As the air turns crisp and the leaves start to change, fall brings a world of excitement for families with babies and toddlers. It's the perfect season to introduce your little ones to new sights, sounds, and sensory experiences! Whether it's apple picking, cozy nature walks, or fun fall-themed crafts, there are countless ways to engage your children in the magic of autumn. Here's a fall bucket list that’s sure to keep your little ones entertained and help create lasting family memories.
1. Apple Picking Adventures: A Family Tradition for All Ages
Apple picking is a classic fall activity that the whole family can enjoy—even the tiniest members! For babies, apple picking offers a sensory-rich experience. Let your little one touch, smell, and even take a nibble of a fresh apple. For toddlers, turning apple picking into a fun scavenger hunt for different colors or sizes of apples can be exciting. Once you're home, get creative! Use the apples you’ve picked to make homemade applesauce, apple puree, or toddler-friendly snacks like baked apple slices.
Pro tip: Bring a jar or two of Globowl with you on your adventure for a quick meal for your little one.
2. Pumpkin Patch Playdate: Fall Fun for Babies and Toddlers
Nothing says fall quite like a trip to the pumpkin patch! Babies will enjoy the bright colors and different textures of pumpkins, while toddlers can help pick out the perfect one. Make it a family tradition by letting each child choose a pumpkin and then using them for decorating or simple crafts.
After your trip, roast some pumpkin for baby food or let your toddler help scoop the seeds for roasting. Pumpkins offer endless possibilities for fall-themed recipes and activities, from sensory play to making nutritious snacks.
3. Cozy Fall Walks: Nature Exploration for Little Ones
Take advantage of the cool, crisp weather with a leisurely fall walk. Whether you’re strolling through the neighborhood or exploring a local park, fall is a season full of sensory wonders for little ones. Let your toddler collect leaves, acorns, or pine cones, while your baby can enjoy the feeling of cool air and the rustling sounds of the leaves.
Turn this into an educational experience by pointing out different colors, trees, and animals. Bring a bag along to collect nature treasures that can be used for crafts later.
4. First Fall Photoshoot: Capture the Memories!
Fall is the perfect time to create lasting memories with a fun family photoshoot. Dress your baby or toddler in cozy, autumn-themed outfits and head to a pumpkin patch, apple orchard, or even a pile of colorful leaves for the backdrop.
These moments don’t just make for great pictures—they’re also opportunities to document your child’s growth and seasonal milestones. Make this an annual tradition to watch your little one grow, year by year, against the changing seasons.
5. Baking Together: Toddler-Friendly Fall Recipes
Get into the fall spirit by baking with your toddler. Simple recipes like apple muffins, pumpkin cookies, or homemade applesauce are great ways to involve your little one in the kitchen. Toddlers can help mash, stir, and sprinkle ingredients, turning it into a fun bonding activity.
Baking is not only a delicious way to celebrate fall but also a fantastic way to introduce your child to basic cooking skills and new textures and tastes.
6. Leaf Pile Play: Outdoor Fun and Sensory Exploration
Raking leaves doesn’t have to be a chore—it can be an exciting adventure for babies and toddlers! Create a big pile of leaves and let your little ones jump, toss, and explore. Babies will love the sensory stimulation of touching the leaves, while toddlers will enjoy running through or jumping into the pile.
Leaf pile play is a great way for toddlers to burn off some energy and for both babies and toddlers to engage in safe, outdoor sensory exploration.
7. Fall-Themed Story Time: Cozy Books for Babies and Toddlers
As the days get shorter, cozying up with a good book is a wonderful way to wind down the day. Choose fall-themed books that celebrate the season. Stories about pumpkins, apples, and leaves are great for teaching your little one about the changing seasons.
Some great fall books for little readers include "Goodbye Summer, Hello Autumn" by Kenard Pak and "Apples and Pumpkins" by Anne Rockwell. Story time is an excellent way to develop language skills and foster a love of reading early on.
8. Fall Festivals and Hayrides: Making Family Memories
Explore your local fall festivals or enjoy a hayride for some seasonal family fun. While older kids might enjoy corn mazes and carnival games, babies and toddlers can delight in simpler pleasures like hayrides, petting zoos, and pumpkin painting.
To make the experience more comfortable for younger children, bring along a baby carrier or stroller and pack a jar of Globowl and some snacks to keep everyone happy during these fall festivities.
9. Craft Time: Simple Fall Art Projects for Toddlers
Fall is the ideal time for getting crafty with your toddler. Gather leaves, acorns, and small twigs during your nature walks and turn them into adorable autumn crafts. Toddlers can glue leaves to paper to create their own leaf art or help make simple DIY fall decorations for the house. Or, as one of our future foodies recently wrote in about, mod podge your Globowl jars with any of the above.
Not only does crafting help develop fine motor skills, but it’s also a great way to extend the fun of fall and create keepsakes to remember the season by.
10. Fall-Themed Sensory Bins for Babies
If your baby is still too young for most outdoor activities or the weather isn't cooperating, create a fall-themed sensory bin that brings the season indoors. Fill a shallow bin with fall items like dried corn, mini pumpkins, leaves, and pinecones (just make sure everything is safe for little hands and mouths). Let your baby explore the textures and colors, which will engage their senses and spark curiosity.
Sensory bins are a fantastic tool for early learning, and this autumn-themed one is a fun way to introduce your baby to the magic of the season.
Whether it's apple picking, playing in leaf piles, or cozying up with a good book, fall is full of opportunities for fun, learning, and family bonding. These activities allow babies and toddlers to explore their world in new and exciting ways, creating lasting memories for years to come.
So, grab your scarves, pack the Globowl, and start checking off your fall family bucket list!
