Simple fall crafts, cozy family activities, and easy ways to enjoy the season together.
Pull Up a Chair…
Fall has a way of giving us plenty to do without requiring a complicated plan. A few pinecones, a pumpkin, some paint, or an afternoon outside can turn into something the kids remember long after the season is over.
These are simple fall activities you can pull out whenever you need something to do together. Pick one for an afternoon or work your way through them as the season rolls along. 🍂💜
💜 Affiliate Disclosure: Some links in this post are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through them, at no additional cost to you. I only share products and resources I genuinely think may be helpful.
Make a Pinecone Bird Feeder
This is an easy one for a fall afternoon, especially if the kids have already collected pinecones outside.
Tie a piece of twine around the top of a pinecone so you'll be able to hang it when you're finished. Cover the pinecone with peanut butter, then roll or sprinkle it with birdseed.
Hang it from a tree or somewhere you can watch from a window and see who comes by for a snack.
You’ll need: pinecones, peanut butter, birdseed, and twine.
Build a DIY Scarecrow
A scarecrow doesn't have to be picture-perfect. Half the fun is seeing what personality it develops as everyone adds something to it.
Use old clothes you already have, stuff them with straw or another suitable filling, and use burlap to make a simple head. A little twine can help secure everything together.
Add a face and a hat, then set your finished scarecrow outside as part of your fall decorations.
Decorate Pumpkins
Carving isn't the only way to have fun with pumpkins.
Set out pumpkins with craft paint, brushes, and paint pens or markers, then let everyone decorate their own. Faces, patterns, names, silly designs, and completely unexplainable kid art are all fair game.
This is also an easy alternative when younger kids want to decorate pumpkins but aren't ready for carving tools.
Make Fall Nature Decorations
Take a walk outside and turn collecting fall treasures into part of the activity.
Look for colorful leaves, pinecones, acorns, interesting sticks, and other seasonal finds. Back home, arrange them in a centerpiece, fill a clear jar or bowl, or use a little twine to create simple decorations.
There doesn't need to be a perfect finished project here. The collecting, arranging, and creating is the activity.
Visit an Apple Orchard or Pumpkin Patch
Some fall activities are better when somebody else has already done the setup.
Plan a family trip to an apple orchard or pumpkin patch and see what your local spot offers. Depending on where you go, you might find hayrides, corn mazes, animals, games, apple picking, or plenty of pumpkins to choose from.
Let the outing itself be the activity. You don't need to squeeze every attraction into one afternoon.
Have a Fall Family Picnic
Take lunch or an easy dinner outside while the weather is comfortable.
Pack sandwiches, fruit, snacks, and drinks, then head to the backyard or a nearby park. You don't need anything fancy, but a picnic basket set with an included blanket makes it easy to grab everything and head outside.
For a cooler evening, bring something warm to drink. If you have a safe place for a fire, finish the evening with s'mores.
Have a Cozy Family Movie Night
Not every fall memory needs an outing or a craft table covered in paint.
Make some popcorn, pile up the blankets, choose a movie everyone can enjoy, and call it a night in. Add hot cocoa or another favorite fall treat if you want, but there's no need to turn movie night into an event that requires its own planning committee.
Sometimes movie + popcorn + everybody on the couch is plenty.
Make Apple-Print Pumpkins
This one brings apples and pumpkins together without requiring anyone to bake a pie. 🍎🎃
Cut an apple in half and use the cut side as a stamp. Dip it lightly into craft paint, then press it onto sturdy paper or cardstock.
Once the prints dry, add stems, leaves, and pumpkin faces with markers or paint pens. Kids can make one big pumpkin picture or fill the page with their own little pumpkin patch.
For younger kids, an adult should handle cutting the apple before the crafting starts.
💜 From My Kitchen
You don't need to do all eight activities for fall to feel special. Pick the ones that fit your kids, your schedule, and what you already have around the house. Sometimes a walk to collect leaves or popcorn on the couch becomes just as much of a family tradition as the activities that require supplies and planning.
From My Kitchen to Yours
Pick an activity, gather everybody up, and enjoy the season your way. 💜
