Fall is one of my favorite seasons because of the color of the leaves, the smell of pumpkin and cinnamon, Pumpkin Spice Lattes, baking so many pies, pumpkin carving, apple orchards, and just the sense of warmth. I love having our fireplace lit, getting all cozy on our couch with a warm fluffy blanket and watching a movie together as a family or playing a board game. It is perfect.
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It is also a great time for fun fall activities which me and my little one love! He loves anything he can hold in his hands, anything that is messy or with different texture, and he especially loves anything we do together.
These 8 fall activities can be so fun (and educational!) for your little one. Mine is learning to count to 10 (and yes, his daddy is making sure he is learning his numbers in Spanish too) and learning his base colors and you can see his eyes light up when he gets them all right.
I love creating activities that uses his senses. Activities with color, with a different smell or different feel, anything to make him use multiple senses because he really is drawn to those activities.
8 indoor fall activities for your toddler!
- Pumpkin Guts Sensory Bag
This will surely be one activity your kids will not want to stop playing with! It is squishy and crunchy and makes silly sounds! It is so easy to make (literally two steps!) and will keep them entertained for so long!
MATERIALS
– Pumpkin
– Gallon size zip lock bag (I recommend using these Hefty Slider Freezer Bags because they are very durable and can hold the pumpkin contents very well)
INSTRUCTIONS
– Scoop out the insides of a pumpkin
– Fill a gallon size zip lock bag with the “pumpkin guts”
**Another way to spruce this activity up is by playing an I-Spy. Find little toys that can fit nicely inside the bag and create an I-Spy printable sheet for your little ones to find all the items inside**
This will be so much fun for them and really get them used to touch different textures.
2. Leaf Painting
This activity is great for creating textures and shapes and exploring different colors. I love seeing all the different colored leaves and this activity is a great one for your little one to use different colors.
MATERIALS
– About 10-20 Leaves (either from around your neighborhood or these DEEMEI 300 PCS Fall Mixed Colored Artificial Maple Leaves. They will work perfectly if you don’t want to be outside picking leaves!
– Construction Paper
– Paint (I really love this Acrylic Paint Set, the colors are vibrant and there are such a variety of colors, they are just really pretty)
– Paint Brushes
– Cup of water (to put your dirty paintbrushes in)
– Baby wipes (if your baby is anything like mine, then baby wipes are essential if using paint)
INSTRUCTIONS
– Paint each leaf with a paintbrush a different color (start with 5-8 leaves, some will break while doing the activity which is why you picked extra!)
– Place the leaves on your construction paper and lightly push on the leaves to make sure the paint and texture transfer over
– Wait a few hours (or overnight) for your paper to dry
3. Paper Plate Apples
These are so fun and really lets your kiddos find their inner artist. It is so easy for them and they can create any apple they want.
MATERIALS
– Paper plate
– Paint (whatever color your little one wants their apple to be)
– Apple cut outs
– construction paper
– Glue stick
– Paint Brushes
– Cup of water
– Baby wipes
INSTRUCTIONS
– Place the paper plate on a table (I like to use a small piece of tape on the bottom to keep it from moving, but that is totally optional)
– Paint the entire paper plate (not too much paint or it will take forever to dry or rip the plate)
– Let dry completely
– Cut out leaves and stem
– Trace stem and leaves on construction paper and cut out
– Glue the cut outs at the top of the apple
**Can use a small hole punch to punch a hole at the top, add some string and hang your paper apples around the house or outside on your tree (Just be careful if it rains, they will get ruined and no body wants that!)**
4. Paper Plate Pumpkins
These are just the same as the ones above, but in pumpkin form and just as much fun!
MATERIALS
– Paper plate
– Paint
– Pumpkin cut outs
– construction paper
– Glue stick
– Paint Brushes
– Cup of water
– Baby wipes
INSTRUCTIONS
– Place the paper plate on a table (I like to use a small piece of tape on the bottom to keep it from moving, but that is totally optional)
– Paint the entire paper plate (not too much paint or it will take forever to dry or rip the plate)
– Let dry completely
– Cut out leaves and stem
– Trace stem and leaves on construction paper and cut out
– Glue the cut outs at the top of the pumpkin
**Can make these super cute for Halloween by adding cut outs to make faces on the pumpkins!**
5. Pom Pom Apple Trees
These are so cute and perfect for fall and can really help with motor skills. Using different sized pom pom balls can help teach your little ones learn to pick up different sizes. Plus they will love how soft they are!
**Warning: These may result in a pom pom throwing war and may double the fall fun!**
MATERIALS
– White and brown construction paper
– Fall colored Pom Poms
– Glue
– Tree cut out
INSTRUCTIONS
– Print the tree cut outs and trace on brown construction paper
– Cut out the outline and glue on the white construction paper
– Choose colored pom poms and glue them around the tree and along the branches
– Let the glue dry before moving the picture
6. Pinecone Painting
These pine cone paintings are so much fun (and easy!) for the kiddos (even the older ones!) and can be a fun activity you do for family night. You can either go around the neighborhood and find pine cones to use, get some at your local store, or even buy them off amazon – These QHZHANG Christmas Bulk Package are great because they come with 25 pine cones so any you don’t use to paint with, can be used as Christmas decorations in the Winter! and, yes I know that fall just began so I promise that will be the last time I talk about Christmas this year…at least on this post 😉
MATERIALS
– Pinecones
– Fall acrylic paint colors (again, my favorite are these!
– Paintbrush
– Cup of water
– Baby wipes
– Construction paper
– Paper Plate (optional)
INSTRUCTIONS
– Paint one side of the pine cone (I prefer pouring some paint on a paper plate and dipping one side of the pine cone in the paint. I find it covers much more of the edges and is much easier, especially for little ones)
– Lay down your construction paper and start place and rolling your pine cones around on the paper to create different pine cone art
– Let dry completely & maybe enjoy a cup of coffee while you wait!
7. Fall Leaf Wreath
These are so cute and can be hung on the children’s bedroom door just to add some more personal fall decorations to your home. The kids will love making them and you will love being able to walk past and see them, trust me!
MATERIALS
– Paper plate
– Real or fake fall leaves
– Glue or glue stick
– Hole punch
– Yarn
– Paint (optional)
INSTRUCTIONS
– Cut the middle circle out of the center of the paper plate to create the wreath
– Optional Step: painting the paper plate (I like to have the plate painted so in case any of the plate shows through the leaves, there are not white spots showing. Plus, the kids LOVE painting)
– Glue 1 leaf at time going around the plate until you have the whole plate covered.
– Another optional step: Place extra leaves on top of the leaves already placed to cover any spots missing and to create a more full fall looking wreath
– Hole punch at the top and tie string to hang
8. Pumpkin Patch
If your kids love getting messy and using their hands for everything then this one is for you! This is so fun and can really get their minds going and have them be at it for hours! I found this and more amazing crafts and activities here! You can use some dirt or black pebbles (or even m&ms if your kids love putting things in their mouth!) This is a such a fun fall activity! I mean, what says fall more than pumpkin patches?!
MATERIALS
– dirt, black pebbles, m&ms or anything that can resemble dirt
– small candy pumpkins
– magnifying glass
– small scooper (preferably that will let out the dirt)
– large plastic container
– little basket (or bowl)
INSTRUCTIONS
– Fill the plastic container with dirt (about 3/4 full)
– Add the little candy pumpkins all around in the dirty (bury some deep and let some show so they know what to look for)
– Place a basket next to them to put in the pumpkins they find
– Give them the magnifying glass and scooper as tools to help them find them
**Turn this into a fun counting game by having them count how many pumpkins they can find!**
**You can also turn this into a matching color game by using food coloring pens on the bottom of the pumpkins and giving them different colored baskets. Ask them what color is on the bottom and to place it in the correct basket**
These 8 indoor fall activities is sure to be a hit with your kiddos! Let me know which ones you try and what your favorite thing about fall is!
xoxo,
Anna Gone Wild says
Great suggestions!