There are so many great Autumn activities for kids, from making spiced play dough to creating leaf people, and bird feeders. Here are some that we will be doing this Autumn.
Autumn Spice Playdough
The best smelling playdough around! Here is the recipe for our popular Autumn Spiced Playdough.
You need:
2 cups plain flour (all purpose)
2 tablespoons vegetable oil (baby oil and coconut oil work well too)
1/2 cup salt
2 tablespoons cream of tartar
1 to 1.5 cups boiling water (adding in increments until it feels just right)
1 teaspoon allspice
Orange gel food colouring (optional)
few drops glycerine to add shine (optional)
Method
- Mix all the dry ingredients and oil
- Add food colouring (if using) to the boiling water then add the dry ingredients
- Stir continuously until it becomes a sticky, combined dough
- Add the glycerine at this point (optional)
- Allow the dough to cool down and then knead it for a couple of minutes until it is no longer sticky. Add a bit more flour if needed.
Creating Leaf People
An easy creative activity. After finding the perfect Autumn leaf, glue it on a piece of paper. Next draw legs, arms, and a head to create a person. Encourage your child to tell or write a story about their leaf person. You could give them ideas if they are struggling. Is it a magical creature or an Autumn Princess? Maybe it is a rare animal who only comes out in Autumn? Or maybe it is a portrait? What does your creature/person do, like and dislike? Where do they live? Do they go to nursery or school?
Make a bird feeder
Be warned! This is a messy one!
You will need:
A pine cone
Peanut butter
String
Bird seed (or sunflower seeds will work fine)
Tie the string around the pine cone near the top. Spread on the peanut butter and then roll in the seeds. Or you could mix in all in a bowl before spreading over the pine cone. Hang outside for the birds to enjoy.
Ribbons In The Wind
Autumn is usually quite windy. Take your children and babies outside into the wind with ribbons, strips of material and turbines. Help them to feel the wind and for older children describe it. You could tie ribbons to fences as a guide for how windy a day it is or dance outside pretending to be the wind on a blustery day.
Small World Autumn Scene
Hours of fun can be had by setting up an Autumn scene for small world play. This is one of the easiest Autumn activities for kids. Gather a selection of natural materials when you are next out for a walk. Such as sticks, different coloured leaves, pine cones and conkers. Arrange in a tray or on a table or box. Then let your child decide which of their toys are joining the scene. Will it be animals or toy figures? Dinosaurs or trucks. With very young children it could be a treasure box of goodies to explore.
Make Apple Crisps
A healthy Autumn snack that is a wonderful alternative to shop brought crisps. Slice your apple very thinly through the core. You could use a mandolin if you have one. If the slices are not thin then the apple won’t crisp up. Arrange the slices on a baking tray lined with parchment and bake for 40-50 mins. Cook at a low heat (140C/120C fan/gas 1) and you may want to turn the crisps half way through. Then leave to cool and crisp up. As an extra treat you could sprinkle on a little cinnamon before you bake them.
Apple Print Pumpkins
Collect a few apples and cut in half. Let your child explore printing with these. Encourage your child to paint in the details of the pumpkin. At halloween we add faces with felt tip pen!
Planting Spring Bulbs
Autumn is the best time to plant your tulip bulbs for Spring. Even if you don’t have a garden you can plant your tulips in large pots to go on the balcony or by the front door.
Method
- Dig a hole about three times as deep as the bulb’s height, around 6-8 inches.
- Place tulip bulbs pointy side up in the hole. You can plant them in groups or on their own.
- Cover the bulbs in soil and give them a good water.
Children like instant results so you will need to explain that they will have to wait until Spring to see their tulips. But they could draw or paint what they think their tulips will look like. Or look for tulips in books or on the internet.
Kicking Leaves
We are not sure that any list of autumn activities for kids would be complete without kicking leaves. Making big piles to jump in, lifting and throwing them in the air. Listening to the crunch and swish as they stamp and kick. The perfect Autumn pastime.
Check out some of our favourite Autumn gifts on our Etsy page. Click here
