I love fall so much. The change of seasons is always a refreshing welcome. When fall comes, I savor the chill that begins to set in, watch the leaves change to beautiful colors, and begin to anticipate the joy of holidays ahead. I also love the activities that fall brings with it!
Here are a few favorite activities I hope you and your kiddos enjoy as well…
Get hammering into a pumpkin! This is a favorite activity to build hand strength, shoulder strength, bilateral coordination and visual motor coordination! Try this too- write some math equations on it, letters, or sight words and once your child solves it, finds it, or matches a golf tee (with the corresponding number or letter written on it!), they get to hammer it! This sequential learning helps build a connection for recall later!
Use your pumpkins in an obstacle course!
Step from one pumpkin to another, lay a board across them to make a balance beam, carry a pumpkin from one place to another, roll a pumpkin, jump over it… There are SO many ways to use them in an obstacle course and because of their weight, they add a great dose of heavy work. Heavy work is using proprioception to let our muscles receive the input they need to know where we are in space but also can help kiddos feel grounded, calm, and secure.
Speaking of pumpkins… exploring the insides of the pumpkin is a sensory wonderland! That being said, it can also be very very aversive to many (I don’t particularly care for it)… You can still explore the sensory aspects with your child with a spoon available, tongs to pick out the seeds (and work on hand strength at the same time), smell it, bake some seeds and experience the crunchy and chewy texture of the seeds, look at it up close with a magnifying glass, plant the seeds and watch them grow over time. These are all fantastic ways to explore the pumpkin without diving in!
Sensory bins! I love a themed sensory bin for a holiday! While I’m trying to get away from using food for sensory bins- if it is just for my kids and I can wash some beans to use later, I’m still game.
You can also make a sensory bin with these items:
cracked corn (and toss to chickens or birds)
bird seed
colorful leaves
pumpkins with water and soap and some scrub brushes
paper shreds from a paper shredder- add in some spooky Halloween items
Corn with husks (dried or fresh- have your kiddo explore the corn and pull the husks off!)
Pick up a package of vampire teeth to add to your sensory bin and use them as tongs to have kids pick up spider rings and place them on a straw, twig, or into a witch’s cauldron! This is a great way to build hand strength and work on visual motor skills!
One of my absolute favorite activities to do with kids is vinegar and baking soda. What better time to do it than during October when you can be festive with a witch’s cauldron and make a “witch’s brew!”
I love using process art with my own kids and children I work with because it allows for full sensory immersion. Rather than following discrete steps that are often parent-led, process art allows children to explore at their own pace. Make some fabulous fall art with colors of the changing leaves or use black and orange for a fun Halloween- themed work of art. Extend this into the holiday season to use as gift wrap later!
Have fun with these activities and leave a comment to tell me what your favorites are!
