15 Fabulous Fall Activities to Enjoy with Your Grandkids

What’s the most wonderful time of the year? For many people, it’s autumn! As your grandchildren settle into the school year, you may have some designated weekends with the “kiddos” or plans to babysit when they’re off school. So, what’s a grandparent to do?

How can you make the most of your time together while enjoying what fall has to offer? We have some suggestions that will engage even the toughest critics. No special skills are required, and many of these activities won’t make your wallet cringe. Since the upcoming generations are so very “plugged in,” some engaging time with grandma or grandpa is more needful than ever.

So, set set your phone to silent mode–if you don’t know how, rest assured, they will–and shove any remaining devices out of sight. When they recover from the shock of life without a screen, you’ll have their attention.

Here are some ways to make the most of your time together this fall.

1. Visit an Apple Orchard or Pumpkin Patch

This is a classic autumn favorite that everyone can enjoy. Whether apples or pumpkins, it’s an opportunity to get outside with the kids and enjoy the changing seasons. Many farms host other activities to partake in while you fruit pick and these often include hayrides, corn mazes, apple cannons, petting zoos, and concessions that offer apple or pumpkin treats. Ever try an apple cider donut? Many apple orchards offer these in their stores.

2. Enjoy the Fall Leaves

Enjoy the colorful foliage while on a neighborhood walk or while spending some time at the park. Bring a picnic lunch or dinner to make your time together even more memorable. You can capture those memories with pictures and by preserving their favorite leaves. Encourage your grandkids to collect their favorites and press them between the pages of books to view later or use for a project.

Want to go a step further? Plan a day-trip to the mountains near the peak of the season. The kids will enjoy the adventure and the colorful scenery. If you stop in a nearby town for a treat or souvenir it will up the fun factor.

3. Decorate Pumpkins (No Carve)

These days, it’s perfectly acceptable to skip the mess (and the sharp utensils) while still having some creative fun with pumpkins. Instead of carving, you can decorate pumpkins with paints and craft supplies. Encourage your grandkids to paint faces on their pumpkins and glue on straw for hair. In fact, there’s an entire “no-carve” pumpkin movement. So if it was the mess and knives you were dreading–fear not!

Here are some more no-carve pumpkin ideas.

4. Take a Corn Maze Challenge

Local farms often host corn mazes during the fall and invite the community (for a modest fee). Chances are, there’s a corn maze near you–and maybe even several to choose from. (Of course, in some parts of the country, these would be hard to find but you might discover some fun alternatives.) Corn mazes can be challenging and fun, even for adults, and they’re something everyone can enjoy. If you have some older grandkids, they might prefer a spookier experience at a “haunted” corn maze.

5. Experience a Fall Festival

As the weather cools, it’s a great time to enjoy a community festival or take a roadtrip to one of the more popular fall festival locations. You’ll find a variety of kid-friendly activities like face painting, carnival rides, live music, and refreshments from local vendors. Some fall festivals have craft booths and displayed art. Enjoy wandering around through the festivities together as you snack on popcorn or cotton candy.

6. Make a Family Recipe

If you have a recipe that has been passed down through your family, try teaching your grandkids how to make it. Kids are naturally curious and love to help. Even older kids and teens can get on board with this. But of course, any recipe will do. You can even let them pick one from your collection. If you’ve been to an apple orchard or pumpkin patch, you can choose a recipe that incorporates these or elect one that includes other autumn produce like sweet potatoes, pears, or squash. You could even try making a fall soup or pie.

7. Do Autumn Crafts Together

Let your grandkids choose from a list of fall craft ideas and then help them decorate your house for fall using the crafts they made. They will enjoy the creative process and be thrilled to see their creations displayed throughout your home. Your crafts could be as simple as paper pumpkins or as elaborate as an autumn wreathe for your front door.

8. Leaf Rubbings

This is another craft idea worth highlighting. It’s a classic and simple activity that add an artistic element to leaf collection. Place a piece of paper over your leaf and color over your leaf with a crayon (preferably a jumbo crayon). This brings the details of your leaf to the paper and displays a work of art that will delight your grandchild. They can recreate many different leaves using multiple colors. It’s also fun to cut them out and create a leaf collage.

9. Take a Hike

Don’t let this intimidate you. Many state parks have beginner trails that are just right for kids and grandparents alike. This is a great opportunity to enjoy nature and the cooler weather while taking in the beauty of fall foliage. You can pack each grandchild a small backpack of snacks, drinks, bandaids, and even a disposable camera (depending on their ages). Point out some of the birds and plants you may be familiar with to help them notice and appreciate the natural world.

10. Volunteer Together

As Thanksgiving and Christmas approach, it’s a good time to teach your grandkids about giving to others. Most kids would enjoy visiting an animal shelter to pet and play with the puppies. They could also color or write get-well cards for patients in a local hospital. Nursing homes often welcome volunteers and children who want to spread cheer or even read to residents. If your grandkids enjoy baking, they could bring cookies to a local fire station. There are many fun ways to volunteer, so be sure to browse your options.

11. Make a Homemade Scarecrow

This isn’t just any craft–it’s a scarecrow! Your grandkids will be so proud to place this creation in your front yard. They can unleash their creativity as they design and assemble this classic symbol of Autumn. If your scarecrow will be out in the rain, it’s best to stuff it with straw, dry leaves, plastic grocery bags, or Styrofoam packing peanuts, because these materials won’t hold moisture, mildew, or make your scarecrow misshapen after getting wet (like newspaper or rags). They can even help you gather a list of supplies.

12. Hold an Outdoor Scavenger Hunt

Your grandkids will love this outdoor, autumn adventure that sends them on the hunt for specific things that could be found in the backyard or on a nature walk. They can look for things like squirrels, spiders, mushrooms, pinecones, and more. You can modify the hunt to include natural items that are found in your region. Here is a printable that you can use as springboard for your own customer version.

13. Make a Birdfeeder for Your Backyard

A kid-made birdfeeder requires simple materials and will continue to entertain them even when it’s finished. They’ll be able to watch the birds come to feed in their own creation. If you’re not an experienced birdwatcher, you can look your visitors up online and let the kids help you identify them. All you’ll need for this feeder are pine cones (or toilet paper rolls), peanut butter, and birdseed.

14. Make a Thankfulness Tree

Start a new tradition with your grandkids this year with a Thankfulness tree. You can do this weeks before the Thanksgiving holiday to turn their minds toward being thankful and to allow them to enjoy and share it with others. You can create a simple paper tree with cutout leaves glued to the branches. Each leaf will say something you and your grandchildren are thankful for this year. Your grandkids might also enjoy decorating a small artificial tree (if you have one) with leaf cutouts.

15. Plant for Spring

If you have a green thumb or enjoy gardening, let your grandkids help you plant bulbs for the spring. What kid doesn’t love to get dirty? And for those who don’t, give them a pair of gardening gloves and watch them get to work. They’ll anticipate the fruits for their labor all winter and be eager to check for signs of new life when they visit you in the spring.

Enjoy Time with Your Grandkids (Leak Free)

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