20 Fun Fall Activities for Kids (That Moms Will Secretly Love)

Check out this list of 20 fun fall activities for kids (that adults will love, too!).

Caramel apples, cozy sweaters, colorful leaves, crisp evenings, and pumpkin patches... Are YOU ready for all the beauty and fun that fall has to offer? This year take autumn from good to great with these unique, family-friendly fall activities.

20 Fun Fall Activities for Kids

Bring on autumn...

1. Fall activities can include giving back. Volunteer to rake leaves for people who are elderly or disabled in your community.

Check local event listings for an opportunity to help rake leaves for people in your neighborhood who can't do it for themselves. It will provide your child a sense of community pride and accomplishment. Our girls had a blast helping clean up (and, of course, playing in!) three yards last year during a Saturday citywide rake-a-thon.

Looking for photography tips? You might also like...
5 Fall Family Photography Tips: Capturing Leaf Pile Play

2. One of our favorite autumn activities? Going for a PJ Walk.

Take your kids for a pre-bedtime PJ Walk in the neighborhood. Your children will love being out and about in their pajamas. (Be sure to join in the PJ-wearing fun yourself!) Sometimes it's the simple pleasures that are the most memorable.

3. Try some On-the-Go Reading at a county or state park. Outdoor fall activities can be peaceful too!

Cool weather makes for a perfect afternoon reading adventure at a county or state park. On top of your regular hiking gear, bring a chapter book to read out loud in your backpack. The kids will have fun scoping out the perfect reading and snack stop.

*This photo was sponsored by goodnessknows 

Here are some easy, on-the-trail reading treats that are guaranteed to garner some smiles.

• Apples or pre-cut rubber banded apples, if your kiddo has braces!
• Trail mix (of course!)
• Applesauce snack packs
• Mixed nuts

And if you're looking for a new chapter book to read with your kids while at the park, be sure to check out this Book List my girls helped me create: Read-Aloud Books Your Kids Won't Be Able to Put Down.

4. Be a tourist in your own town. Look for local fall activities for kids in your hometown!

Spend a day exploring downtown. See what your city has to offer. Don't make definitive plans, just go. Explore the shops, historical buildings, and parks in your community.

Of course, all great adventures should end with ice cream.

5. Gardening is one of many great autumn activities for kids — Plant fall flowers or spring bulbs.

Mums are the perfect pop of fall color, and their sturdiness makes them a great planting project for kids. Also, consider planting allium for next spring. These are those beautiful, purple flowers that look like giant, colorful dandelions.

 6. Take a Photography Walk with one of your children. Fall activities that involve leaves are always my favorite!

Let your little one borrow an old camera, a point-and-shoot, or even use the camera on your phone and take them out on a Photo Walk. Look for fun details along the way to capture "on film." Let them practice taking portraits of you and vice versa. Check out this list of tips for making photography fun for kids.

7. Create fall games for kids like this GIANT backyard dice game.

This simple DIY project is sure to create hours of fall fun. Simply purchase a piece of wood at your local lumber store and have them cut it into squares. Sand the edges and add your dice dots. We used a quarter for tracing and permanent markers, so the kids could make the project on their own.

My lady was busy sanding, stacking, and playing for hours.

8. Looking for healthy outdoor activities for kids? Sign up for a Fall Family Fun Run.

Check out your local listings. Many communities even offer a 5K walk/run on Thanksgiving morning. This is a wonderful way to start your day together as a family.

9. Missing summer trips to the local pool? Go swimming—inside!

Check your local waterpark hotels for discounts. Many hotels offer reduced last-minute rates to book rooms. It's the perfect opportunity to slip away somewhere special with the kids for a night and enjoy a day of indoor swimming.

10. Baking Halloween cookies together is a favorite fall tradition.

Get those kiddos in the kitchen! There is nothing better than baking, frosting—AND EATING—cookies on a cool, fall day.

Get the recipe for these soft Halloween Cake Cookies.

11. Going to the Apple Orchard is one of many must-do outdoor fall activities for kids.

This classic autumn activity is an awesome opportunity to slow down and connect with your family. Enjoy all the orchard has to offer (hayrides, cider, caramel apples, etc.), or just enjoy the sunshine and the trees.

12. Put together a surprise "Welcome Fall" gift for a friend.

Teach your kids that sometimes the best gifts are made up of the simplest everyday "thinking of you" items. Have your children help you put together an everyday gift for a friend or family member.

Below are a few items I've randomly collected over the last few weeks for a close friend. I explained the importance of each item to the kids... She loves to read, so the magnetic bookmarks made me think of her. We also share an obsession with high-quality pens, so when I saw the silver and gold set, I had to pick them up for her. Last of all, nothing says, "Love you to the moon and back" more than dark chocolate.

*This photo was sponsored by goodnessknows

Keep your kids involved in the gift-giving. Surprise drop-offs are my favorite approach to everyday presents. Have your little one be in charge of secretly bringing the gift to the door. Once this quiet mission has been accomplished, hop back into the car and be on your way. This teaches the joy of giving without the need for recognition. You can teach your little one how to make someone's day with a similar small gesture.

13. One of our favorite outdoor fall activities? Building an outside fort with blankets to stay warm!

Take those fort-building skills outside. Use old cardboard boxes, blankets, umbrellas, chairs... The sky is the limit. And don't forget the clothespins—They're great for securing blankets.

14. Enjoy those lingering warm afternoons and say "goodbye" to summer.

Does your neighborhood have an ice-cream truck? Ours comes around at a specific time each week. Say goodbye to summer with one last treat from the ice-cream truck. You can literally make an evening of it. Set up a picnic and play yard games until you hear the music announcing its arrival to your street. It's another great opportunity to slow down.

15. Shop at the local Farmer's Market.

Get your favorite fall items and foster independence at your local Farmer's Market. We love getting apple donuts and cider from the local orchard, farm fresh eggs, pumpkins, gourds, and more in autumn. Teach your kids to embrace the season and support local vendors.

16. The simplest but most memorable autumn activity? Throwing an Apple Cider Picnic in the backyard.

Heat up some fresh apple cider and put down a blanket in the ol' backyard. The kids will think you're the bee's knees. (Yep. It's that easy.)

Looking for photography tips? You might also like...
5 Fall Family Photography Tips: Capturing Leaf Pile Play

 17. Fall activities = Gratitude activities. Start a journal with your kids this autumn.

Thanksgiving is around the corner. Consider making a hot-cocoa date with your child at the local coffee shop to start a Gratitude Journal. If your kiddos are too young to write, they can also express their gratitude through an art journal or dictate their thoughts for you to record. Of course, hot cocoa is not required... but it is recommended!

You might also like: 5 Simple Steps to Help Your Child Start a Gratitude Journal

18. Read bedtime stories while cuddling under a blanket.

Autumn is the perfect time to pull out the blankets, snuggle, and read a bedtime story out loud with your family.

No matter what your kids' ages, try to keep this nighttime tradition rolling.

You might also like: Read-Aloud Books Your 8-Year-Old Won't Be Able to Put Down

19. Embrace the darkness with this simple fall activity — String up holiday lights in the bedroom.

Celebrate the fall equinox or daylight savings time by allowing your little one to have white holiday lights up in their room. Last year, my daughter took this annual tradition into her own hands and strung a set of lights around her bunkbed so she could read to the cat. (Of course, later that evening, we safely adjusted and secured them elsewhere in the bedroom.)

Your kids will love having their own private holiday-inspired reading lights. Teach your kids to embrace and celebrate the annual change in light with this fun bedroom activity.

20. Go to the Pumpkin Farm — AKA: The most classic autumn activities of all time.

Yes, I've provided lots of unique fall activities above, but the autumn season is just not complete without a trip to the pumpkin farm! Do not pick-up pumpkins at the grocery store, my friend.

At some point, this family tradition became one of my favorite things to do. To be honest, my tween girls have long since outgrown this fall tradition. Nonetheless, we STILL go every single year to celebrate autumn. (And I suspect that someday they and their own children will, too!)

What's your MUST-DO autumn family activity? I'd love to hear all about it in the comments below.

And if you try any of these twenty fun, fall activities, let me know how they go over with YOUR family.

Happy autumn, my friends!

Love this list of fall activities for kids? Sharing it would make our week. ?

It would make our week if you took a second to share this post on your favorite social media spot. (That's how we know we're on the right track and should continue writing more posts like this!)

Pin it for later: