5 Must Do Toddler-Friendly Fall Activities
I’ve always loved fall; however, I appreciate this season even more now that we live in SC. Our summers are HOT, y’all, so fall is when we venture outside after our 100+ degree summer days. With the official start of fall happening in just a few days (hooray!), I thought I’d kick things off by sharing a few of our family’s favorite fall activities. The best part about these activities is that they are all toddler/preschooler-friendly!
Visit a pumpkin patch. One of my absolute favorite fall activities is venturing out to a local pumpkin patch. I love getting the kids dressed in their cute fall outfits (I’m a sucker for plaid this time of year) and picking out our family’s pumpkin. We let the kids pick out their own individual pumpkins as well. I have such fond memories of visiting the pumpkin patch as a child, and couldn’t wait to share my love for it with my own children. In fact, we took Noah to the patch for his 1st visit when he was just 6 weeks old!
Go on a nature walk. What better time of year to take your little ones out on a nature walk/scavenger hunt than fall?! With the leaves changing colors, it’s also a great way to practice color recognition for toddlers and younger preschoolers. We also love walking through our neighborhood this time of year to look at everyone’s fall & Halloween decorations. On your walk, gather some leaves and take them home for a fun fall craft. Pinterest is filled with awesome fall craft ideas for all ages!
Paint a pumpkin. We always carve our pumpkin every year. Okay, who am I kidding?!ย The hubby carves our pumpkin, and the kids and I usually just watch. I tried getting the kids involved in the carving process last year, but let’s face it, they just weren’t interested. So, last year we tried something a bit different, and let them paint their pumpkins instead. This was something even London, who was only 8 months old at the time, could join in on as well! I especially love that you can do this activity with your kids as early in October as you’d like…no need to wait until a few days before Halloween since there’s no carving required!
Go apple picking. We just started this tradition last year, but apple picking has quickly become a favorite activity in our house. We head up to the NC mountains to our fave apple orchard and make a day out of it! We pick a ton of apples, visit some farm animals, and always make sure we stop for some apple cider and hot apple cider donuts! It is such a fun family outing while getting outside and enjoying the crisp fall air. If you’ve never been to an apple orchard before, I highly recommend giving it a try! {If you are in the SC/NC area, check out Sky Top Orchard in Flat Rock, NC}
Check out a new playground. Like I mentioned earlier, our summers are hot, so we don’t actually spend much time at the playground during the summer months. Fall is the perfect time for outdoor play, and one of the best times to visit that new playground you’ve been meaning to check out!
I’d love to hear YOUR favorite fall activities! Please feel free to share them below! Happy Fall, y’all!
xo,
Sumer
26 Comments
Ellie Augustin
YES to the whole list! I already was planning w/my SIL our annual pumpkin picking an see if we can squeeze in apple picking. We are always on a search for new playgrounds and can’t wait! AHH WE love Fall.
Sumer
Ahh! So much fun! Definitely try to squeeze in apple picking, if you can! ๐
Shannan Panganiban
I cannot wait for all the fall activities!!!
Emily
What a great list! I love that it includes so many outdoor activities. It’s great to get out to enjoy the fall weather…before the dreaded winter comes. ๐
We have to many great parks around us, we love to go explore and find new ones!
Sumer
I completely agree, Emily!
Lauren | also known as mama
Love these activities! We’ve also found that painting pumpkins is much easier (and safer!) with toddlers. I would add trying pumpkin-flavored everything to the list. I may have already started my 3-year-old’s pumpkin spice obsession!
Sumer
Great suggestion!! I’ll have to let my kiddos try some pumpkin-flavored treats, too ๐ Thanks so much, Lauren!
Jasmine Hewitt
This is a great list, we can’t wait to take our son to the pumpkin patch!
Tina@AMindfulFairytale
I love fall and this list is why! So much fun! We love painting pumpkins too!
Jessica Kromer
We took our almost one-year-old to the apple orchard for apple picking last week, and she loved it! Fall is my husband’s and my favorite season, so we can’t wait to do try the rest of this list with our daughter. ๐
Sumer
So glad you guys had a great time apple picking! Fall is such a fun season!
Erin
I love visiting pumpkin patches in the fall, as well as taking a drive up to the mountains. From Lexington, you’re only a couple hours away from the stunning fall colors in NC — an easy day trip. ๐ Apple picking is fun, and you can sometimes find good blackberries in September, too.
xoxo, erin | sandsunandmessybuns.com
Jen
Yes! We love apple picking too!
Milena
I have some of the best photos of my boys when they were little in the Fall doing these things. We live in NY and the colors are awesome!
Sumer
YES! I completely agree about fall being the best time to take photos outdoors.
Meghann
These are great ideas! I can’t wait to do a pumpkin patch with my toddler this year!
Ami
We love to collect leaves and then use them in all kinds of craft projects – we have big plans to paint an Elsa pumpkin this year ๐ happy fall
Sumer
Aww! So much fun. Love the idea of an Elsa pumpkin! ๐
Eryka
Oh i love the fall time! I can’t wait to take Izzy apple picking this year!
Abigail
Love these ideas Sumer! I have never done apple picking before but am trying to plan a weekend trip for my family. I also love hayrack rides and bonfires! Also spiced mulled wine!
Sumer
Definitely try to plan an apple orchard trip; I know you will love it! And yay for hayrides and bonfires, too!!
Stefanie
Great list! XOXO My kids love to paint pumpkins!
Amy
Ummm yes please to all the above! Apple orchard, pumpkins, playgrounds! We love our hayrides too ๐
Sumer
Oh! YES to hayrides! Definitely a must-do activity in the fall!
Samantha Kuzyk
Great post and ideas! love!
Anna
How fun! I love the pumpkin painting idea! I wish I had a place near by I could pick apples. I have always wanted to pick some apples, but I live in Florida so there aren’t any near us. Happy Fall!