Embrace autumn with these easy, educational, and fun ideas for little hands and curious minds!
Autumn is a magical time of year, filled with crisp air, colorful leaves, and endless opportunities for discovery. At Lekker Land, we love using the seasons as inspiration for activities that stimulate toddlers’ senses, nurture their curiosity, and support their learning. Here are our favourite autumn-themed adventures you can easily enjoy at home with your toddler!
🍁 1. Autumn Leaf Hunt
Turn your backyard or local park into an outdoor adventure!
What you’ll need:
- Small basket or bag
- Warm jacket and comfortable shoes
How to Play:
- Walk around and encourage your toddler to collect fallen leaves of different colours, shapes, and sizes.
- Once back home, help your child sort the leaves by size, colour, or shape, encouraging simple sorting and categorizing skills.
🍂 2. Crunchy Leaf Sensory Bin
Bring autumn textures indoors for sensory fun.
What you’ll need:
- Large plastic bin
- Dry autumn leaves
- Pinecones, twigs, or small stones
- Scoops, spoons, cups, or toy shovels
How to Play:
- Fill your sensory bin with the natural autumn items.
- Allow your toddler to freely explore the textures, listen to the crunchy sounds, and practice scooping and pouring.
🍏 3. Apple Stamping Art
Combine creativity with fine motor skills.
What you’ll need:
- Apples (halved horizontally)
- Washable paint in autumn colours (red, orange, yellow, brown)
- Paper or cardboard
- Plate for paint dipping
How to Play:
- Dip the apple halves into the paint and help your toddler stamp colourful apple shapes onto paper.
- Encourage them to mix colours and experiment.
🌰 4. Acorn Play
A tiny treasure that’s perfect for counting, sorting, and sensory fun!
What you’ll need:
- A collection of acorns (make sure they’re clean and dry)
- Muffin tin, small cups, or bowls
- Tongs or tweezers (optional, for older toddlers)
How to Play:
- Invite your child to sort the acorns into containers — by size, colour, or simply for fun.
- Use tongs to pick up acorns and drop them into containers to boost fine motor control.
- For an extra sensory twist, hide the acorns in a small tub of dry rice or leaves and let them hunt for them!
📚 5. Cosy Autumn Storytime
End the day with warmth and connection.
Recommended Books:
- “We’re Going on a Leaf Hunt” by Steve Metzger
- “Mouse’s First Fall” by Lauren Thompson
- “Autumn is Here!” by Heidi Pross Gray
How to Play:
- Cuddle together with blankets and your favourite autumn storybook, encouraging your child’s love for stories and language.
Final Thought:
Autumn activities are not just about having fun; they're about creating memorable experiences, bonding, and building foundational learning skills. We invite you to embrace the season and enjoy these simple, enriching adventures with your toddler.
Happy Autumn from all of us at Lekker Land Preschool! 🍁✨
Download our Lekker Land story about Autumn