Fall signifies that cold weather is around the corner. Autumn which officially starts after the autumn equinox in Sep(23rd this year) is when nature prepares for the severeness of winter. Plants prepare in many ways - by ensuring seeds are dispersed, by saving energy, by making sure other saplings don't compete for resources and also making sure they have resources to start growing a new batch of leaves when the weather is good. People prepare too, especially in farming communities. When the kids are young they are the most enthusiastic. Stop saying 'no' to all that the kids suggest. Use your imagination and try out a few unusual things.
Here are some fall activities kids will definitely enjoy:
1. Dress up as a dragon
Get the dragon costumes out. Once dressed, ask the kids to jump through mounds of leaves. Make sure no one's annoyed. If there's grass under the leaves, suggest sliding on the leaves(warn the kids to be careful). Have you seen dogs enjoy leaves? Well, after the initial hesitation, kids will love this wild play.
2. Make a corn dragon
This is a wonderful craft to strengthen young hands, learn textures from rough to fine and enjoy a healthy snack at the end of it. Gather a couple of ears of corn. Peel the green layer/husk off. You could get the kids to peel it off in single layers or many layers at one shot. Once peeled, use the husk to make funny craft. Play around. Pop of some corn to make designs on the cob. Attach it to the top of a stick and the kids have a fake spear.
3. Create a Leaf Dragon
Collect colorful leaves. Draw the outline of a big dragon. Know of dragon games? Use their dragon outlines to draw your own outlines. Stick or arrange the leaves using the indicative outline. Don't want to use paper? Arrange the leaves on the floor in the shape of a dragon. Use sticks and stones to add features.
4. Leafy dragons, anybody?!
Collect colorful leaves. Cut them out in the outline of simple dragons. Staple them one behind the other. Use these to decorate your windows, fences or even the trees in your garden.
5. Dragon collage
Collect a variety of natural materials like - chalk powder, dirt, sand, twigs, pebbles, clay, brick pieces or anything else you find. Use all these materials to make a 3d dragon. Build it. Use clay, brick pieces etc. to build the body of the dragon and then decorate it with the rest of the material. Use some fall leaves to make it a winged creature.
6. Pin the Dragon
Draw a nice big dragon. Blindfold the kids. Let them take turns to pin a tail on it. This can get loud and fun.
There are innumerable fall activities. For Halloween, you could use a pumpkin to make a bright orange dragon with autumn leaves pinned on it. The trick is to try out the easy ones. Once kids are comfortable with these, you can move on to more difficult crafts. Enjoy the color and prepare for the cold!
Collect colorful leaves. Cut them out in the outline of simple dragons. Staple them one behind the other. Use these to decorate your windows, fences or even the trees in your garden.
5. Dragon collage
Collect a variety of natural materials like - chalk powder, dirt, sand, twigs, pebbles, clay, brick pieces or anything else you find. Use all these materials to make a 3d dragon. Build it. Use clay, brick pieces etc. to build the body of the dragon and then decorate it with the rest of the material. Use some fall leaves to make it a winged creature.
6. Pin the Dragon
Draw a nice big dragon. Blindfold the kids. Let them take turns to pin a tail on it. This can get loud and fun.
There are innumerable fall activities. For Halloween, you could use a pumpkin to make a bright orange dragon with autumn leaves pinned on it. The trick is to try out the easy ones. Once kids are comfortable with these, you can move on to more difficult crafts. Enjoy the color and prepare for the cold!
