Autumn Ideas for Preschoolers – get them Active & Outdoors
Autumn or fall is a magical season for children, with its crisp air, vibrant leaves, and countless opportunities for outdoor fun and autumn crafting. For preschoolers, it’s the perfect time to explore, learn, and stay active. Here are some delightful autumn activities to get your little ones outside and moving.
Leaf Collecting
Tree identification with leave shapes
Turn a simple walk into an educational adventure nature walk by identifying trees by their leaf shapes and fall shades. Take this printable tree ID guide from the Woodland Trust outside and use it in your garden, in your village or town, or the local woods.
This is a great activity that will trigger all sorts conversations about tress:
- Have a competition on who can find the most leaves
- Look at the leaf shapes, the wonderful colour and sizes and talk about how they are different
- Why do leaves change colour in the autumn
- For older kids you can talk about photosynthesis
Arts and crafts with leaves
Fall leaves and twigs make a wonderful, inexpensive natural craft materials that the kids will adore. These crafts for kids ideas will keep your preschoolers engaged, creative and help their fine motor skills.
- Spooky leaf ghost: Turn leaves into spooky ghosts by painting them white and adding a spooky face with a black marker. These make for a fun and inexpensive Halloween decoration. Boo! This activity is perfect for little ones as they practice painting and drawing.
- Leaf people: Draw faces on the leaves and add arms and legs to super cute little leaf people. Enhance them with googly eyes for extra charm.
- Leaf lion: Gather dried leaves to make a lion’s mane. Use brown paper for the head and get creative by adding twigs for the whiskers.
- Leaf clay dish: Older children and even adults will enjoy making leaf clay dishes. You’ll need real leaves, air-dry clay, acrylic paint, and Mod Podge gloss. These beautiful dishes are perfect for holding jewellery, coins, keys, or other small items
Leaf pile jumping
Raking leaves into a big pile and letting your child jump in is a classic fall activity. It’s a fun way to get some great exercise and provides endless entertainment. Just make sure the pile is safe and free from sticks or other sharp objects.
Embrace the outside
Nature Scavenger Hunt
Write a list of autumn items for your children to find, such as acorns, pine cones, stick, or specific coloured leaves. This activity gets kids moving, sharpens their observation skills, and keeps them engaged with their surroundings. Tailor the list to include items of various colours, textures, and sizes to make the hunt more challenging and educational.
To add an educational twist, include a brief description or fun fact about each item on the list. For example, explain why leaves change colour in the fall or talk about the animals that rely on acorns for food.
Geocaching
Geocaching is an outdoor treasure hunt for kids, using GPS-enabled devices. Players navigate to specific coordinates to find a hidden geocache (container). Bring a pencil, GPS, and a small trinket. Upon finding the cache, log your name and date. You can exchange trinkets if available. This activity is a fun way for kids to explore and enjoy the vibrant autumn colours. For more information, visit geocaching.com.
Go Plogging
Plogging, a Swedish fitness activity, combines jogging with “plocka upp” (picking up) litter. Adapt it for your family by walking, jogging, or scootering, and talk about the importance of protecting our environment. Set fun goals like filling a bin bag or cleaning a specific area, and see the pride on your kids’ faces when you achieve it. Make plogging a habit on your outings by keeping plastic bags and gloves in your pockets or backpacks, ready to clean up wherever you go.
Den building
Building a den with kids is great fun! Gather branches, leaves, and other natural resources to assemble a cozy hideaway. Let their imaginations run wild as they decorate with autumn colours, making it a perfect outdoor adventure.
Texture/sensory hunt
Engage toddlers in a texture/sensory hunt make your own worksheet on fall items to find. Explore nature to find various textures, such as the rough bark of trees, smooth rocks, soft leaves, a bumpy stick, and prickly horse chestnuts. Write down your observations—smooth, delicate, rough, bumpy, soft, or prickly. Include sticks and other objects to make the hunt more diverse and educational.
Crafting with nature ideas
After the scavenger hunt, use the collected items for easy autumn art. These nature crafts keep little hands busy and encourage creativity.
- Nature collages: Use leaves, twigs, and seeds to make collages on paper or newspaper. This activity is perfect for kids to explore different textures and colours.
- Stick sculptures: Design sculptures by gluing sticks and other nature’s treasures onto a base. Kids can add extra details like leaves or small figures, such as an owl, to enhance their creations.
Pumpkin Patch Visits
A trip to a pumpkin patch is an exciting outing. Let your kids pick their own pumpkin and explore the vibrant autumn colours.
- Exploring the pumpkin patch: The array of colours provides a sensory feast and an educational experience.
- Pumpkin pie fun: Extend the fun by making pumpkin pie together, involving your preschooler in every step from scooping out the pumpkin to mixing ingredients.
Autumn Obstacle Course
Set up a simple obstacle course in your backyard using autumn-themed items. Jump over small pumpkins, crawl under “spider webs” made from string, and hop between “piles of leaves”. Incorporate Halloween elements by adding spooky decorations, like plastic spiders or ghost cutouts. This activity builds gross motor skills, keeps kids active, and adds a festive Halloween twist.
Bird Watching
Autumn is a great time for bird watching as many species migrate. Equip your child with a simple pair of binoculars and a bird guidebook. Nature walks through a park or your backyard, looking for birds like the owl and other fall migrants, can be a peaceful yet engaging way to spend a fall afternoon with small children.
Apple Picking
Visit an orchard and let your kids help pick apples. This activity promotes physical activity and teaches them where their food comes from. Plus, you can later use the apples for baking or making homemade applesauce together.
Autumn DIY Craft Activities for Preschoolers
Autumn is a fantastic time for creative projects with toddlers. Here are some DIY craft activities that use natural materials and common supplies, ideal for keeping little hands busy and engaged.
Leaf stamping
Collect a variety of leaves and paint one side of each leaf with autumn colours. Press the painted leaves onto paper to make beautiful leaf prints. Simple leaf crafts helps allows kids to explore colours and textures from the very beginning.
Bright Autumn Owl Art
Design a vibrant autumn owl by drawing it perched on a tree branch. Use bright fall colors and glue newspaper pieces for added texture and depth. This DIY crafts project encourages creativity and enhances drawing skills.
Pine cone bird feeders
Gather pine cones and cover them with peanut butter or lard to act as a glue. Roll the sticky pine cone in birdseed and hang it outside. This craft is a great way to attract local birds and teach children about wildlife, suitable for ages 3 and up.
Acorn cap hats
Collect acorn caps and use them to produce tiny hats. Glue the caps to small pieces of paper or felt to make charming little hats for dolls or figurines. This activity enhances fine motor skills and creativity, and is perfect for preschoolers at the beginning of their crafting journey. Add in some other nuts (chestnuts, hazelnuts) and pinecones and get creative!
Pumpkin Decor
Use mini pumpkins or gourds as a base for decorating. Provide markers, paint, and other craft supplies for your child to make their own pumpkin masterpieces. This activity introduces autumn colours and designs and is enjoyable for children of all ages.
Nature collages
Collect various fall natural materials like leaves, twigs, and seeds. Use these items to build a nature collage on a piece of paper or newspaper. This craft promotes creativity and helps children learn about different textures and shapes.
Cute Fall Squirrel Craft
For a charming fall crafting project, make a cute squirrel using a paper plate! Start by painting the plate for the squirrel’s body. Once dry, use glue to attach shredded paper as the squirrel’s fluffy tail.
Add texture and interest with fingerprints dipped in paint for the fur details. Decorate the face with pom poms for the eyes and nose. This DIY art project is a fun and creative way for kids to celebrate autumn and enhance their crafting skills.
Fall wreaths
Create a fall wreath using a paper plate or cardboard ring as the base. Glue on fall leaves, acorns, and small twigs to make a festive decoration for your home. This activity is great for practicing hand-eye coordination and celebrating the season.
Handprint tree art
Have your toddlers paint their hands and press them onto a piece of paper to create a tree with handprint leaves. Add details with markers to complete the picture.
Fall Tree Craft
Craft a wonderful fall tree using glue, paint, and tissue paper! Start by painting a large sheet of paper with fall colours, experimenting with colour mixing to achieve vibrant hues. Once dry, use glue to attach tissue paper pieces to form the tree’s foliage.
For added fun, use fingerprints dipped in paint to produce textured leaves on the tree. Finally, add googly eyes to give your tree a playful touch.
Apple printing
Slice apples in half and dip them in paint to create apple prints on paper. The apple’s texture makes for a fun and unique print, perfect for creating autumn-themed artwork. You can also use apple prints to make greeting cards or wrapping paper for a personalised touch.
Leaf crown
Create a beautiful leaf crown as a fun leaf art craft for kids. It’s a great activity with endless creative ideas, using vibrant autumn leaves to spark joy and imagination in your little ones. Follow this easy step-by-step guide.
Butterfly fall leaf craft
Create a butterfly leaf craft for kids this autumn! This easy craft involves using leaves as wings, glue, and vibrant shades to design a beautiful butterfly. Perfect for autumn crafts and sparking creativity.
Paper Owl
Create an cute owl craft using paper plates, apple stamps, and fingerprints! Paint a paper plate for the owl’s face, use apple stamps for colorful feathers, and add fingerprint details for eyes and texture. This fun craft blends creativity with autumn charm.
Embrace the Autumn Outdoors
With a wealth of outdoor activities for kids this autumn (or Fall, if you prefer), you’ll be eager to stay outside! Delight in the vibrant sights, crisp scents, and endless natural wonders. Are you set to call this your favourite season?
