35 Fall Activities to Share with Your Grandkids

There is something about fall that just feels made for grandparents and grandkids. The air is crisp, the world turns beautiful colors, and there are a hundred little things to do together. Whether you have a full day planned or just an afternoon, here are 35 ideas by Senior Resource: outdoors, indoors, and for those rainy days when plans change.

Get Outside Together

The cooler weather makes fall one of the best seasons to be outdoors. These outings are easy, fun, and give the grandkids something to talk about for weeks.

1. Pumpkin patch. Let them pick their own pumpkin. You can pick one too, for carving, for pumpkin pie, or to roast the seeds later.
2. Corn maze. Older kids especially love the challenge of finding their way through.
3. Apple orchard. Kids can learn about different apple varieties, bond over picking, and treat themselves to apple cider and apple cider donuts.
4. Farm or dairy visit. They can learn about animals, crops, and where dairy products come from. Some dairies even let kids try milking a cow or sample homemade cheese.
5. Zoo trip. Seeing animals they would never spot in everyday life is a genuine thrill at any age.
6. Walk in the neighborhood. Fall decorations on porches, colorful leaves overhead, a simple walk turns into a lot of conversation.
7. Leaf-peeping drive. Pick a road or neighborhood known for fall foliage and take a slow drive. You do not need to go far.
8. Leaf pile jumping. Rake the piles high and let them go to town. A classic for good reason.
9. Hay ride. A peaceful way to enjoy a fall afternoon together.
10. Backyard campfire. Build a fire, make your favorite campfire food, and talk. It is a relaxed way to really connect.
11. Farmer’s market. Introduce them to farm-fresh produce, homemade baked goods, and things they have never seen before. Peaches and cream corn, with both white and yellow kernels, might surprise them as much as it surprises you.
12. Playground visit. Take them to a favorite park or find a new one nearby. A fresh play space gives them new energy.

When It Rains, Stay In and Create

A tip worth keeping in mind: a craft box stocked with construction paper, card stock, glue sticks, glitter, markers, crayons, paint, shaving cream, and paintbrushes means a rainy day is never a wasted one.

1. Crockpot apple cider. Look up a recipe, gather the ingredients, and let the grandkids help dump things in. Making it in the slow cooker means no worries about them near the stove.
2. Homemade playdough. Recipes are easy to find online. For extra fun, look for edible versions; apple cinnamon and pumpkin are popular flavors.
3. Fingerprint leaf tree. Trace or copy a tree outline, color the trunk brown, then let them dip fingertips in red, yellow, and orange paint to add leaves.
4. Apple craft. Copy an apple shape onto white cardstock, color it red, green, or yellow, brush on glue, and shake on matching glitter.
5. Movie day. Blankets, snacks, drinks, and a grandkid-chosen movie. Few things are cozier.
6. Blanket fort. Build one in the living room and enjoy it together.
7. Bake together. Apple muffins, pumpkin bread, cinnamon donuts… pick something fall-flavored and fill the house with a warm, delicious smell.
8. Wax paper leaf art. Collect leaves outside, place them between two sheets of wax paper, and iron on a low setting until the wax seals them in. Cut to size and add a paper frame.
9. Marble painting. Line a shoebox with paper, dip marbles in different colors of paint, and roll them around to make a one-of-a-kind painting.
10. Read together. Curl up under a blanket and read aloud to younger ones. For older grandkids, have a quiet reading marathon side by side.
11. Homemade finger paint. Look up a simple recipe and let them get messy.
12. Jigsaw puzzle. Pull out that big puzzle and make some progress on it together.
13. Campfire on a plate. Use white icing as the base, thin stick pretzels crossed for logs, and a red candy in the center for the flame. A fun edible craft.
14. Board games. Break out the old favorites for a little friendly competition.
15. Cook together. Teach older grandchildren how to make a meal you both love. There is nothing like food to bring people closer.

Indoor Outings Worth the Trip