Fall is here which means cozy sweaters and cute boots. It also means it’s time for fall activities like apple picking, pumpkin carving and scarecrows. Simple Fall Activities for Kids, Especially Toddlers
- Handprint Apple Tree craft for toddlers to make (from Simple Everyday Mom)
- Fall Leaf Painting made from leaves found outside (from Meaningful Mama)
- Jack O’Lantern Sensory Bin (from Happy Toddler Playtime)
- Leaf Hunt (from This Little Home of Mine)
- Make Pumpkin Scented Play Dough (from Your modern Family)
- Popsicle stick puzzles (from Made Everyday)
- Apple Stamping Picture (from Premeditated Leftovers)
- Pumpkin Painting (from Glued To My Crafts)
- Apple Stained Glass Sun Catchers (from kindercraze)
Table of Contents
Fall Bucket List of Activities to Do with Kids [printable]
Get your FREE printable Fall Bucket List here. Our fall bucket list ideas is one that the whole family will enjoy! From apple cider, corn mazes, and scarecrow making it’s full of ideas that will make fall fun.
- Go apple picking
- Drink apple cider
- Visit a pumpkin patch
- Carve or decorate Jack O’Lanterns
- Take a hayride
- make a scarecrow or draw a picture of one
- Bake apple cupcakes
- Navigate a corn maze
- Make s’mores
- Jump in a pile of leaves
- Make a craft with leaves from outside
- Make a pine cone Christmas tree
- Read a book about Fall
- Make a wreath
- Have a fall picnic
You can do our Bucket List two different ways:
- Print out our Fall Family Bucket List and hang it on your fridge to check items off as you go. You can also frame or laminate it and use an Expo marker so that you can reuse the list next year.
- Another fun idea, cut each idea into a strip, fold it, put in a jar or brown bag and pick a new adventure.
Our Fall Family Bucket List printable is just what you need for a fun memory filled season. From apple cider, scarecrows, apple pie cupcakes and a fall picnic, it’s full of fun ideas.
#1 Go Apple Picking
We love apple picking! Our orchard is a fun outing because it has a petting farm, playground, kettle corn, food stand and store. It’s pretty amazing so if you are ever in New England be sure to check out Tougas Family Farm for a fun fall outing with the family.
Not only is it a fun filled day but at the end of the day you get to go back home with some delicious apples. Depending when you go you can probably snag some final picks of white and yellow peaches. What will you make? Maybe an Apple Pecan Cake with Caramel Glaze or Old Fashioned Apple Crisp and don’t forget to bring some to friends, co-workers, or neighbors.
#2 Drink Apple Cider
Chilly days and a warm mug of apple cider (cue the throw blankets and chunky sweaters)…is there anything better?
For the adults you can make a Spiked Caramel Apple Cider, if you love apple cider and Baileys then you’ll love this happy little union. These are perfect for an afternoon cocktail or just sipping while you snuggle under your favorite throw blanket and read a book.
#3 Visit a Pumpkin Patch
Can you imagine fall without pumpkins? Neither can I. Roundup the family and visit a pumpkin patch to pick out the perfect pumpkin for carving or painting. When everyone has found their perfect pumpkin, bring them home to make a great fall creation. Don’t forget to bring a camera to take pics of your toddler in the pumkin patch.
#4 Carve or Decorate a Pumpkin
Now that you have picked pumpkins you can tap into your creative side and carve or decorate them. Check out these 43 Pumpkin Carving Designs That’ll Wow Your Neighborhood. For little ones who aren’t ready to carve yet try Pumpkin Painting. For even more fun, invite family and friends over to see your pumpkin masterpieces. Then have your guest blind vote on their favorite pumpkin. The pumpkin with the highest score gets a prize or treat. Will they be scary, cute or something in the middle? The possibilities are endless and it is sure to be fun and entertaining. Best part is that you’ll have some cool fall decor to put on your porch afterwards.
#5 Take a Hayride
Most pumpkin and apple orchards have hayrides. Little kids love getting pulled along behind a tractor.
#6 Make a Scarecrow or Draw a Picture of One
You may live in the city with no crows in sight, but it’s still fun to make a scarecrow. They also make for a cute fall decor. I really love this life-sized scarecrow painting toddler activity from Keep Toddlers Busy.
#7 Bake Apple Cupcakes
Don’t let a rainy day rain on your fall activities. Instead, bake cupcakes – these Apple Pie Cupcakes from Maria’s Kitchen look amazing. I can’t wait to try them with the apples from our apple picking bounty.
#8 Navigate a Corn Maze
We love to go to Davis Mega Maze that has activities and challenges you can do along the way. Around Halloween they have a Fright Maze which may be cool for older kids or as an adults only outing. The maze is 8 acres of corn field and can take anywhere from 30minutes to 3 hours. Don’t get scared, there are Maze Masters within the maze waiting and ready to help you if you get frustrated. This maze is in Sterling, MA but if you don’t live nearby then you can do a Google search for one in your area.
For some added fun invite friends and their family to a challenge. The losing family buys ice cream for the winning family.
#9 Make S’mores
Make s’mores over a bonfire, tell spooky stories and enjoy the company of family and friends around the warm fire. Have fun by trying different kinds of s’mores. Need ideas? Try these sure to please s’more combinations:
- The classic – Graham cracker, milk chocolate and toasted marshmallow.
- Nutty Buddy – Graham cracker, Reesees Peanut Butter Cup and toasted marshmallow.
- Grasshopper – Graham cracker, peppermint Patty and toasted marshmallow.
- Mexican Hot Cocoa – Graham cracker, milk chocolate, cinnamon, nutmeg, cayenne, toasted marshmallow
- Samoa – Graham cracker, caramel square, toasted coconut, toasted marshmallow
- The Turtle – Graham cracker, sea salt caramel, pecans, toasted marshmallow
#10 Jump in a Pile of Leaves
This is pretty simple and pure good ol’ fashion fun and the kids get a kick out of jumping in piles of leaves. It’s a clever way to get kids to get fresh air and burn off some of that stored up energy from the shorter days of fall. It seems silly but this simple activity will entertain my kids for hours. The physical activity of twirling, jumping, and running through leaves always wears them out that the rest of the evening is really low key. No one is bothering me about being bored – they are just enjoying independent down time.
Your toddler will also enjoy jumping in a pile of leaves. Leaves are such a sensory experience and offers so many learning opportunities. I like to involve my toddler by asking who can create the biggest pile of leaves? Then help her build a pile and try to beat her sioblings. I also ask, how many different colored leaves can you find? Then I help her find different leaves and prompt her to identify each color. Lastly, I ask who can find the biggest and smallest leaf? Then help her identify big and bigger, small and smaller, big and small.
#11 Make a Craft with Leaves from Outside
An easy leaf craft the kids are sure to love and will make great fall decor or gift is this easy Clay Autumn Leaf Bowl Craft from Red Ted Art.
#12 Make a Pine Cone Christmas Tree
One cool craft is painting a pine cone green with white tips and glue it to a miniature planter pot. You can even add glitter for it to look like glistening snow or hot glue beads for ornaments. Get creative, the possibilities are endless.
#13 Read a Book About Fall
Looking for happy fall book ideas? Here are a couple books the little ones will enjoy. My toddler loves being read to and reading fall themed books makes it on my list of fall activities with toddlers.
- Fletcher and the Falling Leaves – Julia Rawlinson
- Hello, Fall – Deborah Dieson
- Pumpkin Jack – Will Hubbell
- Because of an Acorn – Lola and Adam Schaefer
- Leaves – David Ezra Stein
- Too Many Pumpkins – Linda White
All these books are on my Amazon storefront Full disclosure: I do receive a small commission but it doesn’t affect your cost at all
#14 Make a Wreath
Any wreath will do but I love this super simple and cute Autumn Paper Leaf Wreath by Mum in the Madhouse. It looks easy enough to do with my toddler, child and tween.
#15 Have a Fall Picnic
My family loves picnics in the summer but picnics can also happen in the fall. Pick a quiet spot, pack simple food, hot drinks in thermos, a few cozy blankets, and for some fancy vibes add a centerpiece. Hot chocolate, tea, or apple cider are a must for a cozy fall picnic. Blankets are another picnic essential – some to lay on and some to cuddle under. Centerpieces aren’t a must but look super cute. Just pack an extra jar with some water and have the kids pick flowers or foliage along the way or bring some fresh flowers with you. We love going to the lake and sitting by the water. It’s beautiful all year round. You can have your picnic in a local park, state park, reservoir or anywhere quiet and with a view.
Tip: Don’t complicate your picnic with fancy food. Kids are pretty simple. Carry a couple baguettes, cheese, and meats so everyone can make sandwiches. You can also carry soup in thermos and maybe a premade fruit/veggie platter from the grocery story.
That’s it…
I hope you liked the 9 simple activities to do with toddlers and our fall bucket list. If you do any of them be sure to come back and let me know how it went. Print your bucket list here:
