Fall Activities for Kids: 140 Ideas to Try
Fall is here. The leaves are changing, and the air feels crisp.
But keeping kids busy during this season can be tough. School routines settle in, the weather gets unpredictable, and boredom creeps in fast.
You want your kids to be active, creative, and happy without spending a fortune or stressing over complicated plans.
Good news! We’ve put together fall activities for kids that actually work. From outdoor fun to cozy crafts, spooky Halloween games to kitchen experiments, this list has it all.
Planning a weekend project? Need classroom ideas? Want to start a new family tradition? You’ll find exactly what you need here. Ready to make this fall unforgettable? Let’s get started!
Fall Activities for Kids: Crafts, Games & Fun
Fall brings cozy sweaters, colorful leaves, and endless opportunities for fun. Here are 140 activities to keep your kids entertained from September through November.
Outdoor Fall Activities
Fresh air and falling leaves make fall the perfect time to head outside. Let your kids run, play, and connect with nature.
1. Go on a leaf-color scavenger hunt. Hunt for red, yellow, orange, and brown leaves in your yard or park.
2. Jump into a big pile of leaves. Rake them up high and let the kids jump right in for pure joy.
3. Collect and press colorful leaves. Pick pretty leaves and press them between the pages of a book to save for crafts later.
4. Visit a pumpkin patch. Let kids pick their own pumpkins straight from the field.
5. Go apple picking. Head to an orchard and fill buckets with fresh, crisp apples.
6. Explore a corn maze. Get lost together in a fun corn maze and race to find the exit.
7. Have a fall picnic at the park. Pack sandwiches and snacks, then eat outside on a cool fall day.
8. Take photos of changing trees. Give kids a camera or phone and let them capture fall colors.
9. Go on a nature walk and identify trees. Bring a tree guide and teach kids to spot different species.
10. Gather pinecones for crafts. Collect pinecones to use later for painting or holiday projects.
11. Visit a local farm or petting zoo. Meet farm animals and learn where food comes from.
12. Go on a hayride. Sit on bales of hay and enjoy a bumpy ride around the farm.
13. Build a scarecrow together. Stuff old clothes with hay and create a funny yard decoration.
14. Rake leaves into fun shapes or trails. Make leaf paths, circles, or designs before jumping in them.
15. Watch birds migrating south. Look up and spot flocks of birds heading to warmer weather.
16. Camp in the backyard under fall stars. Set up a tent and sleep outside on a cool autumn night.
17. Go hiking on a forest trail. Explore local trails and enjoy the crisp air and colorful views.
18. Play tag in the leaves. Run around and play classic tag with crunchy leaves underfoot.
19. Visit a fall festival or fair. Enjoy games, rides, food, and seasonal activities in your community.
20. Collect acorns and make patterns. Gather acorns and arrange them into fun shapes or designs.
21. Watch a local high-school football game. Bring blankets and hot cocoa to cheer on the home team.
22. Paint rocks found on a walk. Pick up smooth rocks and paint them with fall designs at home.
23. Make nature bracelets with tape & leave. Wrap tape sticky side out around wrists and stick on tiny leaves.
24. Fly a kite on a windy fall day. Take advantage of breezy weather and watch your kite soar high.
25. Have a family “pumpkin-rolling” race. Roll pumpkins down a hill and see whose goes the fastest.
Indoor Fall Crafts & Art Projects
When the weather turns chilly, bring the creativity indoors. These crafts are colorful, simple, and perfect for little hands.
26. Make leaf rubbings with crayons. Place leaves under paper and rub crayons over them to reveal patterns.
27. Create a paper plate pumpkin. Paint paper plates orange and add green stems for instant pumpkins.
28. Decorate mini pumpkins with markers. Skip the carving and let kids draw silly faces or patterns instead.
29. Craft paper turkeys with handprints. Trace hands on colored paper and arrange them into turkey feathers.
30. Paint fall trees using cotton swabs. Dip cotton swabs in paint and dot them onto paper branches.
31. Make a fall garland from leaves. String real or paper leaves together to hang across the room.
32. Use pasta or beads to make “harvest” jewelry. Thread pasta or beads onto a string to make bracelets and necklaces.
33. Paint pinecones like little owls. Add googly eyes and felt wings to turn pinecones into cute owls.
34. Make a fall wreath with tissue paper. Crumple tissue paper and glue it onto a cardboard circle base.
35. Create an apple stamp painting. Cut apples in half and dip them in paint to stamp fall pictures.
36. Decorate mason jars with fall colors. Paint or glue tissue paper onto jars to make lanterns or vases.
37. Make salt-dough ornaments shaped like leaves. Mix flour, salt, and water, then cut out leaf shapes to bake.
38. Create a “thankful tree” with notes of gratitude. Draw a tree and add paper leaves with things your family is grateful for.
39. Build a cardboard scarecrow. Use old boxes and craft supplies to make a standing scarecrow decoration.
40. Make DIY fall window clings. Use puffy paint on plastic sheets to create reusable window decorations.
41. Paint acorns in rainbow colors. Collect acorns and paint them bright colors for display or play.
42. Design a pumpkin paper lantern. Cut pumpkin shapes from paper and add a battery candle inside.
43. Create a nature collage with real leaves. Glue real leaves, twigs, and seeds onto the poster board for art.
44. Make a pumpkin volcano science craft. Add baking soda and vinegar inside a pumpkin for a fizzy eruption.
45. Use glitter to make “magic fall jars” Fill jars with water, glitter, and food coloring for calming sensory bottles.
Halloween-Themed Fun
Halloween brings extra excitement to fall. These activities are fun and friendly, not too scary for young kids.
46. Carve or paint pumpkins together. Let kids choose whether to scoop and carve or just paint designs.
47. Make ghost lollipops from tissues. Wrap white tissues around lollipops and tie with ribbon for instant ghosts.
48. Host a costume fashion show at home. Let kids model their Halloween costumes and walk a pretend runway.
49. Play “pin the hat on the witch.” Draw a witch on a poster board and play this Halloween version of a classic game.
50. Make Halloween slime (orange & black). Mix glue, borax, and food coloring to make stretchy Halloween slime.
51. Decorate your porch with paper bats. Cut bat shapes from black paper and tape them to walls or windows.
52. Create glow-in-the-dark spooky jars. Paint jars with glow paint and add battery lights for spooky decor.
53. Go trick-or-treating in your neighborhood. Dress up and walk door to door collecting candy on Halloween night.
54. Make footprint ghosts with paint. Dip feet in white paint and stamp them on paper to make ghost shapes.
55. Watch a family-friendly Halloween movie. Pick a fun, not-too-scary movie like “Hocus Pocus” or “Casper” to watch together.
56. Bake spooky cupcakes or cookies. Make treats and decorate them with icing, candy eyes, and sprinkles.
57. Do a Halloween scavenger hunt indoors. Hide Halloween toys or candy around the house for kids to find.
58. Build a mini haunted house out of cardboard. Use boxes, markers, and craft supplies to create a spooky house.
59. Make pumpkin-seed necklaces. Clean and dry pumpkin seeds, then paint and string them together.
60. Create monster puppets with paper bags. Decorate paper lunch bags with googly eyes and yarn hair for puppets.
Educational & Learning Fall Activities
Fall is full of chances to learn while having fun. These activities blend education with hands-on exploration.
61. Count pumpkin seeds for math practice. Scoop out seeds from a pumpkin and count them together.
62. Measure leaves and sort by size. Collect leaves and arrange them from smallest to biggest.
63. Write a fall poem. Help kids write short poems about leaves, pumpkins, or cool weather.
64. Read picture books about autumn. Choose books like “Leaf Man” or “Pumpkin Jack” for story time.
65. Do a weather chart for fall temperatures. Track daily temps on a chart and watch how they change over time.
66. Explore why leaves change color (experiment with leaf chromatography). Use rubbing alcohol and coffee filters to separate leaf pigments and see hidden colors.
67. Identify birds or insects common in the fall. Use field guides or apps to name the creatures you see outside.
68. Try apple taste-testing (sweet vs tart). Sample different apple varieties and graph which ones kids like best.
69. Write a fall story and illustrate it. Have kids create their own short story with drawings about autumn.
70. Learn about the harvest season in other cultures. Research fall festivals such as Diwali, Sukkot, or the Moon Festival together.
71. Study animal hibernation patterns. Read about which animals hibernate and why they sleep through winter.
72. Label tree species on a neighborhood map. Walk around and mark which types of trees live on your street.
73. Learn about the science of pumpkins. Cut open a pumpkin and study its parts, seeds, and growth cycle.
74. Do a gratitude journal each day of November. Write one thing you’re thankful for every single day of the month.
75. Learn to spell new fall words (harvest, orchard, acorn, etc.). Practice spelling seasonal vocabulary words for fun and learning.
76. Make a leaf-shape matching game. Cut matching leaf pairs from cardboard for a memory game.
77. Write a “fall bucket list” essay. Have the kids list and describe all the fall activities they want to try.
78. Do simple graphing with leaf color. Collect leaves, sort by color, and create a bar graph of results.
79. Explore the parts of a pumpkin (STEM dissection). Open a pumpkin and label the shell, seeds, pulp, and stem.
80. Make flashcards of fall fruits & veggies. Draw or print pictures of apples, pears, squash, and more for study.
Indoor Games & Family Playtime
Rainy days or chilly evenings call for indoor fun. These games keep kids moving, laughing, and bonding with family.
81. Play “I Spy Fall Edition.” Use fall colors and objects around the house for this classic game.
82. Host a fall-themed bingo night. Make bingo cards with pictures of leaves, pumpkins, and acorns.
83. Set up a pumpkin-bowling game with bottles. Line up empty bottles and roll a small pumpkin to knock them down.
84. Play musical leaves (like musical chairs). Scatter paper leaves on the floor and play music for a fun twist.
85. Do a leaf-tossing contest indoors. Crumple paper into balls and toss them into baskets for points.
86. Build a fall fort with blankets. Drape blankets over chairs and fill the fort with pillows and books.
87. Have a cozy movie marathon (with popcorn & cider). Pick three fall movies, make snacks, and watch them back to back.
88. Play charades using fall words. Act out words like “scarecrow,” “hayride,” or “rake” without speaking.
89. Do a fall-themed puzzle together. Work on a puzzle with autumn scenes as a calm family activity.
90. Create a fall photo booth at home. Hang fall decorations and take silly family photos with props.
91. Make a cardboard pumpkin toss game. Cut holes in a box and toss bean bags or balls through them.
92. Have a sock-sliding race indoors. Put on socks and race across hardwood or tile floors.
93. Host a mini family talent show. Let each family member perform a song, joke, or trick for everyone.
94. Create an indoor scavenger hunt. Hide fall items or clues around the house for kids to find.
95. Play “Guess the Fall Smell” (cinnamon, apple, pumpkin spice). Blindfold kids and let them sniff spices to guess what they are.
96. Make a shadow puppet show with autumn characters. Use hands and a flashlight to tell stories with shadow shapes.
97. Host a “fall bake-off” with simple treats. Let kids compete to make the best cookies or muffins with a prize.
98. Play board games by the fire. Gather around the fireplace and play classics like Candy Land or Monopoly.
99. Have a cozy reading night with Coco. Make hot chocolate, grab blankets, and read favorite books aloud.
100. Build a family gratitude jar. Write thankful notes on paper and drop them in a jar to read later.
DIY Projects & Family Traditions
Fall is the perfect time to start new traditions or try hands-on projects together as a family.
101. Create a “Family Fall Scrapbook.” Take photos all season and paste them in a book with notes and memories.
102. Make personalized mugs with fall art.. Use paint markers to draw leaves or pumpkins on plain white mugs.
103. Start a “thankful leaf jar” tradition. Write what you’re grateful for on paper leaves and fill a jar each November.
104. Paint welcome signs for the porch. Use wood boards and paint to create custom signs for your front door.
105. Make DIY fall candles together. Melt wax, add fall scents, and pour into jars for homemade candles.
106. Try simple sewing: felt pumpkins or leaves. Cut felt shapes and stitch them together by hand or machine.
107. Create homemade apple cider. Simmer apples, cinnamon, and spices on the stove for warm cider.
108. Bake pumpkin bread together. Mix, pour, and bake a loaf of moist pumpkin bread from scratch.
109. Make caramel apples. Dip fresh apples in melted caramel and roll them in toppings.
110. Roast marshmallows over a backyard fire pit. Build a small fire and toast marshmallows for s’mores or snacks.
111. Have a family storytelling night. Turn off screens and take turns telling made-up stories by candlelight.
112. Build a scarecrow family. Make multiple scarecrows to represent each person in your household.
113. Try fall photography challenges. Give everyone a camera and see who can capture the best autumn shot.
114. Write and mail “thank-you” cards. Teach kids to write grateful notes to teachers, friends, or family members.
115. Make leaf-shaped cookies and decorate them. Bake sugar cookies, cut into leaf shapes, and frost with fall colors.
116. Build a fairy house from natural items. Use sticks, moss, and acorns to create tiny outdoor houses for fairies.
117. Make DIY fall soap or bath bombs. Mix simple ingredients like baking soda and soap to create fall scents.
118. Design a “fall family movie poster.” Draw or design a poster starring your family in a fake fall movie.
119. Plan a “fall giving project” (donate food or toys). Sort through toys or buy canned goods to donate to those in need.
120. End the season with a backyard bonfire & s’more. Gather around a fire, roast marshmallows, and reflect on favorite fall moments.
Fall Recipes & Kitchen Fun for Kids
Cooking together teaches kids life skills and creates warm memories. These recipes are simple, tasty, and perfect for little chefs.
121. Make homemade caramel apples. Melt caramel, dip apples on sticks, and let kids add their favorite toppings.
122. Bake pumpkin muffins together. Mix batter, fill muffin tins, and bake soft pumpkin muffins as a team.
123. Decorate sugar cookies with fall themes. Bake plain cookies and let kids frost them with orange, red, and yellow icing.
124. Make apple cider or warm spiced juice. Heat apple juice with cinnamon sticks and cloves for a cozy drink.
125. Create leaf-shaped sandwiches with cookie cutters. Use the fall cutters to turn regular sandwiches into fun shapes.
126. Try pumpkin pancakes or waffles. Add pumpkin puree to pancake batter for a seasonal breakfast treat.
127. Make “harvest snack mix” (nuts, pretzels, candy corn.) Combine salty and sweet snacks in a big bowl for munching.
128. Cook butternut squash soup as a family. Roast squash, blend it smooth, and season for a warm fall soup.
129. Make a popcorn ball. Pop popcorn, coat it in sticky syrup, and form into round balls.
130. Bake apple chips in the oven. Slice apples thin, sprinkle with cinnamon, and bake until crispy.
131. Make cinnamon-sugar donuts. Bake mini donuts and roll them in cinnamon sugar while still warm.
132. Decorate mini pumpkin pies. Buy or make small pies and let kids add whipped cream or sprinkles.
133. Make edible “acorns” using chocolate and pretzels. Dip pretzel balls in chocolate and add a Hershey’s Kiss on top.
134. Create apple slices topped with nut butter and granola. Slice apples and let kids spread peanut butter and sprinkle toppings.
135. Make hot chocolate with pumpkin spice twist. Add a pinch of pumpkin spice to regular hot cocoa for fall flavor.
136. Cook roasted pumpkin seeds and compare flavors. Try different seasonings like salt, cinnamon, or garlic on roasted seeds.
137. Try DIY apple butter or jam. Cook apples with sugar and spices until soft, then mash into a spread.
138. Make scarecrow cupcakes with candy faces. Frost cupcakes, orange, and add candy corn, licorice, and icing for scarecrow faces.
139. Host a “fall bake day” and share treats with neighbors. Spend a day baking cookies or bread, then deliver them to friends nearby.
140. End the season with a “Thankful Feast” potluck at home. Cook a special meal together and share what everyone is grateful for this fall.
How We Picked These Kids’ Activities
Choosing the right fall activities for kids can feel overwhelming. There are so many options out there! We wanted to make it simple for you.
Every activity on this list was carefully selected. We focused on what matters most to parents, teachers, and caregivers. Safety comes first, along with fun and learning.
Here’s what we looked for:
| Selection Criteria | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Safe & Easy | Simple materials, no complex prep |
| Age Appropriate | Designed for ages 3–12 |
| Variety | Outdoor, indoor, creative, and educational |
| Family Friendly | Perfect for home, school, or community |
These activities work for busy families. They also fit into classroom schedules. No fancy supplies needed. Just creativity and a love for fall!
Ways to Use These Fall Activities
These ideas aren’t just for home. They work great for classrooms, parties, and community events, too!
You can adapt them to fit any setting. Here are some smart ways to get started:
- Teachers can use one idea each day in November. Pick an activity from the list and make it part of your daily routine.
- Parents can print a “Fall Fun List” for the fridge. Keep the list handy so kids can choose what they want to do.
- Kids can pick weekend projects to try with friends. Let them plan their own fall fun and invite friends over.
- Share ideas on social media with a family challenge. Post your favorite activity and tag other families to join in.
In Closing
Fall doesn’t last forever. Make the most of it while you can.
These fall activities for kids give you months of fun, learning, and family bonding. You don’t need expensive supplies or complicated plans. Just pick an activity, gather your kids, and start making memories.
Try one new idea each week. Mix outdoor adventures with indoor crafts. Let your kids choose what excites them most. The goal is simple: enjoy this beautiful season together.
Fall is more than just a season. It’s a chance to slow down, play, and connect with the people you love.
Which fall activity will your family try first? Share your favorites in the comments below and inspire other families to join the fun!
