Apple Themed Activities for the Fall

What better time than now to do some apple-themed activities with your family? This is on of my favorite themes, because there is so much you can do with it! Compliment any or all of these activities with a trip to a local apple orchard for some apple picking, and your family will be happy as can be!

Art Projects

Apple Printing: Cut apples into halves or quarters. Dip them in paint, and use them as stamps on paper!

Cinnamon Apples: Cut apple shapes out of paper plates. Have everyone decide whether they like red apples, green apples or yellow apples best. Then, everyone can paint their apple shape the color of their favorite apple. While the paint is still wet, sprinkle the aples with cinnamon. When you hang them up, they'll make your house smell so sweet!

Applesauce Playdough: Mix one cup of store-bought applesauce with one cup of cinnamon. Knead it into a dough. The cool thing about this dough is, after a few days, it will dry hard. So you can use cookie cutters to make ornaments, or create your own small toys. When the items dry, they will continue to have a pleasant apple-cinnamon smell for a long time... possibly forever!

Games

Hot Apple: Play this game just like Hot Potato. Everyone sits in a circle, except for one person who is controlling the music. The people in the circle pass the apple around. When the music stops, everyone freezes, and whoever is caught with the apple in their hands has to get out of the circle! The game continues until only one person is left holding the apple.

Red Apple, Green Apple: Just like Red Light, Green Light, but with an apple! When you hold up the green apple, everyone runs... but when you hold up the red apple, they have to stop!

Bobbing For Apples: If this game has always seemed a little unsanitary to you, try a different version by giving everyone their own bucket or pot of water.

Apples Hanging From String: Tie strings around the stems of apples, one for each family member who is playing. Hang the strings from the ceiling. Everyone has to keep their hands behind their backs, and try to eat the apples! Its tricky because the apples will swing around and be hard for kids to catch in their mouths!

Snacks and Desserts

If you do go to the apple orchard, you're going to have a ton of apples on your hands! Here are some ideas for delicious snacks and desserts you and the others in your family can make together, using all of those applies. Remember to let the kids help.. Even the littlest kids can stir, roll a rolling pin, pour ingredients, or just be a taste tester!

Apple Sauce
Apple Pie
Apple Cider
Apple Pizza
Apple Juice
Cinnamon Apples
Fried Apples
Candied Apples
Caramel Apples
Chocolate Dipped Apples
Apple Cobbler

Miscellaneous

You may remember this idea from when you were a child. Use an apple corer to core an apple. Then, cut the core in half to find the "star" of seeds inside!

Don't forget to read the story of Johnny Appleseed, some time during your apple-themed day or week! Johnny Appleseed loved to share apples with the people he met. Carry on his tradition by giving applies, apple-flavored treats, or apple-themed crafts to your friends and family members! And remember to tell your children that they're the "apple of your eye!"

Have fun!