Everyone put on their boots, grab a bag or basket, and off into the woods! It's so much fun to search for beautiful leaves, chestnuts, or acorns together. Then, at home, you can make all sorts of things with the finds. You can even let your baby enjoy autumn by taking a lovely stroll with the hood down. (Yes, I admit, this isn't the best thing to do when it's raining.)
As I write this, it's raining outside. Ugh, you think, that means being stuck inside all day again. But why? Is getting wet so bad? You can dress for it, and especially now that it's not that cold yet, it's perfectly fine. Children often love walking through the rain with an umbrella and splashing through the puddles. Getting wet and dirty, wonderful, isn't it?! I used to do it all the time with my oldest when he was about two or three. Now I realize I really need to start doing it again with my youngest!
A few tips for even more things to do in autumn include cooking outdoors with small pots and pans and making blupsie (small clay pots) from sand, leaves, twigs, and grass. Or, if it's a bit windier, fly a kite with plastic bags on a string. And what about all the snails and earthworms that appear when it rains? Give the children a bucket and start collecting! Then you can place them in an open glass container so they'll crawl out. This way, you can also have a good look at the underside.
Once inside, you can create all sorts of things with the "treasures." They can be presented on a tray or in a glass container (for example, I once had a container of chestnuts and other things on my windowsill until summer. They absolutely couldn't be thrown away...). You can make beautiful figures with leaves on a piece of paper. You can draw on their arms and legs, and even their faces. With chestnuts, you can do math or make a beautiful spider web. Oh yes, you can also make a beautiful autumn garland with leaves, or glue them to a glass jar, add a light, and now you have a lovely autumn lantern. Well, there are plenty of ideas! Also, check out my Pinterest board "Playing Outside" for even more fun tips. And more tips are coming!
