This post is about Fall Activities For Toddlers
Fall is here, and it’s time to have some seasonal fun with your little one! Whether it’s the crunch of leaves underfoot or the smell of apple pie in the air, autumn brings so many exciting sensory experiences for toddlers. The great news? You don’t need a huge budget or a complicated setup to create beautiful fall memories. All you need is a little creativity, and you’re on your way to a cozy, fun-filled season with your child!
Fall is the perfect time to spark your toddler’s curiosity and creativity! With these unique activities, you’ll not only keep them entertained but also create wonderful seasonal memories. Whether you’re outdoors or inside, there’s no shortage of fun fall adventures you can have with your little one. So grab your cozy sweaters and embrace the season with these toddler-approved activities.
From sensory play to outdoor adventures, here are 10 new and unique fall activities you can enjoy with your toddler this season!
Fall Activities For Toddlers
1. DIY Fall Nature Wreath
Let your toddler unleash their inner artist by making a DIY nature wreath while exploring the outdoors. During your nature walk, gather various fall items like leaves, acorns, twigs, and pinecones. Once you’re back home, help your toddler glue them onto a cardboard circle to create their fall wreath.
- What You’ll Need: Cardboard, glue, fall nature items, and string to hang the wreath.
- Pro Tip: Use double-sided tape on the wreath base for a mess-free alternative to glue.
- Learning Moment: This craft helps your toddler develop fine motor skills and encourages them to connect with nature.
2. Fall-Themed Ice Play
Add a sensory twist to the season with fall-themed ice play. Freeze small fall objects like leaves, acorns, or small pumpkins in a large ice cube tray. Once frozen, give your toddler some warm water, plastic tools, and a tray to “rescue” the fallen items from the ice.
- What You’ll Need: Small fall objects, a large ice cube tray, plastic spoons or tongs.
- Pro Tip: Add food coloring to the water before freezing to make colorful fall ice!
- Learning Moment: This activity fosters problem-solving and fine motor skills.
3. Pumpkin Bowling
Pumpkin bowling is a fun, energetic way for toddlers to engage with pumpkins in a whole new way! Set up some empty plastic bottles or paper towel rolls as pins, and use a small pumpkin as a bowling ball. Watch your toddler get excited as they knock down the “pins” with their pumpkin.
- What You’ll Need: Small pumpkins, empty bottles, and space for a mini bowling alley.
- Pro Tip: Decorate the bottles to look like ghosts or fall characters for extra fun!
- Learning Moment: Pumpkin bowling helps with hand-eye coordination and introduces toddlers to the concept of cause and effect.
4. Apple Stamping Art
This craft is as simple as it is adorable. Slice an apple in half, dip it in paint, and let your toddler stamp it onto paper to create their fall-themed art. They can even turn the apple prints into pumpkins or other fun fall shapes.
- What You’ll Need: Apples, non-toxic paint, and paper.
- Pro Tip: Use washable paint for an easy cleanup!
- Learning Moment: Apple stamping teaches your toddler about shapes and texture while letting them explore their creative side.
5. Corn Kernel Sensory Bin
Instead of sand or rice, fill a sensory bin with dried corn kernels for an autumn twist. Add small cups, scoops, and fall-themed toys, and let your toddler dig in! The texture is unique, and they’ll love the feeling of scooping, pouring, and sifting through the kernels.
- What You’ll Need: Large bin, dried corn kernels, cups, scoops, small fall toys.
- Pro Tip: Swap dried corn with colored pasta or beans for an extra fun sensory experience.
- Learning Moment: This sensory bin encourages fine motor skills and sensory exploration.
6. Autumn Wind Chimes
Get crafty with a nature-inspired wind chime! On your next nature walk, have your toddler gather small sticks, acorns, and leaves. Use string to tie the items together and hang them outside to create a fall-themed wind chime.
- What You’ll Need: String, small sticks, acorns, leaves, beads.
- Pro Tip: Let your toddler paint the sticks or add beads for extra sparkle.
- Learning Moment: Making wind chimes teaches patience and fine motor skills, while also introducing your toddler to sound and movement.
7. DIY Apple Scented Playdough
Fall wouldn’t be complete without some apple-scented playdough! Make your batch by adding cinnamon or apple spice to a basic playdough recipe. Your toddler can shape apples, pumpkins, or even little pies. The cozy scent will make this a go-to fall sensory activity.
- What You’ll Need: Homemade playdough ingredients, apple spice, cinnamon.
- Pro Tip: Store the playdough in airtight containers so it lasts all season.
- Learning Moment: Playing with scented dough engages multiple senses and helps develop hand strength and creativity.
8. Fall Color Sorting
Use the beauty of fall’s changing colors as a fun learning tool! Set up a fall color-sorting activity by gathering items from around the house or outside that represent fall colors—red, orange, yellow, and brown. Have your toddler sort them by color into different baskets or trays.
- What You’ll Need: Fall-colored objects, baskets, or bowls for sorting.
- Pro Tip: Use real fall leaves for a nature-based color-sorting activity.
- Learning Moment: Color sorting helps develop your toddler’s cognitive and classification skills while enhancing color recognition.
9. Hay Maze Adventure
Find a local farm or pumpkin patch with a toddler-friendly hay maze and let your little one lead the way through! Hay mazes are not only fun but offer a great way for toddlers to build confidence as they navigate through the twists and turns. Plus, it’s a wonderful family day out!
- What You’ll Need: Just a hay maze and your toddler’s sense of adventure.
- Pro Tip: Bring snacks and make it a half-day adventure at the farm.
- Learning Moment: Mazes teach problem-solving, critical thinking, and spatial awareness.
10. Pumpkin Patch Photo Day
Let’s not forget the classic visit to the pumpkin patch! Make it even more special by turning the day into a mini photoshoot. Dress your toddler in their cutest fall outfit, snap some photos among the pumpkins, and let them pick out their pumpkin to take home. They’ll love the adventure and you’ll have the cutest pics to cherish.
- What You’ll Need: A pumpkin patch, a camera or phone for photos, and maybe some cozy outfits.
- Pro Tip: After the photoshoot, let your toddler help decorate the pumpkins you bring home!
- Learning Moment: Visiting a pumpkin patch is a hands-on way to teach your toddler about pumpkins, farming, and autumn traditions.
Luv,
