As the leaves start to turn and conkers drop from the trees, autumn is one of the best seasons for getting outdoors, getting creative and getting active with little ones. Whether you’re after seasonal art projects or simple ways to explore nature together, here are some fun and easy autumn activities for preschoolers to try at home or out and about.
The sights, sounds, smells and nature finds of autumn offer endless inspiration. From painting and crafting to walking and discovering, these activities are simple enough for even the youngest children to enjoy.
You may also enjoy 50 Awesome Autumn Activities for Kids (and Parents!)
Quick and Easy Autumn Activities
1. Go On an Autumn Walk
An autumn walk is a lovely way to see and explore what this season has to offer. It’s also a great opportunity for learning, fun and fresh air, so wrap up warm and head outdoors.
- Grab some bags or baskets and head out, whatever the weather, to see what beautiful changes the season has brought.
- Collect autumn leaves, twigs, conkers, acorns and pine cones – these will come in handy for some of the activities below too.
- Encourage your little one to explore freely – to touch, to smell, to look closely.
- Point out interesting things along the way – spider webs covered in dew, mushrooms, squirrels foraging for food, droplets sitting on fallen leaves.
- Take a few photos so you can look back at them together once you’re home.
You may also enjoy our free Autumn Scavenger Hunt for Kids
2. Make Autumn Playdough
Homemade playdough is great for building fine motor skills, and it’s easy and inexpensive to make at home with ingredients you’ll likely already have.
Offer a range of autumn-themed and coloured materials that your little one can freely add to the dough to change its texture and appearance – think conkers, twigs, dried pasta and similar seasonal finds.
You may also enjoy Creative Messy Play Ideas for Kids to Make This Autumn
3. Read an Autumn Story
The Percy the Park Keeper series by Nick Butterworth is a firm favourite, and After the Storm is a particularly good choice for this time of year.
The story features animals such as squirrels, hedgehogs, moles and badgers as the weather turns, trees sway in blustery winds, and leaves dance along the pavements – a busy time for Percy.
You may spot similar things on your own autumn walks. A trip to the library is also a lovely way to find more nature-themed stories to enjoy together.
You may also enjoy 35 Exciting Books for Curious Kids to Learn about Nature
4. Try Some Conker Marble Painting
Shiny brown conkers make a great alternative to marbles for this classic craft.
Dip them in paint in a selection of autumn colours, then roll them around a tray or shallow box, creating patterns as they go – and there you have conker marble painting.
You may also enjoy Fun Guaranteed with these 22 Easy Painting Ideas for Kids
5. Make a Leaf Collage
This is a fun way to let children stick what they’ve collected on their autumn walks onto paper and turn it into art. All you need is glue, paper and the leaves, twigs and other treasures gathered outdoors – then let their imagination take over.
You may also enjoy 15 Easy and Eye-Catching Leaf Craft Ideas for Kids
6. Make Leaf Prints
Leaf prints are a lovely way to keep enjoying those autumn leaves long after they’ve fallen.
- Dip leaves, or leaf-shaped sponges, in autumn-coloured paint – green, brown, yellow, red and orange work well.
- Watch as the colours blend together on the page.
- Once dry, cut out the leaf prints and use them as autumn decorations around your home.
You may also enjoy How do Autumn Leaves Change Colour?
7. Make Autumn Decorations
Get creative and turn your nature finds into seasonal decorations for the home.
- Gather twigs, conkers and pine cones, along with a few autumn decorations from the shops if you like.
- Use conkers and pine cones to help hold twigs in place.
- Add in your cut-out leaf prints for extra colour.
- Finish with fairy lights for a bit of sparkle.
8. Play Conker Toss
Everybody loves a game of conker toss, and it doubles up nicely as a Halloween party game too.
- Set out a range of containers at different distances and see how many conkers you can toss successfully into each one.
- Label the containers with points – smaller containers and ones placed further away are worth more – then take turns tossing conkers to see who scores the highest.
You may also enjoy Who Remembers Hunting For And Playing Conkers?
Frequently Asked Questions
What age group are these autumn activities suitable for?
These activities are designed with preschoolers in mind, but most can be easily adapted for younger toddlers or older siblings, making them great for the whole family to enjoy together.
Do I need any special equipment or materials?
No – most of these activities use everyday items like paper, glue and paint, along with natural materials you can collect on an autumn walk, such as leaves, conkers, twigs and pine cones.
How long does each activity take?
Most of these ideas are quick and flexible. A walk can be as short or long as you like, and the craft activities can typically be done in 15–30 minutes, making them ideal for a rainy afternoon or a quick after-school activity.
Related Articles
- 50 Awesome Autumn Activities for Kids (and Parents!)
- Creative Messy Play Ideas for Kids to Make This Autumn
- 15 Easy and Eye-Catching Leaf Craft Ideas for Kids
- 35 Exciting Books for Curious Kids to Learn about Nature
Save These Ideas for Later
Love these autumn activity ideas? Bookmark this page or save it to your favourites so you have it handy whenever you need some seasonal inspiration.
Get More Ideas Like This
Want more simple, seasonal activity ideas delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up for our free MyKidsTime newsletter for weekly ideas, competitions and offers to keep the kids entertained all year round.
