Fall Sensory Fun
Fall is a season that brings a feast for the senses, from the vibrant colors of changing leaves to all of the seasonal flavors and scents, exposing your child to all that this gorgeous season has to offer is a great way to foster their development. Here are just a few ways that getting into the festive fall spirit can provide your child with a fun and educational experience.
Playing in the Leaves
One of a child’s quintessential fall experiences is jumping into a pile of freshly raked leaves. The crunching and crinkling of leaves provide great sensory input for kids as they run through the gathered leaves. They can touch, crunch, and throw leaves all around to experience the variety of textures and colors within the fallen foliage.
This activity also offers a great opportunity for kids to develop their gross motor skills. By running, jumping, and throwing leaf piles in the air, kids can work on skills like balance, coordination, and strength.
Beyond physical benefits, playing in leaves encourages imagination, whether they’re pretending to be in a magical forest or creating a leaf pile fort. This combination of sensory, motor, and cognitive engagement makes playing in leaves a fun activity that supports a child's overall development.
Carving Pumpkins
Pumpkin carving isn’t just a Fall tradition — it’s a fun sensory-rich activity, great for a child’s development!
As children scoop out the goopy guts and slimy seeds, they engage their sense of touch. This tactile experience helps develop fine motor skills, hand strength, and eye-hand coordination, as they manipulate the pumpkin and carving tools to bring their desired design to life.
Additionally, the creation and execution of a particular design supports creativity and problem-solving skills. Together, these benefits make pumpkin carving not only a fun and festive activity but also a valuable developmental tool for young children.
Baking Fall Treats
Fall is the perfect time to embrace the cozy comforts of baking. Not only is this a great activity because you end up with a sweet treat, but involving your child in the process is a perfect opportunity to practice their fine motor skills and engage their senses.
The variety of textures that come together to create a batter or dough provide a world of exploration for a little kitchen helper. They can squish, sift, and stir all of the different components and watch what happens as they come together.
Much like pumpkin carving, this activity also provides an opportunity for children to practice their fine motor skills and eye-hand coordination. The different steps of measuring and pouring ingredients, kneading dough, or decorating improves hand-strength and dexterity which are essential for skills like holding utensils and writing.
Lastly, this kind of activity is a perfect for practicing following multi-step directions and seeing cause and effect in action. Ultimately, baking fosters a fun, hands-on way for children to develop sensory, cognitive, and motor skills, while offering a rewarding and delicious result.
Walking in Nature
Before the weather gets too cold, it’s a great idea to get outside with your kiddo and take in everything that is happening during this beautiful season. A walk through a wooded area or park during fall can provide an immersive sensory experience, too!
One way to make a simple walk more engaging for your child is to give them a checklist of items to find before finishing the stroll. Some examples of items to find include: a squirrel, leaves in a variety of colors, a pinecone, or the sound of a bird. The possibilities are really endless!
Nature walks not only engage the senses with the beauty of the outdoors but can also promote mindfulness and healthy habits.
Having S'mores at a Bonfire
If you have a fire pit, hosting a bonfire and roasting marshmallows can provide kids with a memorable sensory experience. They can watch and listen as the flames grow and the wood crackles. They will feel the warmth of the fire on their skin and the cool breeze on their neck.
But the best part comes when they get to make a s’more! With the help of a grown-up, they can see the cause and effect of holding their marshmallow over the open flame and then practice following multi-step directions to assemble their s’more.
After they have put it all together, they’ll get the ooey gooey reward of eating this classic treat!
Fall is an exciting time to engage in activities that provide sensory benefits and foster a deeper connection to the world around us. Whether you’re savoring the flavors of seasonal treats, feeling the textures of autumn leaves, or just taking in the sights around you, fall can provide countless experiences to help your child continue to develop and grow. Help your child embrace the season with these fun activities and share in the sensory wonders fall has to offer!