When temperatures cool off and those “-ber” months roll in, it’s hard not to start thinking about the type of fall activities for families that you, as a parent, can easily incorporate into your weekends and school breaks.
Fortunately, we’re here to help with our top fun fall family activities. Take a look below and start planning for a season of creativity, adventure, and unforgettable memories.
Paint or carve pumpkins
A classic fall activity that never loses its appeal is decorating a pumpkin. To start, you and your children can head to a pumpkin patch or preferred grocery store to pick out a few gourds. Then, visit an arts and crafts store like Michaels or JOANN for paints, brushes, and whatever other craft supplies grab your attention (like googley eyes or sequins).
Kids can choose from any variety of designs to decorate their pumpkins. You might suggest:
- Zombie faces
- Black cats
- Scarecrow faces
- Monsters
- Candy corn
- Ghosts
Older children can even try pumpkin carving to make jack-o-lanterns (with your help and supervision).
Make leaf rubbings
A unique fall activity for the whole family is leaf rubbings. Encourage your children to collect leaves of various sizes and textures. Then, you can start the craft:
- Put leaves with the bottom facing upward under a thin sheet of paper.
- Remove the wrapper from a crayon and rub it lengthwise over the sheet of paper, holding the leaf in place.
- Watch as the outline and texture of the leaves appear on the paper.
That’s it! Repeat using as many colors and leaves as desired to create a unique piece of art you can display throughout autumn.
Source: getthekidsoutside.com
Play a game of "Thankful Ball"
Introduce a new yard game to your kids by playing “Thankful Ball.” In the days leading up to Thanksgiving, head outside to play a game of catch. The only difference is that players must say something they’re thankful for before tossing the ball.
Thankful Ball is a “gratitude” twist on the average game of catch. It helps bring your group into the spirit of the season—and lets you enjoy some light outdoor activity at the same time.
Enjoy peak leaf-peeping season
Explore fall colors with a drive, hike, or train ride through the changing forests.
Want to turn up the fun? Suggestions from realsimple.com include having a photo shoot with your kids and pets during your leaf-peeping. Or, send the kids on a scavenger hunt to collect leaves of certain colors, acorns, pinecones, twigs, and more.
Create Halloween or fall-themed slime
Combine your kids’ love for the sticky putty with a themed craft that makes for an enticing indoor activity on cooler evenings.
If you’re familiar with slime-making, grab craft supplies from a department store, including autumn-colored glitter, food coloring, or charms. For families new to DIY slime, try this Fall Harvest Glitter recipe with a touch of fragrance!
Source: steampoweredfamily.com
Host a campfire night with s'mores
The weather usually starts to cool down in the fall, making it the perfect time for a backyard fire. Wait until the sun sets, then start a campfire or smokeless fire pit. Set up a table with goodies for s’mores, including graham crackers, chocolate, and marshmallows. (Pro-tip: stock up on ingredients via Instacart or your favorite grocery store on RaiseRight, so you can earn while having fun.)
Want to make it more fall-themed? Swap out graham crackers for Halloween or autumnal cookies. Colored marshmallows can be another fun alternative for a fall s’mores night.
Later, you can swap spooky stories or play Ghosts in the Graveyard—the “scary” version of Tag.
Give back to the community
Autumn is the beginning of the “giving” season—a time known for being thankful. What better way to get into the spirit of giving than by doing something for family, friends, or community?
For example, one activity you can engage your kids in is raking neighbors’ leaves. Of course, there are other ways to get involved, too, such as:
- Volunteering at a local food pantry
- Helping neighbors decorate their porches or lawns for the holidays
- Donating Halloween or other fall-themed books to your town’s “little library”
- Baking treats for neighbors, friends, or family members
- Handing out seasonal crafts to community members
Keep your fall budget in check with RaiseRight
Now that you have some ideas for fun family activities this fall, it’s time to start shopping—and with RaiseRight, you can support the causes you care about while you shop! Our fundraisers make it easy to earn for you or your child’s organization with everyday purchases, like groceries, gas, or family entertainment.
Not yet participating in a RaiseRight program? Here’s how it works:
- Ask your favorite nonprofit or community organization to enroll in a RaiseRight fundraising program. Or, ask your fundraising coordinator for your group’s RaiseRight enrollment code. RaiseRight is perfect for all types of organizations, including schools, bands, sports teams, churches, and more.
- Join the fundraiser as a participant.
- Purchase RaiseRight gift cards or shop online for all your autumn activity needs.
- With each purchase, you'll earn funds to support your organization. While the average is 6%, you can earn up to 20%!
With hundreds of brands to choose from, there's something for everyone on the RaiseRight platform. RaiseRight makes it easy to earn for your child or favorite organization all season long!
