As a single mom I’m always trying to find fun things to do with my daughter on a very limited budget. Fall is the perfect time to get outside. Nature walks are fun and educational. Let your little ones collect leaves and pine cones and other things they find.
When you get home you can research the leaves on the internet and find out what kind of leaves they are and find some fun facts about that type of tree. Once you are finished learning all you can about your find let the kids make a collage with the treasures they brought home. If they are flat enough you can always put clear shelf paper over the collages and let the kids use them as placemats for fall.
Another fun thing to do in the fall is take a drive to look at the pretty fall colors. Pack a picnic lunch and grab your camera. Random shots of your kids playing in the trees may turn out to be some of your favorites. Don’t just drive through the trees, make sure you get out and walk around, find a stream for them to toss rocks in, let them put their feet in if the water isn’t too cold. Spread a blanket under the trees and have your lunch, then lie on the blanket and look up at the sky through the canopy of pretty leaves.
Going to a pumpkin patch is always fun too. Let the kids know before you leave if you will be purchasing pumpkins there, if not make sure they understand. Go to the pumpkin patch and see who can find the biggest pumpkin and the smallest. Again, make sure you have your camera. Pumpkin patches usually have little photo op set ups, bales of hay, pumpkins and scarecrows. Take lots of pictures of your kids. You can always print them off and frame them as a reminder of a fun day.
Most communities have corn mazes, even for little kids. Let the kids lead you. If your little one is afraid of the dark go during the day it will still be fun for them but much less scary.
These are the things our children remember, not what they got for Christmas every year, but the time you spent with them. You may find that the little trips and activities you do with them now, they will do with their kids later, family traditions in the making.