As the temperature drops and the nights draw in, fall also brings with it a sense of excitement in the air. Halloween, and all the fun that entails, is not far away, and after that the festive season starts. However, with the ongoing coronavirus pandemic restricting large scale social events, 2020’s spooky and festive seasons could look radically different. If you’re a parent, you might be looking for ways to manage your children’s excitement before the big days that keep them entertained and interested; or, you might be looking for fun experiences to share as a family and create long-lasting memories. To give you a few ideas, here are nine family-friendly activities to entertain the kids this fall.
Visit a pumpkin patch
Perhaps no activity is as quintessentially fall as a visit to a pumpkin patch. This is a great way to get your kids outside and enjoying the fresh air and is even more atmospheric if the air has a slight chill to it. Your kids can choose their own pumpkin to carve into a jack-o-lantern for Halloween and to avoid waste you could use the leftover pulp to make a tasty autumn pumpkin recipe. Some pumpkin patches offer additional activities such as hayrides and a corn maze so that you can have a fun fall day out.
Go for a walk or bike ride
If you want to get your kids off their phones and into the great outdoors, you could plan to spend a morning hiking or on a bike ride. Now is the perfect time to get out and admire the stunning fall foliage, whether you’re lucky enough to live near a national park or have local recreational wooded areas. Make sure you fully plan your route before you set off, and bring a map with you – this will help to avoid the panic of getting lost and the misery of complaining kids!
Enjoy a film night at home
With dropping temperatures, it can be tempting to stay in the warmth of your home, wrapped up in a blanket. Additionally, you might still be wary of going to the cinema due to ongoing coronavirus restrictions. In these cases, why not have your own film night at home? Not only do you have the freedom to relax in private, but you can watch whatever you want rather than being restricted to what is currently being shown at the cinema. To get the whole family in the mood for the spooky season, you could work your way through some kid-friendly Halloween movies that are light on scares.
Visit a water park
A trip to a water park might not be the most typical of fall activities, but you will not have fun at one, particularly if you live in a region that sees higher temperatures throughout the year. Or, you might want to get one more splash session before your local waterpark closes for the season. Some water parks even have indoor areas, ensuring that you can continue to have aquatic-based fun even when it’s freezing outside. Keep your eyes open for money-saving offers, such as Camelbeach Waterpark coupon codes, which will help you to save money on your exciting day out.
Visit a theme park
Like outdoor water parks, many theme parks operate on a seasonal basis, and you might want to take your family for a last trip on the rollercoasters before your local park closes for the year. Alternatively, many year-round theme parks have seasonal displays for Halloween and Christmas, with the addition of attractions such as a Santa’s grotto and a haunted house. If your trip to the theme park is an annual event, this could be the year that your kids are finally big enough to ride the adult coasters, creating fun family memories.
Go on a trip to a haunted house
Though theme parks may be one of the few places you can enjoy a rollercoaster, neighborhood haunted houses are regular additions throughout the fall season in the run-up to Halloween. This could be a seasonal carnival attraction, or simply a neighbor who wants to turn their home into a fun, immersive experience for trick-or-treaters. However, make sure that you double-check the suitability of the haunted house before bringing your family for an outing – some attractions might be a bit too scary or adult for young children.
Get crafty
Another fun autumn activity to do with your kids when it gets cold outside is to bring out the craft supplies. You could create some fall-themed crafts, such as autumn leaf silhouette art, or work on your home’s Halloween display. Why not have your kids collect some fall foliage on your next family walk to turn into a harvest wreath to hang on your door? Alternatively, you could take this opportunity to teach your children an heirloom craft that you were taught yourself as a child, such as knitting, embroidery, or crocheting.
Cook tasty autumn food
For many people, fall marks the start of an endless supply of delicious food, from Halloween treats, to Thanksgiving turkey, to Christmas eggnog. Gather your kids in the kitchen to teach them how to make a variety of tasty autumn food, mixing up old classics such as pumpkin pie with new dishes. Kids are sure to want to get in on the fun stuff, like shaping and decorating cookies, and licking the used utensils. Everyone in your household, young and old, will love the smell of fresh baking in the kitchen!
Play games
Another fun family activity for when you want to stay warm inside is to have a games night, featuring a variety of games. You’re sure to have a lot of fun watching your kids try to teach grandma how to play the Xbox, and everyone loves to have a competitive game of Monopoly. An energetic game of Twister is the perfect way to round the evening off, or to keep warm.
