Fall Indoor Activities for Kids

Fun Things to Do with Children in Autumn

Sep 10, 2009 Tamiko Nicholson

Looking for things to do indoors with the kids this fall? Make some leaf crafts, whip up some harvest baking, sing songs to the rain and build a fort together.

Hot summer days are over and the rain and cool weather are here. Kids will be spending more time indoors and here are some fun ideas to keep the kids busy and happy.

Art and Crafts With Fall Leaves

Kids always enjoy finding colorful fall leaves. Collect a bunch and then bring them in the house to dry for all sorts of arts and crafts. Dry them either by just letting them sit out or press them flat with books. (If the leaves are really wet, let them dry out a bit before putting them in books or put newspaper on either side of the leaves so when placing then in the books they won’t stain.)

Work together to hang the leaves like snowflakes in the home. Tie the stem of the leaves with string or fishing wire and hang them from the ceiling by the doorway or above a window in the living room, playroom or the children’s rooms.

Children can enjoy simply gluing them on to a sheet a paper or make fall cards by simply gluing leaves to the front of a folded piece of construction paper. Do the traditional wax paper leaf craft where leaves are placed between two pieces of wax and carefully ironed with a dishtowel or paper bag.

Another idea is to use the dried leaves to create a centrepiece or wreath with the kids. Feel free to add other fall symbols like dried maize and decorative gourds. For more ideas check out Thanksgiving Activities for Kids.

Do Some Baking With Fall Harvest Foods

The nice thing about fall is that it is cool enough for cooking anytime. On a rainy day, there is nothing nicer than the smell of fresh-baked pie or muffins permeating the house.

Check out a local farmer’s market or visit an apple farm because apples are in season in the fall. Then go home with the kids and make some apple sauce, apple betty or chop up apples and make apple muffins. For something super sweet, the family could make candy or caramel dipped apples. Or, just enjoy them au natural.

Pumpkins are also in season. Get the kids to help make pumpkin soup or pumpkin pie. Add pumpkins and apples to make even more tasty and healthy muffins. Roasting up pumpkin seeds is also easy to do. Pick out pumpkins for Halloween. To make them last longer, draw on them with washable markers, and then closer to Halloween they can be carved up.

Enjoy A Rainy Day Inside

Sit by the window and listen to the sounds of the rain together. Sing songs about rain like ”Rain, Rain Go Away,” and play clapping games with the pitter-patter of rain as inspiration. It’s also a great opportunity to snuggle up together and read some books. Have a cup of hot chocolate together and share memories of summer and thoughts for fall and winter.

Build a Fort Together

Build an indoor fort together with blankets, pillows and chairs. Camp out for the afternoon with snacks, perhaps some of the goodies that the family baked together. Turn out the lights and tell campfire stories with just a flashlight for lighting. Pretend everyone is a family of squirrels getting ready for winter or travelling circus camping out for the day. Parents can even set up a tent with kids to have an indoor family sleepover. Get the sleeping bags out and talk late into the night together.

Fall is a great time to get cosy with the kids indoors. Bond as a family while doing some fall leaf crafts, baking with apples and pumpkins, building a fort and listening to the sound of the rain outside.

Spending time indoors is also wonderful after enjoying fall activities with the kids outdoors.

The copyright of the article Fall Indoor Activities for Kids in Parenting Methods is owned by Tamiko Nicholson. Permission to republish Fall Indoor Activities for Kids in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Cook With Food that is in Season, like Apples