How We Keep Our Preschooler Active During the Fall Season

Fall can be an exciting time of year for youngsters. With the changing of the leaves and weather, there is often a sense of excitement in the air among the kiddies for the seasonal transition. As parents, we too can feel this. The smell, the feel, the look of the sky and trees, it's enough to have kids of all ages feeling the goose bumps of anticipation for those chilly months that lie ahead.

There is so much to do and experience during the fall season that it can be important to have a few great autumnal activities ready to go for the whole family to enjoy. Here are a few of the things that we have done or are planning to do with our four-year-old son this year, to get the true feel of fall.

Leaf Jumping

Leaf jumping is a long time favorite of mine and a good standby for parents who live in a geographic area where the leaves fall with the change of season. While it will likely be a bit more work for you to rake those leaves back up after the kids are done playing with them, the memories the activity can make for both you and your kids can make it well worth the effort.

Park Trip

A simple trip to a nearby state park might be all it takes to get your youngster (and you for that matter) into the fall mood. Hiking through that crunchy fall foliage or just driving through the canvas of multi-colored trees that the forest has become could quickly have you in the fall mood and be a fun way to show the little ones just what fall is all about.

Apple Picking

Now that we live in the state of Washington, apple picking is a fun family activity, but even when we lived in Indiana, we sometimes headed out to pick apples come fall time. Not only is it fun for the kids to pick (and eat) apples, but while at the orchard, some hot spiced apple cider can be perfect for getting into the real feel of the season.

Halloween Prep

How can you mention the fall season without thinking of Halloween? It's amazing just how far in advance the stores and advertisers start hocking their holiday decor these days, and in turn, getting the kids all fired up about this special spooky day.

Halloween is my personal favorite when it comes to holidays. From decorating the house to picking out costumes, Halloween offers all kinds of great fall activities in which kids of all ages may partake.

Pumpkin Patch

Speaking of great Halloween related activities, heading out to the pumpkin patch can be an exciting way to start your Halloween preparations. We did this last year when our son was three. Not only is it a way to pick out a good pumpkin or two, but at many pumpkin patches, it's a full event and can be a fun excuse for taking part in activities such as pony rides, hayrides, a pig race or two, seeing the petting zoo, eating some terribly wonderful food, and much, much more.

Hayride

What says fall like a good old-fashioned hayride? The smell of the hay, the excitement as the tractor lurches ahead and bundling up for the spookiness of a night hayride can make for a fun fall event.

Pumpkin Carving

Picking out the family pumpkin can be a fall favorite among kids. You can let your little one decide on the design, help carve (if done safely and supervised by an adult), and even name the pumpkin.

Pumpkin Seed Roasting

I just love butter glazed, salted and roasted pumpkin seeds. Last year was the first time my son and I made and ate them together -- it left me wishing we had a few more pumpkins to carve just for the seeds!

Campfire Stories

With the summer heat gone, it could be the perfect time for a campfire. In your fire pit in the backyard or at a real campsite, having a campfire, roasting marshmallows, and telling fun stories as you bundle up against the chill, could really start your fall season off right.

Zoo

Fall is one of my favorite times to take my son to the zoo since we aren't melting in the summer heat, it's not as crowded with the older kids already back in school, and sometimes special fall activities or exhibits going on.

An Open Eye

We tend to keep an eye open for special area activities during the fall season. We often find that there are a variety of kid-friendly events scheduled at spots like the local library and area community centers, and such locations may be great places to pick up new ideas for your family as well.

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