The outdoors serve as not only a space for children to play but as a sensory-rich environment to learn. With the recommended time of play for children being three hours per day, Fall is the perfect time to incorporate outdoor play into their routine.
Playing outside allows kids to be creative and develop in a variety of ways. They grow socially by interacting with others, forming friendships, and engaging with their environment through physical interaction and imagination. The outdoors has no barriers, your child is free to explore with no limitations to how active they can be.
Along with physical development, spending time outside also has mental health advantages for children. Through play, they can be imaginative and try new things leading to an improved mood and built confidence. The benefits of playing outdoors is significant in the foundation of a child’s overall health. Finding the time in our busy lives to incorporate play can be a challenge, to alleviate some of that stress, here are some family-friendly outdoor activities that you can try right at home this Fall.
Fall Outdoor Activities:
Color Scavenger Hunt:
Go for a walk outside and have your child explore the colors around them. Grab color swatches or point out colors you’re wearing, then have your child try and match the colors from the environment around them. By age five, an essential skill a child should have is the ability to identify colors. Corresponding color names to real world objects is a hands-on activity that will help them recognize and remember colors better.
Gardening:
If you were planning on planting this fall, have your child join you. They will be active moving around using muscles to grab and operate objects. They will develop fine and gross motor skills through grasping tools and picking up seeds to plant. It will also aid in building their confidence. Working to grow and take care of the plants gives children a sense of responsibility making them feel empowered as they watch them blossom.
Leaf Art:
A Fall hands-on activity like tracing leaves exercises the use of motor and creative skills in children. Have them collect leaves outside and trace around the shape of the leaf – all you will need is paper, and something to color with. You can also place the paper on top of the leaf on a flat surface and have them color over it to discover all the textures of the leaf.
If they want to hang up their art, they can cut out their leaf with scissors or make it into a decoration and hole punch each leaf to thread string through creating garland.
If you go on a hike, collect the leaves you find and make a wreath at home. You will just need glue, a paper plate, scissors, and the leaves you gathered.
Visit Your Local Orchard:
If you’re looking to take a family trip, visit your local orchard or farm. Among fun activities like tractor rides and corn mazes, in Fall they usually offer apple and pumpkin picking. Here your child can learn about how fruits and vegetables grow and get a better understanding of where their food comes from.
With what they chose you can go home and make caramel apples to enjoy or pick the seeds out of the pumpkins to bake. If they are wanting to be creative, carve pumpkins together. Your options are endless.
Create a Maze:
When you think of children playing in the Fall typically you imagine them jumping into a pile of leaves. With all those leaves in your yard, try creating a maze on the ground for your child to navigate. This will allow them to use their problem-solving skills in following the path.
Enjoy Outside:
Playing outdoors can simply include activities like tag, riding a bike, or taking a hike. Encouraging outdoor play leads to positive physical developments and is an escape for children from screens. Through physical activity they will gain motor skills enhancing their coordination, balance, and confidence in activities
Outdoor play is a fun and essential part of a child’s development at a young age. It adds to their social, physical, and emotional health as they learn to socialize with others and become actively engaged with nature. Don’t be afraid to get creative, and let your child learn and grow through outdoor activities.