Fun Fall Activities for Preschoolers: Exploring Autumn Colors and Nature

As the leaves change color and the air turns crisp, fall becomes a magical time for preschoolers to explore and discover the wonders of nature. This season is rich with opportunities for sensory play, creative leaf art, and outdoor adventures that help children connect with the natural world around them. In this blog, we’ll give you a few ideas on how you can make the most of autumn with fun and engaging activities that celebrate the beauty of fall.

Sensory Play: Experiencing Fall Through the Senses

Leaf Sensory Bins: Create a sensory bin filled with a variety of fall leaves, acorns, pinecones, and small pumpkins. Encourage your child to explore the textures, colors, and shapes by sorting, touching, and even smelling the different items. Adding scoops, tweezers, and small containers can make this activity even more interactive, allowing children to practice fine motor skills as they play.

Pumpkin Spice Playdough: Make homemade playdough and add pumpkin spice to give it a fall scent. Preschoolers can use the playdough to create their own pumpkins, leaves, or whatever their imagination conjures up. This activity engages their sense of smell and touch, making it a delightful way to bring the essence of fall indoors. 

Nature Walk Sensory Experience: Take your preschooler on a nature walk and collect items like leaves, sticks, and stones. Once back home, create a sensory path by laying out these items and letting children walk barefoot on them (under supervision). This activity not only connects children with nature but also helps them develop sensory awareness.

Leaf Art: Celebrating the Colors of Fall

Leaf Rubbings: Leaf rubbings are a classic fall activity that never gets old. Collect a variety of leaves, place them under a piece of paper, and have preschoolers rub crayons over the paper to reveal the intricate patterns of the leaves. This activity is not only fun but also teaches children about the different shapes and textures of leaves.

Leaf Collages: Provide preschoolers with a variety of leaves, glue, and a large piece of paper or cardboard. Encourage them to arrange the leaves into patterns, shapes, or even pictures. This activity allows them to explore the beautiful colors of fall while fostering creativity.

Nature-Inspired Crown: Using leaves, twigs, and flowers collected on a nature walk, preschoolers can create their own nature crowns. Simply provide a strip of construction paper or cardboard as a base, and help them glue or tape their nature finds onto it. This craft is a fun way to celebrate fall and lets children wear their creations proudly.

Outdoor Activities: Embracing the Fall Season

Leaf Pile Jumping: Rake up a big pile of leaves and let your preschooler jump in, toss the leaves, and have fun. This simple activity never fails to bring joy, and it’s a great way for kids to burn off energy while enjoying the fall weather.

Outdoor Storytime: Take storytime outside to enjoy the fall scenery. Choose books that focus on autumn themes, like changing leaves or pumpkin patches, and read them under a tree or on a cozy blanket. The outdoor setting enhances the experience and helps children associate reading with the joy of nature.

Nature Bracelets: Wrap a strip of masking tape, sticky side out, around your preschooler’s wrist to create a nature bracelet. As you walk through a park or backyard, let them stick small items like leaves, flowers, and seeds onto the tape. By the end of the walk, they’ll have a beautiful, nature-inspired bracelet to show off.

The Benefits of Outdoor Play in the Fall: Staying Active and Healthy

As the crisp air of autumn arrives and the leaves start to change, it might be tempting to keep preschoolers indoors. However, fall is the perfect time to encourage outdoor play, offering a wealth of opportunities for children to stay active and healthy. In this blog, we’ll talk about why outdoor play in the fall is essential and give you some fun ideas for fall-friendly activities to keep your little ones engaged.

Why Outdoor Play is Important in the Fall

Physical Health Benefits: Outdoor play is vital for maintaining and improving physical health. Running, jumping, and exploring help preschoolers develop strong muscles and bones, enhance their coordination, and burn off energy. The cooler fall temperatures are ideal for active play, preventing overheating and making it comfortable for children to be more active for extended periods.

Boosting Immunity: Spending time outside exposes children to fresh air and sunlight, both of which are essential for their immune systems. Even in the fall, the sun provides vitamin D, which is crucial for bone health and immune function. Regular outdoor play can help strengthen their immune systems, making them less susceptible to colds and other seasonal illnesses.

Mental and Emotional Well-being: The natural environment is a powerful mood booster. Time spent outdoors reduces stress and anxiety and helps children develop a positive mood. The sights, sounds, and smells of fall—like the rustling leaves and the crisp air—can be incredibly soothing. Outdoor play also encourages creativity and imagination, allowing children to explore and interact with the world around them in a meaningful way.

Fall-Friendly Outdoor Activities for Preschoolers

Leaf Collecting and Art Projects: Take a nature walk and collect different types of leaves. Back at home, use these leaves to create collages, rubbings, or even leaf animals. This activity not only gets children moving but also introduces them to different shapes, colors, and textures.

Pumpkin Picking and Decorating: Visit a local pumpkin patch where preschoolers can pick out their pumpkins. Decorating pumpkins—whether through painting, stickers, or simple carving—can be a creative outdoor activity that also provides a sense of accomplishment.

Outdoor Scavenger Hunts: Create a simple fall-themed scavenger hunt with items like acorns, pinecones, or different colored leaves. This activity encourages exploration and observation, helping children engage with their surroundings while practicing their problem-solving skills.

Playing in Leaf Piles: Raking up leaves might be a chore for adults, but for preschoolers, it’s an exciting activity. Encourage children to jump in, hide under, or toss leaves into the air. It’s a great way to burn off energy and enjoy the sensory experience of fall. Just make sure you go through any leaf piles before jumping in them first to make sure there’s no debris or unwanted critters hiding in them!

Nature-Themed Storytime: Take storytime outdoors. Choose books that celebrate fall themes, and read them under a tree or in a cozy spot in the yard. This not only connects children to the season but also makes reading an enjoyable outdoor activity.

Fall Sports and Games: Introduce simple sports like soccer or tag in an outdoor setting. The cooler weather is perfect for running around, and the fallen leaves can make for a fun and playful environment. Set up mini obstacle courses using natural materials found in the yard or park.

Tips for Safe and Comfortable Outdoor Play in the Fall

Dress in Layers: As the weather can change throughout the day, dressing in layers ensures that children stay warm without overheating.

Stay Hydrated: Even in cooler weather, children need to stay hydrated. Encourage water breaks during play.Sun Protection: The sun might not feel as strong, but it’s still important to apply sunscreen and wear hats to protect from UV rays.

6 Amazing Books for Autumn

Fall is here and there’s no better way to help your little ones learn about the change in seasons and get them excited for all that fall has to offer than by reading a few books about the new season! This list contains six of our many favorite books about fall that have been released in the last few years!

The Happy Pumpkin

Great for toddlers and preschoolers!

Grown-ups and children can enjoy this magical Halloween book about a happy little pumpkin that will teach little trick-or-treaters not to judge others based on their appearance. Little ones will begin to understand that while everyone should have a shoulder to lean on, first we need to show kindness in order to get it back.

 

The Leaf Thief

Great for toddlers and preschoolers!

Squirrel loves counting the leaves on his tree―red leaves, gold leaves, orange, and more. But hold on! One of his leaves is missing! On a quest to find the missing leaf, Squirrel teams up with his good friend Bird to discover who the leaf thief could be among their forest friends.

 

Playing Through the Seasons: Crunchy Leaves, Cozy Sweaters

Great for toddlers & preschoolers!

Come follow along with a dad, his son, and their hysterical pet chicken as they experience the autumn season on their farm. This enjoyable book, written in rhyme, shows various activities that all can delight in each and every day throughout fall. It is a wonderful way to help children want to put down their devices and discover new pastimes to fill their days.

It’s Fall!

Great for preschoolers & kindergarteners!

Break out your fuzzy socks and cozy scarves! Bring on the doughnuts, cider, and pies! It’s time for corn mazes, trick-or-treating, and all the Thanksgiving food you can eat.… It’s fall! With playful rhymes and lively illustrations, this celebratory book shows the many ways we welcome and enjoy a special season.

 

The Preschool Pumpkin Patch

Great for toddlers, preschoolers, & kindergarteners!

In this delightful children’s book, follow the children as they plant pumpkin seeds with eager hands, nurturing them into vibrant orange treasures. As cooler days arrive, they embark on a joyful exploration of growing pumpkins picking them and collecting seeds, learning valuable lessons of sharing and growth along the way.

Experience the excitement of each season’s transformation as the children create lasting memories, passing on the tradition to new friends in their kindergarten class. “The Preschool Pumpkin Patch” is a heartwarming story that captures the essence of childhood wonder, the joy of giving, and the beautiful cycle of nature.

Nature Stories: Little Acorn

Great for toddlers & preschoolers!

Have you ever wondered about the extraordinary transformation of a little acorn into a big oak tree? Embark on an awe-inspiring adventure as Nature Stories: Little Acorn unveils the captivating tale of growth and metamorphosis. With vibrant illustrations that come alive with every turn of the page, this book provides an enthralling introduction to the fascinating life cycle of trees.

8 Books to Read With Your Child For The Start Of Fall

Fall is right around the corner and there’s no better way to help your little ones learn about the change in seasons and get them excited for all that fall has to offer than by reading a few books about fall! This list contains eight of our many many favorite books about fall! 

Pete the Cat Falling for Autumn: A Fall Book for Kids

Great for toddlers & preschoolers!

Pete the Cat isn’t sure about the changing of the seasons from summer to autumn. But when he discovers corn mazes, hay rides, and apple picking, Pete realizes there’s so much to enjoy and be thankful for about autumn.

Hello, Fall!: A Picture Book

Great for toddlers, preschoolers, & kindergarteners!

Fall is here! Colorful leaves whisper to each other. Geese honk as they flock across the sky. Pumpkins listen patiently from their patch. The season announces itself in all sorts of ways―if you stop to say hello! A grandfather and his granddaughter welcome fall in this sweet, whimsical story about finding beauty and wonder in every moment.

 

There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed Some Leaves!

Great for toddlers & preschoolers!

An autumnal twist on the classic song from the bestselling There Was an Old Lady series for kids! The Old Lady is back and this time she’s swallowing some leaves, clothes, a pumpkin, and a rope! Welcome the Fall season with funny illustrations and a spin on a classic rhyme!

 

 

The Autumn Visitors

Great for preschoolers, & kindergarteners!

In this fourth and final book in Karel Hayes’s acclaimed Visitors series, the beloved family of bears gets in another round of adventures as they experience the full enjoyment of a New England autumn. As always, the bears manage to have all their fun while carefully avoiding detection.

 

Goodbye Summer, Hello Autumn

Great for toddlers & preschoolers!

As trees sway in the cool breeze, blue jays head south, and leaves change their colors, everyone knows–autumn is on its way! Join a young girl as she takes a walk through forest and town, greeting all the signs of the coming season. In a series of conversations with every flower and creature and gust of wind, she says goodbye to summer and welcomes autumn.

Because of an Acorn: (Nature Autumn Books for Children, Picture Books about Acorn Trees)

Great for toddlers & preschoolers!

Because of an acorn, a tree grows, a bird nests, a seed becomes a flower. Enchanting die-cuts illustrate the vital connections between the layers of an ecosystem in this magical book. Wander down the forest path to learn how every tree, flower, plant, and animal connect to one another in spiraling circles of life. An acorn is just the beginning.

 

Too Many Pumpkins

Great for preschoolers, & kindergarteners!

Rebecca Estelle has hated pumpkins ever since she was a girl when pumpkins were often the only food her family had. When an enormous pumpkin falls off a truck and smashes in her yard, she shovels dirt over the pieces and forgets about them. But those slimy pumpkin smithereens sprout up in autumn, and Rebecca Estelle finds a sea of pumpkins in her garden. 

Let It Fall

Great for toddlers & preschoolers!

The leaves turn red, brown, and orange, then drift down from the trees. It is time to go apple picking and on hayrides at the county fair. Fall is finally here! With soft colored art, adorable children, and colorful outdoor scenes, LET IT FALL celebrates all the seasonal awe of autumn.

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