Seasonal (And Sustainable) Fall Activities for Kids

Fall is a magical time for kids – there’s vibrant colors, crisp air and fun activities. As the season changes, it’s the perfect time to create lasting memories with your little ones. But what if you could make all that fun sustainable, too? With a few eco-friendly tweaks, your family can enjoy all the best parts of fall while helping to protect the planet. From outdoor adventures to creative crafts, we’ve gathered some simple ideas for seasonal fun that’s good for both your family and Mother Nature.

With leaves turning all sorts of colorful shades and the weather at a perfect temperature, autumn is the perfect time to take kiddos on outdoor adventures. There’s so many options and they can all be enjoyed sustainably. 

Soak in the fall foliage at a local park. Take a walk, have a picnic or watch the birds and other wildlife.

Another great fall activity for kids at the park is going for a hike. For the littles who haven’t grown to appreciate nature on its own yet and those easily distracted, prepare a sensory scavenger hunt to keep them engaged. Make a list of items you might find on the trail, like native trees, rocks, bugs and birds. As they find each item, they can check it off of their list. 

A scavenger hunt is also a good time to teach kids how to sustainably engage with nature. Some basics include sticking to the trail, leaving nature as it is and following the National Park’s Leave No Trace principles.

Apple orchards and pumpkin patches offering “U-Pick” experiences can be found all around and make excellent fall activities for kids. Remind your littles that you only pick what you need to avoid overconsumption. Taking only what we need from nature is an essential way to live sustainably. 

Your own backyard can be the perfect setting for a simple day of outdoor fun. Have your kids help rake leaves and jump into them. No need to worry about the mess afterwards. Leaves are great to leave in your yard as mulch to help your grass and plants start off strong next spring. 

Speaking of spring, have your kiddos help plant spring bulbs. You can use this time to teach them about the life cycle of plants while encouraging patience. Consider plants that are native to your area and are pollinator-friendly. 

No matter what you do this fall, outdoor activities allow children to connect with nature. Studies have shown that this engagement helps foster an appreciation for the environment to encourage a sustainable lifestyle into adulthood. 

Help your kiddos connect with nature through crafting this fall. Jack-o’-Lanterns are one of the more classic Halloween activities for kids. Plus, it’s already sustainable since at the end of the season the pumpkin can be tossed right into the compost. 

Colorful leaves are in abundance and can be turned into an art project. Make some leaf prints by turning them into stamps. By painting one side and stamping it down onto paper, your kiddo can create some stunning re-leaf prints. For a less messy option, use crayons to create leaf rubbings by placing the leaf under the piece of paper and rubbing the crayon on the paper over the leaf, which reveals the texture of the leaf.

These crafts allow an opportunity to teach littles about being environmentally conscious. Explain how using real pumpkins and leaves are a more sustainable option to plastic since it stays in landfills for hundreds of years.

Fall is full of seasonal flavors, and with a focus on reducing waste and using organic ingredients, these treats can be sustainable.

• Pumpkin Seeds: If you’re already carving a Jack-o’-Lantern, set the seeds aside to be roasted. They can be left plain, or flavored with spices like cinnamon or salt. This teaches kids about using the whole fruit and avoiding food waste.
• Homemade Apple Chips: After apple picking, turn your haul into homemade apple chips. Slice the apples thin, sprinkle with cinnamon and bake. Simple, plus since you made it at home, you’ve eliminated packaging waste.
• Hot Apple Cider: Make cider at home with apples from a local orchard in a stockpot with water, sugar and spices. Let the pot boil for an hour, then reduce heat to low and simmer for two more hours. Once it’s done, strain out the apples and serve. Enjoy your home smelling like fall as a bonus!

The fall presents plenty of opportunities for family traditions. It can even be as simple as spending more time outside in the fall.  

Start a tradition of creating your own decor instead of purchasing generic plastic items. Create sustainable fall wreaths with twigs and leaves. Or decorate corn stalks for an outdoor decor piece, too. These are more sustainable decorating options because they’re more likely to be able to be composted. Plus, they’ll be completely unique to your family!

Make an annual trip to a local farm that offers fall activities like corn mazes and hayrides. Plus while you’re there, you can find corn stalks, pumpkins and more to use in your fall decor and craft projects. Farms aren’t the only local place you can visit and turn into a tradition with fall activities for kids. The local library, independent coffee shops and sometimes fire stations host fall fairs or live music for the community. 

Trick or treating? Halloween costumes are even more fun when you shop secondhand or make them yourself. Take your kiddo to the thrift store and have them help you hunt for the perfect pieces to their costume.

See more sustainable ways to engage your kiddos throughout the year from Earth Day Activities to Valentines Day Ideas!