MORE: Lacing activities for fine motor practice

As your toddler starts to engage in imaginative play, they will start to use their toy wallet during pretend playtime, whether it's buying groceries at an imaginary store, or trying to bribe mom to let him skip the day's nap.

The most important thing is that the toy wallet keeps the little one entertained.

That and, I no longer wonder what happened to my driver's license.

The post Hey Big Spender! Toy Wallet Boredom Buster appeared first on What Do We Do All Day.

If your child loves toy cars and busses (what child doesn't?) a sensory toy car wash with shaving cream will help develop their tolerance for uncomfortable sensations like touching things that are messy or sticky.

Sensory Car Wash Instructions

Just like the bubble bath car wash or the exploding toy car wash, setting up this sensory car wash activity is easy!

Materials:

Large tray, such as a baking sheet. You could also use a large rectangle storage bin, or do this on the floor on a shower curtain or outside in a kiddie pool.

Shaving cream. Aerosol shaving cream is best.

Toy cars and trucks, etc. You can tailor the toys to suit your child's interest. For example, toy animals or even foam letters or shapes will work

Towel or waterproof mat to protect your work surface (optional)

MORE: 20 ways to play with toy cars

Set-up

Place the toy vehicles on the tray. Cover the tray and all of the toys with shaving cream. Don't be stingy!

Our experience:

I put shaving cream on an old baking sheet and hid toy cars in mounds of shaving cream and told my son it was a "CAR WASH".

I also gave him a spray bottle and fingernail brush to emphasize the "washing" part of the activity. The only way his cars were going to get clean was if he performed the duty himself!

At first, he was a tiny bit hesitant, but his dad sat down with him and demonstrated how to retrieve and wash the cars and even to drive them around making tracks.

In fact, driving the cars and making tracks turned out to be more fun than the act of washing the vehicles!

It ended up providing at least 45 minutes of fun!

Variation: Use the shaving cream and cars for some imaginative play inspired by the book, Katy and the Big Snow.

The post Shaving Cream Sensory Play Idea: Car Wash appeared first on What Do We Do All Day.

Lots of parents want their kids to get a head start on their literacy and writing skills, but it's a mistake to force formal writing during the early years. However, you can encourage early and pre-writing skills by starting a journal with your preschooler.

All my life I have been a diarist but–surprise, surprise–since having kids, I have been unable to keep up with my journaling as I would like. I thought that introducing the concept of preschool journaling might be just the ticket to get me back in the game and have my son practice those all important fine motor skills necessary for future handwriting success.

I was delighted to discover a very easy way to start a journal with my preschooler! Now we could journal together. Win-win.

(Note: this post contains affiliate links. Qualifying purchases may earn commission.)

Preschool Journal Inspiration

The author of The Write Start: A Guide to Nurturing Writing at Every Stage, from Scribbling to Forming Letters and Writing Stories suggests using colors as a way to inspire a child to scribble in a journal.

The idea is that you ask your child, "What color was your day?" and then the child chooses a color. Using the writing/scribbling medium of choice, he uses the color to write/scribble on the journal page.

As they write/scribble, ask your child to describe to you why the day was blue (for example). In this manner, the child is learning how to narrate their own story, develop self-reflection, and give voice to their thoughts and emotions.

You can even record your child's thoughts, either by jotting them down in your own journal, or with an audio recording. (A video recording will be too distracting for most children.) If your write your child's thoughts, I suggest doing so on a separate paper so your child's scribbles and drawing stands on their own.

A great children's picture book to help explain this concept is Dr. Seuss' My Many Colored Days. The book compares moods and days to different colors and actions of animals. For example, "Then comes a Yellow Day and I am a busy, buzzy bee." Or, "On Purple Days I'm sad, I groan, I drag my tail."

A preschooler can not only use color to represent mood, they can use action words like "buzzy" or "drag" to inspire how they move their pen or crayon. Fast for "buzzy," or slow for "drag," or hopping around the page for "happy." You get the idea.

The important thing is to let the child choose and be inspired. Don't suggest or force the issue. And if your child doesn't feel like talking one day, let them scribble however they want.

Make the Journal Part of a Routine

The key to success is to journal with your preschooler as part of a predictable routine. Whether you choose to do it in the morning, or after lunch or in the evening is up to you. Pick a convenient time to journal–or to scribble–that you know you can stick with.  If you miss a day or two, don't beat yourself up. Just get back to it. Pretty soon you might find your child is reminding you, "It's journaling time, mommy!"

We tend to have quite moments in the late morning so that is when the two of us get out our journals. So far it has been working!

Use A Variety of Writing Materials

Don't pressure your child to move beyond scribbling. Scribbling is also very important for developing pre-writing and pre-reading skills.

Using different types of writing implements and materials increases the variety of sensory experiences, so I like to mix things up during our journaling sessions. I include:

• Stubby crayons with the paper removed. Using a short crayon requires a stronger pincer grasp than using a long one.
• Colored pencils. They require more pressure than markers.
• Markers. Ink provides a satisfying saturated color, but mix up the size: include both fat and skinny pens.
• Oil and chalk pastels with paper removed. Pastels' textures offer a new sensory experience.
• Stickers. Peeling stickers off the backing takes work and feeling the sticky side adds in a bit of sensory fun. Tape is also a great tool. Check out this tape art journal page my son made.
• Writing tools with triangular barrels. The unusual shape encourages children to use the correct pincer grasp.

Name Your Journals

Have your preschooler pick a name for their journal. Call it a "Thoughts Book," or a "Mood Book," or some other fun title. For now, we call ours the "Writing Book." I explained to my son that I use my journal to record my activities and thoughts about each day but that he can write or draw whatever he wants. I'm always sure to write the date on each page so we can track his progress.

My son, of course, always finishes his journal plage before I do, but I do get a few extra minutes of writing in and it feels good.

I HIGHLY recommend this fantastic book for playful ideas to get your kids to love writing:

The post Easy Way to Start a Journal with Your Preschooler appeared first on What Do We Do All Day.

I left a box of 1000 craft sticks on the table.

The end.

Well, not exactly the end.

You see, my son took this box of 1000 craft sticks. Opened it. Dumped out about 200 of them and started playing.

Playing with sticks turned into a great idea for a rainy day, and it required no intervention on my part. This is the best kind of screen-free indoor activity!

These little wooden sticks kept my child busy for quite some time. It may seem a little unusual, but hey!, whatever works, right?

Instructions

Wait. Watch. Enjoy your coffee. Your child will figure it out.

MORE: 10 quick activities for 2-4 year olds

Tips

There's nothing wrong by allowing your child independent play time. If they want you to, you can also get down on the floor and play with your child. Kids love it when you come down to their level.

Here are some ideas for how to use some of those 1000 craft sticks. You can:

• build with them
• use them to form letters and numbers
• use them to make stick puppets
• make a tic-tac-toe board
• pile them onto toy trucks and drive them around the room
• create a road by lining them up side by side and driving cars through them
• make an incredibly long line with them
• measure stuff, "How many craft sticks tall is my mom?"

I think my son's favorite method of play was forming letters and trying to spell words! If you recall, he loves to spontaneous spell words with his letter cards.

Need more ideas? Visit our giant list of indoor activities for kids.

The post Craft Stick Play Ideas for Kid-Led Indoor Fun appeared first on What Do We Do All Day.

The cardboard box began its new life as an indoor ball game, but my kids quickly decided its true purpose was to become one of their 20 favorite ways to play with toy cars. Toddlers and preschoolers will especially love it!

MORE: These Ugly Kids Activities Are the MOST Awesome

What you need

MORE: Indoor Activities for Kids

Instructions

Remove the top flaps from the cardboard box.

On opposite sides of the box cut out several rectangles. One edge of the rectangles should be the edge of the box where the flaps were removed.

Make the rectangles different widths and heights to add variety to the play tunnel. You can customize the tunnel any way you want, with as many entrances and exits on opposing sides of the box.

You could even create entrances on all four sides. It's up to you.

MORE: Be sure to make this toy road to go with your child's new toy tunnel!

Optional: Use markers to decorate the box tunnel. Our tunnel already had "scores" above the entrances because we used the box for the aforementioned indoor ball game.

How to play

Oh, my friend. Your child will figure this out on their own!

MORE: What is this weird diy toy my kids love?

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Washing

We brought the acorns home and of course the first thing we had to do was wash them, which was also a fun sensory experience. They were collected from an urban sidewalk after all and we have all kinds of nature in the city.

Washing them proved to be very entertaining for my son and he spent lots of time swishing them around in a small tub of water, spooning them out and making up stories about tugboats.

I'm not surprised washing acorns was so much fun, given the timeless popularity of a simple bubble car wash activity.

Sorting

I got out the ice cube tray. The small sections were great for sorting acorns. Sometimes he used a spoon to place them in the cube sections, other times he used his pincer grasp and picked them up.

He thought it was fun to see how many he could fit in each section before they started spilling out. Try using acorns in one of our many ideas for sorting activities.

Dropping

Since acorns are small, they fit through a variety of openings. First he tried dropping them down a cardboard roll.

He giggled as he aimed them into the cups of a muffin tin. We used muffin tins for fine motor practice with pom poms, too.

Next he poked the acorns through holes cut into the top of a yogurt container (you may recognize that container from the ever popular "playing the slots" activity we've done in the past).

Playing

All that directed fine motor activity was well and good, but I think his favorite way to play was using his toy trucks and trains to run an acorn delivery service for the neighborhood squirrels. Fine motor practice and imaginative play, what could be more wonderful?

We'll have to add "acorn delivery service" to the list of 20 ways to play with toy cars.

Acorns. Who knew they could be so enthralling?

By the way, acorns aren't the only excellent fine motor manipulative from nature. Try making pomanders with kids for fine motor practice. It smells good, too!

Idea originally published 2012, updated 2023.

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This magnet busy jar was a really easy activity to put together and provided lots of screen-free entertainment. It's a bit like those I-Spy sensory jars parents make for their kids, and just as easy (if not easier!) to make. My kids love the magic of magnets and with proper supervision, they offer a good science lesson.

Disclaimer: Adult supervision is required. ALWAYS supervise children when playing with magnets. Magnets are dangerous if swallowed. DO NOT give magnets to children under 3 or to any children who may put them in their mouths. If a child ingests a magnet, seek medical help immediately.  

Note: this post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

How to Make a Magnet Play Busy Jar

What you need:

• Filler material. We used rice and red lentils
• Lightweight metal objects such as paperclips, thin washers and other hardware
• Jar, glass or plastic
• Optional: glue or tape
• Magnet wand. You can also use a large, strong magnet but a wand works better for little hands.

TIP: this magnet wand and Bingo chip set is perfect for the magnet busy jar activity. If you watch the how-to video below you will see it in action.

Instructions

Fill a clear container (I used glass, but if you are worried about it breaking, then plastic will also work) with paperclips and some thin metal washers. Lightweight objects work best.

Pour in a cup or two of red lentils for color. You can use rice instead of lentils, if you prefer. Fill jar ⅓ to ½ the way up.

Optional: secure lid of jar with glue or tape.

How to Play

Glide the magnet wand along the outside of the container. The magnetic attraction will lift the paperclips and washers. Kids will enjoy using the wand to manipulate the paperclips and other metal objects.

It's fun to shake the jar so that the objects are covered with the rice or lentils because then the wand raises them out of hiding! With practice, kids can use the wand to control the movement of the objects and create chains of paperclips that hang from the lid.

Need more easy distractions for your children? You'll find lots on our Giant List of Indoor Activities for Kids, or check out all 9 of our favorite ways to play with magnets, or make these magnetic bookmarks.

***ALWAYS supervise children when playing with magnets. Magnets are dangerous if swallowed. DO NOT give magnets to children who might put them in their mouths.

Idea first published 2009, updated 2023.

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The obstacle course started out as a simple toy car ramp. It's not pretty or complicated, but my kids didn't care. They loved it, and they loved figuring out ways to make it their own.

Note: this post contains Amazon affiliate links. Qualifying purchases made through these links earn commission.

How to Make a Toy Car Obstacle Course

Follow along as we share how we made our toy car obstacle course!

Instructions

First, make the ramp by propping one of the metal baking sheets on the stack of books. The higher the stack, the steeper the ramp.

Next, continue the road with another baking sheet. Once you are on flat ground, you won't need the metal sheet, but you may want to give the cars a slight off ramp from the sheet to the floor if the lip is too high.

Gather together your Tegu Blocks and start building. How you arrange your blocks is up to you. We placed small blocks randomly so cars would need to swerve around them. Then we created short block tunnels with narrow passageways.

At the end of the course's road, we built a wall with a small opening that cars would need to exit through.

Prop paper rolls along the obstacle course to create tunnels. Tin cans can be strategically located to create "traps" which cars must avoid if they want to finish the course. We had some tin cans with magnets attached, left over from our DIY magnetic building set, and they were the perfect obstacle!

MORE: 20 Ways to Play with Toy Cars

Obstacle Course Variations

If you don't want to use a ramp, you can create an obstacle course directly on the floor. Of course, that means that cars can't race down the hill, but if you make your own road for cars like the one we did, your child will have a fun landscape on which to build the obstacle course.

The variations and obstacles your child can add are endless! Use LEGO blocks, our mystery diy toy or any other toys you can think of to add interest and dimension to the track. The beauty of this toy car play idea is that your child can keep changing things up so each time the cars go for a race, the course is new!

In fact, there may be a lot of traffic jams in your living room's future!

One final note: Yes, my baking sheets are sort of gross looking. However, I like to think that by showing you that my things are not pristine and pretty that you will feel better about your own housekeeping skills. I'm a little lazy when it come to scrubbing grease of my pans. I'd rather be reading.

First published 2013, updated 2023

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As creative as all those sensory bin ideas are, however, sometimes simple is best. Or rather, lazy is best. Because lazy is what I was when I came across a small container of rice mixed with letters and numbers in the closet. It had been sitting in there since my son used it to play the Sift -n-Spell game.

Why a "mini" bin?

My 5 year old loves to run his hand through the rice, looking for letters (making an impromptu alphabet learning activity!), telling me what he finds and spilling a little on the floor (just being honest).

I love sensory bins because they keep him busy and I appreciate a mini bin because it means less rice to vacuum up.

Not only that, mini bins are very portable. If you use a simple plastic food container, like we did here, you can pop a lid on it so take with you, or save for later.

Ideas for mini sensory bins

You can turn any sensory bin or sensory tray into a mini version of itself. Just use a smaller container and fewer add-in items. Here are some sensory bin ideas you can draw on:

• Bubble bath toy car wash
• Shaving cream sensory car wash tray
• Digger toy and bean sensory tray
• Alphabet rice sensory bin
• Toy vehicle rice sensory bin

If you really, really don't want a sensory bin that creates a mess, perhaps I can convince you that it's okay to let your kids make big giant messes.

Still not sure why you should give your kids a sensory bin? Read this.

The post Mini Sensory Bin Play for Quick, Screen-Free Fun appeared first on What Do We Do All Day.

Crisp autumn days, colorful foliage and ripening pumpkins means it's time for fun fall family activities. Fall means classic activities like hay rides, sipping apple cider, jumping in leaf piles and attending fall festivals, but we've got a huge list of fall activities that are worth putting on your family's bucket list.

To help you plan your fall fun, this list is organized into several categories. On a blustery, rainy day choose an cozy indoor fall activity or craft; when the weather is fine head outdoors to the backyard or journey further afield. Finally, don't forget how delicious it is to get cooking with all the fresh fall produce!

We even have a printable check list so you can keep track of all the fall fun you are having. As a bonus, the check list includes a fall fun bingo card to gamify your fall fun.

Note: this post contains affiliate links that may earn commission from qualifying purchases.

Set up a thankful wall or tree

Use index cards, leaf-shaped paper, post-it notes, or real leaves to record a daily gratitude. Attach to a branch or hang on the wall for a visual reminder of everything your family has to be grateful for.

Plant paperwhites

Planting paperwhite bulbs is an easy way to bring nature inside during the cooler months. This fall gardening activity teaches kids about plant biology and they will love watching the plants grow over several weeks. We have detailed instructions for a soil-less method of planting them so there is little-to-no mess for you to clean up.

Play with fall scented play dough

Parents! It may surprise you how fun it is to squeeze and roll play dough, even as an oh-so-sophisticated grown-up. So, make a batch of apple or pumpkin pie scented play dough and spend family time at the table getting in touch with your inner child.

Put together a puzzle

Confession: I am addicted to the 1000 piece Charles Wysocki puzzles from Buffalo Games. Every fall we set up our folding game table, and go through a stack of puzzles with fun fall images. I highly recommend you add puzzles to your fall plans!

Make finger puppets

A blustery day is a great time to build a tabletop puppet theater, print out and color these Halloween finger puppets and put on a show!

Play charades

Is there a better fall family game than charades? It doesn't cost a penny, everyone can play, and it is bound to make everyone smile and laugh. If you need some help with charade topics, you can print out our Thanksgiving charade cards.

Create a falling leaf window

A fall leaf window is my absolute favorite way to decorate for fall. Cut leaf shapes from cellophane in different colors. Then, use a paint brush to apply a solution of dish soap and water to the leaves and they will stick to the windows! See how we created a beautiful "stained glass" autumn leaf window.

Family game night

Sometimes we forget to have family game night during long summer evenings, but with the earlier sunsets and darker evenings, autumn is the perfect time to resurrect family game night. Choose a family favorite, or try one of these award-winning games for all ages.

Keep calm and color on

Fall and Halloween coloring pages are excellent calming activities when kids are stuck inside. They also make good quiet time activities during story time. Check out our collection of Halloween coloring pages.

Fall Cooking Favorites

Fall is a great time to spend time in the kitchen with your kids. They can do small jobs or cook a favorite recipes.

Pop popcorn on the cob

Did you know you can make popcorn while the corn is still on the cob? You can! And kid LOVE it. You'll need a special popcorn cob. It takes just two minutes and you can still use your microwave. Be sure to put on your favorite movie based on a children's book while you snack.

Create a new fall-themed trail mix

Trail mix is a great snack to temp kids who'd rather be eating potato chips and cookies. Good trail mix ingredients include roasted chickpeas, roasted pumpkin seeds (make your own!), sunflower seeds, and for an extra treat, add candy corn or fall-colored chocolate candy gems.

Make baked apple cider muffins

Tempt kids into helping in the kitchen with a delicious treat. When you don't have a donut pan, this baked apple cider muffin recipe is an easy substitute for apple cider donuts.

Make a pie

Apple? Pumpkin? Pecan? What's your family's favorite pie? If you buy a ready-made pie crust, dessert will be ready in no time.

Roast pumpkin seeds

After you've carved your jack-o'-lantern, save, wash and dry the seeds. Spread them out on a baking sheet, sprinkle with salt and roast for about 20 minutes at 325 degrees, tossing every 5 minutes or so.

Make caramel popcorn

Who doesn't solve the salty sweetness of caramel popcorn? Try out this recipe if you need one. I always like to cut the amount of sugar but that's up to you!

Bake autumn leaf cookies

Turn your favorite sugar cookie recipe into a tray of delicious autumn treats. It's easy to make your cookies look like multicolored fall leaves with a leaf-shaped cookie cutter and the addition of some natural food dye.

Make apple cider

Heat up that jug of apple cider you bought at the farmer's market. Add in a few extra spices like star anise seed pods and cinnamon sticks. Serve with your favorite fall desert or sip during family game night.

Fall Crafts

Fall crafts are a great way to celebrate the changing of the season. We've shared our 9 favorite fall crafts, but here are some more!

Paint pumpkins

My kids never wanted to scoop out pumpkin guts, but we still decorated pumpkins with paint. Spread out newspaper, get out the paint and brushes and allow the kids to decorate their pumpkins however they want, whether it's to give them spooky faces or cover them with polka dots.

Make jack-o'-lanterns from turnips

Get in touch with the Irish origins of the jack-o'-lantern by carving faces in large turnips, rutabagas or parsnips. Truthfully, they are a lot creepier than a pumpkin jack-o'-lantern! The smaller tools in a pumpkin carving kit should work just fine when carving root vegetables.

Make a fall leaf wreath

We've made fall leaf wreaths for many years. Have your kids gather a basket of beautiful fall leaves. Cut out a wreath shape from a piece of cardboard or large paper plate. Glue on the leaves, add a ribbon and hang in a sheltered porch or inside.

Make leaf people

First, read Lois Ehlert's book, Leaf Man, for inspiration. Next gather leaves and twigs and other natural materials. Arrange the materials into creatures and glue down to a large piece of construction paper.

Make a fall leaf sun catcher

Take advantage of the beautiful autumnal sunlight. Use our leaf sun catcher template to make fall art to hang in the window. It's such an easy craft that everyone in the family can make one.

Make place cards

Enlist the kids to help with holiday preparations by giving them supplies to craft handmade place cards for family gatherings.

Make milk carton candles

Autumn is the time to start creating a beautiful indoor atmosphere by lighting candles. You can beef up your supply of candles and spend an afternoon crafting with the kids at the same time by making these old-school milk carton candles.

Roll beeswax candles

If melting and pouring wax into a milk carton is still too much work (I hear you!), make simple beeswax candles. A beeswax candle rolling kit makes it even simpler!

Make leaf spinner art

If you have a salad spinner, it's easy to make unique spinner art. Use our easy instructions for making salad spinner art but modify it for autumn by pre-cutting the paper into leaf shapes and using orange, red, yellow, and brown paint colors.

Create fall leaf luminaries

Making luminaries from tissue paper and mason jars is a classic children's craft that will add a subtle glow to any bookshelf. Rhythms of Play shows you how to make luminaries using real leaves.

Hang a diy fall leaf banner

Decorate the house with a fall leaf banner. Gather together fall leaves while they are still soft. Pass a needle and thread through the base of each leaf until you have the length of banner you wish.

Make napkin rings

Along with the aforementioned homemade place cards, kids can make napkin rings. Cut up the cardboard paper towel roll into two inch sections. Set out decorative paper, glue, stickers, ribbon, anything else you can think of and see what fancy napkin rings your kids create!

Make your own Halloween costumes

Halloween costumes don't have to be complicated. Challenge your kids to make their own costumes. If necessary, visit a local thrift store for inexpensive clothing items and costume jewelry.

Craft a Harvest Moon

Learn about the phases of the moon, read Long Night Moon by Cynthia Rylant to learn the names of all the special monthly moons, then spend family time together making a Harvest Moon craft. Don't forget to read more picture books about the moon!

Take leaf rubbings

Leaf rubbings is a fun art project for a nature journal. Place leaves under a sheet of paper or journal page and rub over it with a crayon. Watch the leaf outline magically appear. Be sure to make leaf rubbings from different tree species.

Backyard Fall Fun

Sometimes the most fun can be had in your own backyard, especially if pumpkins are involved!

Rake leaves

Quick! Before kids realize that raking leaves is a chore, give them a pint-sized rake and enjoy some exercise in the crisp fall air.

Jump in a leaf pile

Leaf jumping is a classic fall activity! Just try not to completely undo all your hard work.

Make s'mores

Everyone associates s'mores with summer but it's also a fall fun activity. Take a tray of skewers, chocolate bars, marshmallows and graham crackers outside. You can either fire up the grill, or light a bonfire in a fire pit, if you have one. If you don't have the facilities to make s'mores outside, you can make them in the microwave.

Sleep under the stars

Fewer mosquitos and less humidity means a much more comfortable open-air sleeping environment than a sweltering summer night. Take advantage of the autumnal weather by setting out sleeping bags on a clear night. Even if your kids only want to hang out for a little bit, and decide to spend the rest of the night indoors, that's okay. Laying under the stars even for a little while is a grand experience.

Make bird feeders

As the flora dies back and food becomes scarce, feathered friends will appreciate dining locally in your backyard. Here are four ways to make a bird feeder. My favorite is the halved-out orange.

Build a scarecrow

Gather some old clothes to make a scarecrow. Draw a face on a pillow case to use for the head, and use gloves for hands. Country living has detailed instructions, as well as some creative ideas to make your scarecrow unique. Place your scarecrow on your porch or in your garden when you decorate for fall.

Plant chrysanthemums

Most local nurseries sell seasonal mum plants at reasonable prices. If you purchase them in small containers and then replant them at home in larger pots, it's cheaper and the plants will last longer than if you buy already large specimens. It's a very easy way to decorate and your kids will love choosing the colors.

Plant bulbs for spring color

Since they won't see the results of their efforts until spring, planting bulbs in the fall teaches kids about patience. I recommend daffodils, not just because they are my personal favorite flower, but because they are nearly bulletproof. Unlike tulips, animals won't eat them and they will come back year after year.

Have a picnic

It's not winter yet! There's still time to eat al fresco, especially on an unseasonably warm autumn day. Spend time with your kids planning and prepping the meal. Then let them set up the picnic blanket and cutlery while you bring out the picnic food. As a bonus, read these picnic picture books while you eat!

Decorate the front porch

Did you make a scarecrow? Paint pumpkins? Carve turnips? Plant mums? Gather all those fall crafts you made with your kids and decorate the front of the house.

Press late season flowers

Late season flowers like native asters, goldenrod, hydrangea and rudbeckia are wonderful to preserve through pressing. Your kids can press them in a nature journal for posterity or use pressed flowers to decorate homemade bookmarks or greeting cards.

Play pumpkin bowling

Fall family fun should always include outdoor games. Use liter bottles as bowling pins, and a large pumpkin as a bowling ball and see how many pins you can knock down!

Set up a family photo shoot

Take advantage of fall leaves as a colorful backdrop for a family photo. Be sure to have a camera handy during all of the activities on this list and by December you'll have a photo album of memories.

Set up a mini pumpkin hunt

Think of this fall activity as an Easter Egg Hunt, but with mini pumpkins and gourds. Buy a big bag of mini pumpkins or decorative gourds and hide them around the yard. Be sure to have prizes for who collects the most gourds, who finds the weirdest-looking one, and who finds the biggest one.

When the hunt is over, your kids can use the mini pumpkins for a printing art project.

Out and About

Fall is for field trips. Bundle up the family and go on a fall adventure!

Go birding

Fall is migration season for many bird species. Our winter birding with kids tips are relevant, even in autumn.

Visit a pumpkin patch

Choosing a pumpkin from a local pumpkin patch is one thousand times more fun than picking one up from the grocery store.

Go apple picking

Visiting a local u-pick farm for apples is a time-honored tradition. Sure, it's easier to buy them at the store, but do they really taste as good? Set up an scientific apple taste test like we did and find out!

Visit the farmer's market

Just in case you can't make your own apple cider donuts and pumpkin pies, fall is the perfect time to visit the farmer's market. You'll find all kinds of seasonal treats plus plenty of gourds and dried flower arrangements to decorate the home. Try these 5 farmer's market activities for kids.

Visit a historic house

We love visiting historic sites! Most historic houses, no matter where you live will host special fall themed events. Check the calendars of sites near you to find out what's on offer and then mark the date for a fun family fall outing.

Find a fall festival

Maybe the fall festival is at a historic house, maybe it's at a u-pick farm, pumpkin patch or a farmer's market! Learn about fall equinox festivals from different cultures. Some communities host a Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival, or Moon Festival. The Buddhist celebration of Ohigan is held during the equinox, and Hindus celebrate Navaratri.

Go on a neighborhood scavenger hunt

It's not difficult to put together a scavenger hunt for your kids, but it's even easier to use this free printable from KC Edventures.

Visit the library

Stuck inside on a rainy afternoon? Visit your local library. It's free and the shelves of books means there is endless entertainment. I bet the children's librarian will love to try one of your freshly made apple cider donuts.

Get lost in a corn maze

If there wasn't a corn maze at the fall festival you went to, search for a maze near you and get lost in one!

Volunteer at a food bank

Call your local food bank to find out what's the best way for your family to volunteer. Perhaps they would like you to host a food drive, pack boxes or serve meals. Getting the kids involved in volunteering at a young age will help them grow up to be productive members of the community.

Go for a hike

Ooh and aah at the fall foliage by going for a scenic hike (or two, or three).

Visit a local botanical garden

See what's in bloom, what leaves are changing colors and go for a calming stroll at the botanical gardens. Most communities have a botanical garden within driving distance. If you've never been, you are missing out!

Walk across a long bridge

If you live near a long, scenic pedestrian bridge, autumn is a lovely time to take a stroll. We like to head over to the Walkway Over the Hudson to take in the gorgeous view. Turn it into a day trip, stop for ice cream (or apple cider) or bring a picnic. Don't forget your kids' nature walk field bag full of fun gadgets!

Collect seeds for a seed collection

Seeds and seed pods are fascinating detritus from Mother Nature. Your kids can make their own seed collecting container from an egg carton. Then, fill each section with a different type of seed. They can search for maple seed spinners, chestnuts, sweet gum pods and acorns, among many others!

Go on a Historic Walking Tour

Families sometimes forget to do the "touristy" things in their own neighborhood! Does your town or city have a walking tour? They may even have a special fall themed ghost walking tour that gives away the local haunts and secrets.

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