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As the leaves begin to change colour and the air turns crisp, Autumn becomes a wonderful season for families to enjoy the outdoors, and create lasting memories.
For families with children under five, it’s the perfect time for simple, engaging activities that capture the magic of the season.
With a few simple ideas, you can turn everyday moments into adventures that build language, confidence and a love of the outdoors. Wrap up warm, pack a snack, and let’s go exploring! Here’s a list of fun autumn activities that are ideal for little ones!
Good to bring: wellies, waterproofs, a tote for treasures, wipes, a flask, and a simple “yes we can” spirit.
Autumn is known for its beautiful colours, making it the perfect opportunity for a nature walk in your local park or community. Let your child pick their favourite leaves along the way. As you walk, chat about the different shapes, colours, and textures of the leaves – this is a fun way to introduce them to nature vocabulary.
Once home, you can even put the collected leaves to creative use by making leaf art – simply arrange them on paper to form patterns, or do leaf rubbings with crayons!
Hang a simple feeder or make seed balls, then watch who visits and count together, noticing colours, sizes and behaviours to develop observation and number language. Wash hands after handling feeders and check ingredients if there are any allergies in the family.
With earlier sunsets, you can play shadow games before bedtime: try stepping on each other’s shadow, making tall and small shapes, or tracing a shadow with chalk. This builds body awareness and sparks simple talk about light and dark in the most magical evening light.
A visit to a pumpkin patch is a must-do during Autumn! Young children will love the excitement of selecting their very own pumpkin, especially when they can take a small one home.
Instead of carving (which can be tricky for little hands), try painting pumpkins instead. Set up a station with washable paints, markers, and stickers, and let their imaginations run wild. For added sensory fun, provide materials like glitter, pom-poms, or googly eyes for decoration, keeping the activity safe but creative.
Autumn is a busy time on farms as animals prepare for winter. Visiting a local farm or petting zoo gives young children the chance to interact with animals like goats, sheep, and chickens. Many farms also offer seasonal activities such as hayrides, corn mazes, or farm tours for a full day of fun.
For a learning opportunity, talk to your child about how farmers harvest crops and care for animals as the weather changes. These outings can also inspire imaginative play at home, where your child can pretend to be a farmer.
Lift a stone or log carefully and watch woodlice or worms wriggle, talking about their homes and why we gently put everything back to nurture empathy and care for living things. Make a tiny bug hotel in a plant pot with sticks, bark and leaves, then check who has moved in later in the week.
Nothing says Autumn fun like jumping in a pile of leaves! Rake up a big pile in your garden or at a nearby park and let your child jump, roll, and toss the leaves. The sound of the crunchy leaves and the colourful surroundings make this a favourite Autumn activity. Be sure to snap a few photos to capture these joyful moments!
Take paper and crayons and search for different barks and leaves to make rubbings, which boosts pencil control and pattern recognition. Name any trees you know, compare textures like smooth, rough or bumpy, and pin your best pieces up at home for a confidence-building gallery moment.
It won’t be long until it is time for Christmas activities so let’s make the most of this wonderful season before it is over! Grab your little one’s scarf and coat and whisk them away for an adventure.
You can turn a simple walk into a nature scavenger hunt! Create a list of Autumn-themed items like acorns, pine cones, red leaves, squirrels, or puddles. For younger children, you can include pictures of the items to help them identify what to find. This activity encourages children to explore nature and learn about the changing seasons. Count how many of each item you find and talk about the wonderful sounds of the leaves underfoot.
After rain, find safe shallow puddles and try different jumps and steps, comparing which makes the biggest splash to build balance and early measuring language. Float leaf “boats” from one side to the other and cheer them on, noticing wind, current and speed in a playful, educational way.
Autumn is a season full of awe and wonder, especially for children under five. There are endless outdoor adventures waiting to happen, helping to make the most of this magical time of year. The most important part is spending quality time together and letting your little ones experience the beauty of Autumn.
Outdoors, children practise balance, resilience and language, learn to notice tiny details and manage little risks safely, and develop care for living things. These small moments add up to strong foundations for early years education and lifelong curiosity.
You do not need a perfect plan or perfect weather. Ten minutes on a leaf-lined pavement can be magic. Follow your child’s lead, celebrate their discoveries and enjoy the season together. If you are part of our Kids Planet family, ask your nursery about this week’s outdoor plans. Rain never stops play on our planet!
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