25+ Autumn Activities for Kids (2025): Fun, Learning & Outdoor Magic!

As the crisp breeze rolls in and leaves turn golden, it’s the perfect time to enjoy Autumn activities for kids that spark creativity, outdoor play, and seasonal learning. Whether you’re a parent, caregiver, or teacher, Fall brings endless opportunities to explore, play, and grow together.

From leaf crafts and apple picking to sensory bins and cozy storytime, Autumn activities for toddlers, babies, and preschoolers are a great way to make lasting memories while supporting their development. These hands-on experiences not only celebrate the beauty of the season but also help little ones improve motor skills, curiosity, and social engagement.

In this post, you’ll find 25+ curated Autumn activities for kids designed for all ages—from babies just discovering textures to preschoolers who love interactive learning. Whether you’re planning weekend fun or weekday enrichment, these Fall activities for babies and beyond will keep your little ones entertained and engaged. 🍂

Let’s jump into the best ideas to make your child’s Autumn unforgettable!

25+ Autumn Activities for Kids

As the days grow cooler and the leaves change color, Autumn becomes the perfect season to explore, learn, and bond with your little ones. Whether you’re planning cozy indoor crafts or refreshing outdoor adventures, this list of Autumn activities for kids will keep toddlers, preschoolers, and even babies engaged all season long.

Let’s dive into 25+ fun, enriching Autumn activities for toddlers, preschoolers, and babies that celebrate the beauty of Fall while supporting child development.

Related: Fall Crafts for Kids Ideas, 25+ Fall Festival Games Ideas

🍂 1. Leaf Collecting and Sorting

There’s something magical about a simple Autumn walk with your child. As the leaves crunch beneath your feet, turn your stroll into an engaging learning adventure. Encourage your little one to collect leaves in different shapes, sizes, and colors. Once you get home, lay them out on the table and help your child sort them by type, shade, or texture.

This is one of the easiest Autumn activities for kids—and it’s also incredibly educational. Toddlers and preschoolers get to practice early sorting and classification skills while enjoying a hands-on, nature-based experience. It’s calming, fun, and a perfect reason to get outside together.

🎨 2. Leaf Rubbing Art

Once you’ve collected those colorful leaves, here’s a fun way to turn them into art. Place the leaves underneath a sheet of paper and gently rub over them with crayons. As your child moves the crayon across the paper, the beautiful textures of the leaves start to appear.

This classic Autumn activity for preschool kids strengthens fine motor skills and sparks creativity. Plus, it’s mess-free, easy to set up, and can be enjoyed by kids of all ages. Try using different colored crayons to make a beautiful Fall-themed masterpiece!

🖐️ 3. Fall Sensory Bins

If your toddler loves to explore with their hands, a Fall sensory bin is a must-try. Fill a container with seasonal items like dried corn kernels, pinecones, mini pumpkins, cinnamon sticks, acorns, and felt or artificial leaves. Let them dig, scoop, pour, and explore!

This is one of the best Autumn activities for toddlers, as it supports sensory development, encourages imaginative play, and helps develop fine motor skills. You can even add scoops, cups, or spoons to extend the fun and learning.

🍎 4. Apple Stamping Craft

Grab a few apples from your fruit bowl, slice them in half, and get out the paints—it’s stamping time! Dip the apple halves into washable paint and press them onto paper to create fun, seasonal prints.

This easy and creative Fall activity for babies and toddlers is great for introducing little ones to shapes, textures, and color mixing. Plus, it’s a great way to build hand-eye coordination and encourage sensory exploration through art.

🌾 5. Visit a Pumpkin Patch

A trip to the pumpkin patch is a Fall classic for a reason—it’s packed with wonder for young children. Let your toddler or preschooler wander through rows of pumpkins, touch different shapes and sizes, and pick their favorite to take home.

This outing offers endless photo opportunities, teaches kids about harvest time, and is perfect for sensory learning. Plus, many pumpkin patches have kid-friendly activities like hayrides and corn mazes—making it one of the most memorable Autumn activities for kids.

📚 6. Autumn-Themed Storytime

There’s nothing cozier than snuggling up under a blanket and reading together on a chilly Fall day. Choose seasonal picture books like “Leaf Man” by Lois Ehlert, “Pumpkin Soup” by Helen Cooper, or “Fletcher and the Falling Leaves” by Julia Rawlinson.

Storytime is a meaningful Autumn activity for babies and toddlers alike. While babies enjoy listening to your voice and looking at bright pictures, preschoolers can begin understanding Fall themes, emotions, and story structure.

✂️ 7. DIY Leaf Crown

Let your child feel like Autumn royalty by helping them craft their very own leaf crown. All you need is a strip of paper (or cardstock), some glue, and a handful of real or paper leaves. Have your child glue the leaves around the band to create their personalized crown.

This low-cost, high-fun Autumn activity for preschoolers is perfect for enhancing fine motor skills and self-expression. It’s also great for pretend play—who doesn’t love being the king or queen of Fall?

🍪 8. Bake Leaf-Shaped Cookies

What’s better than baking on a crisp Fall afternoon? Involve your kids in the kitchen by rolling out sugar cookie dough and using Fall-themed cookie cutters (like leaves, pumpkins, or acorns) to shape their treats.

This is a warm, tasty way to teach early cooking skills, like measuring, rolling, and cutting. And it’s not just fun—it also builds confidence and teamwork. Whether you’re baking with a toddler or a preschooler, this is one of those Autumn activities for kids that ends with a delicious reward!

🧺 9. Fall Picnic in the Park

Take advantage of the cooler weather and Falling leaves by planning a cozy Autumn picnic. Pack up some healthy Fall snacks—like apple slices, cheese cubes, or pumpkin muffins—and lay out a blanket under a tree filled with colorful foliage.

This is one of the most relaxing and enjoyable Autumn activities for toddlers, giving them the chance to eat, explore, and play in nature. Don’t forget a small ball or bubbles for some extra outdoor fun!

🎃 10. Pumpkin Painting

Skip the carving knives and grab the paintbrushes instead! Pumpkin painting is a safe and exciting alternative to pumpkin carving, especially for younger children. Let toddlers and preschoolers use washable paints to decorate their pumpkins with silly faces, polka dots, stripes, or handprints.

Not only does this activity foster creativity, but it’s also a great bonding moment and less messy than traditional carving. Plus, kids will love showing off their painted pumpkins to guests or on your front porch!

🖼️ 11. Autumn Collage Craft

Get creative with nature’s treasures! After a walk outdoors, gather leaves, twigs, flower petals, and even bits of bark. Let your child glue these natural items onto a piece of cardboard or construction paper to make a beautiful Autumn collage.

This Autumn activity for kids is great for encouraging creativity, building fine motor skills, and talking about textures, colors, and seasonal changes. It’s perfect for toddlers and preschoolers who love crafting and hands-on fun.

🧸 12. Fall Scavenger Hunt

Turn your next outdoor adventure into a fun game with a Fall scavenger hunt! Create a simple checklist of Autumn-themed items like red leaves, acorns, pinecones, squirrels, or pumpkins. Give your child a paper and pencil to mark off what they find.

This interactive Autumn activity for preschool kids builds observation skills, promotes physical activity, and helps little ones become more curious about the world around them. It’s also great for siblings or playdates!

👣 13. Leaf Jumping

It doesn’t get much more classic than jumping into a big, crunchy pile of leaves! Rake a soft pile and let your toddler or preschooler jump in, throw leaves, and roll around. This timeless Autumn activity for toddlers is full of laughter, movement, and sensory joy.

It’s a great way to burn off energy while connecting with nature—and let’s face it, parents will probably want to join in too!

🧵 14. Felt Pumpkin Puzzle

Cut out large pumpkin shapes from orange felt, then slice them into pieces like a puzzle. Let your child reassemble the pieces on a felt board or flat surface. You can even add faces, stems, or leaves for more variety.

This is a quiet-time, screen-free Autumn activity for preschoolers that supports problem-solving and spatial awareness. It’s lightweight, reusable, and travel-friendly too!

🕯️ 15. Apple-Scented Playdough

Make your own Fall-scented playdough using apple pie spices like cinnamon and nutmeg. Add red food coloring or glitter for a festive twist. Let your little one roll, squish, and mold the dough with cookie cutters or child-safe tools.

This sensory-rich Fall activity for babies (with supervision) and toddlers stimulates touch and smell while supporting early creativity and fine motor control.

🧶 16. Yarn-Wrapped Leaves

Cut leaf shapes out of sturdy cardboard and give your child yarn in Autumn colors—orange, brown, red, and yellow. Let them wrap the yarn around each leaf shape, creating beautiful textured decorations.

This craft is ideal for strengthening hand-eye coordination and finger muscles, making it a fantastic Autumn activity for preschool children who enjoy focused, quiet play.

🍿 17. Popcorn Garland

Stringing popcorn may sound old-fashioned, but kids absolutely love it! Use a plastic needle and thread to carefully string air-popped popcorn into long garlands. You can hang them around windows, fireplaces, or on a mini “Fall tree” at home.

It’s a calming, fine-motor-skill-focused Autumn activity for toddlers and older preschoolers—just be sure to supervise for safety and avoid sharp needles.

🎼 18. Autumn Songs & Rhymes

Sing fun Fall-themed songs and rhymes with your little ones, like “Autumn Leaves Are Falling Down”, “5 Little Pumpkins”, or “Way Up High in the Apple Tree.” Add finger movements or scarves for an extra sensory element.

This cozy, musical Autumn activity for babies and toddlers builds language skills, rhythm awareness, and emotional bonding. You don’t need to be a great singer—kids just love hearing your voice!

🌰 19. Acorn Painting

Gather some acorns during your Fall walks, place them in a box with paper and dollops of paint, and let your child roll the acorns around. As they move, they create unique, colorful trails across the paper.

This is a super fun and slightly unpredictable Autumn activity for kids that mixes art with science and movement. Bonus: it’s a great way to reuse natural materials creatively.

🐿️ 20. Pretend Play: Forest Friends

Transform your playroom into a Fall forest! Encourage your child to pretend they’re a squirrel hiding acorns, a bear getting ready to hibernate, or an owl flying through the trees. Use stuffed animals, cardboard trees, or even costumes to make it extra fun.

This imaginative Autumn activity for preschool children boosts storytelling skills, emotional intelligence, and independent play.

🌧️ 21. Puddle Jumping

Don’t let a little rain stop the fun! Dress your toddler in a raincoat and boots, and go splash in puddles together. Look for worms, floating leaves, or even make leaf boats to race down sidewalk streams.

This adventurous Autumn activity for toddlers is full of sensory exploration and movement—and it’s a great way to show your child that every kind of weather brings something fun.

🔎 22. Nature Magnifying Time

Bring along a kid-friendly magnifying glass on your next nature walk. Let your little one examine leaf veins, moss on tree bark, or the fine details of a pinecone. It’s a quiet but deeply engaging activity that turns your toddler into a mini scientist!

This is one of the most educational and curiosity-boosting Autumn activities for kids, especially for those with a love of the outdoors.

🧡 23. Gratitude Tree

Cut a tree shape from brown paper and tape it to a wall or door. Then, cut out leaf shapes from colored paper. Each day, help your child write (or dictate) something they’re thankful for on a leaf and stick it on the tree.

This heartwarming Autumn activity for preschool kids helps build mindfulness, appreciation, and language development while creating a lovely seasonal display.

🕯️ 24. Cinnamon Stick Painting

Swap paintbrushes for cinnamon sticks! Let kids dip the sticks in paint and create Fall-themed art on paper. The texture and scent add a whole new sensory experience, making this an exciting Autumn activity for toddlers and preschoolers.

It’s especially fun around Thanksgiving or during holiday card-making sessions—and your house will smell amazing afterward!

🎃 25. Halloween Dress-Up Rehearsal

Let your child try on their Halloween costume early for a mini dress-up session. Act out stories, practice saying “trick or treat,” and take some fun photos. This builds confidence, reduces anxiety for the big day, and adds another layer of fun to your Fall routine.

It’s an imaginative and joyful Autumn activity for kids that combines creativity with excitement about upcoming celebrations.

✨ Bonus: DIY Autumn Lanterns

Use mason jars, leaves, and LED candles to create soft Autumn glow lanterns. Safe, magical, and perfect for toddlers to admire.

🍁 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Autumn Activities for Kids

1. What are some easy Autumn activities for toddlers at home?

Some simple and fun Autumn activities for toddlers you can do at home include apple stamping, creating a Fall sensory bin, making a leaf crown, and reading Autumn-themed books. These hands-on activities are great for little hands and require minimal setup.

2. How can I keep preschoolers engaged during the Fall season?

Keep preschoolers engaged with seasonal crafts like leaf rubbing art, felt pumpkin puzzles, and nature scavenger hunts. Many Autumn activities for preschool kids are designed to support creativity, motor skills, and outdoor exploration.

3. Are there any safe Fall activities for babies?

Yes! Some gentle Fall activities for babies include listening to Autumn songs, going on stroller walks to see colorful leaves, exploring a baby-safe sensory bin, or enjoying seasonal books during storytime. Always supervise sensory play for safety.

4. What can I include in a Fall sensory bin for young kids?

For a themed sensory bin, you can use dried corn, mini pumpkins, pinecones, artificial leaves, cinnamon sticks, and soft fabric pieces. These textures and scents make the bin a fun and educational Autumn activity for toddlers.

5. How can I make Autumn activities educational for kids?

Many Autumn activities for kids naturally include learning elements like sorting, counting, fine motor development, and vocabulary building. Activities like leaf collecting, gratitude trees, and pumpkin painting are fun while encouraging critical thinking and creativity.

6. What if we can’t go outside—any good indoor Fall activities?

Absolutely! Try baking leaf-shaped cookies, creating Autumn collages, playing dress-up in Halloween costumes, or making DIY decorations. These indoor-friendly Autumn activities for kids are perfect for rainy days and just as enjoyable.

✅ Final Thoughts,

Autumn is such a magical time for children to explore the world around them, and these Autumn activities for kids make the season even more special. From hands-on crafts to outdoor adventures, each idea helps build connection, curiosity, and joy.

Whether you’re looking for Autumn activities for toddlers, cozy ideas for babies, or enriching options for preschoolers, this list offers something for everyone. So grab your scarves, step into the crisp Fall air, and create moments your little ones will always remember.

💬 Loved these ideas? Share this post with fellow parents and educators—and let’s spread the Autumn fun! 🍁