Fall is coming at a snail’s pace over here in the south, but mentally, I am ready for the change of pace. Bring me all the apples, pumpkins, and fall leaves scattered on my front lawn. (even if there are only three, sigh). This post includes the best 30 Fall activities for preschoolers. And because the weather varies, I included indoor and outdoor fun ways to play.
The article is broken down into the following fall sections:
- Fall Sensory Play Activities
- Breakfast Invitaions for simple morning activities
- STEM fall activities for kids
- Best fall Book Recommendations and Activities
Use the jump links in the Table of Contents to take you directly to the category you are looking for.
RELATED: Autumn activities for kids call for a fun list of art supplies. Here are some of our favorite supplies for arts and crafts that you can keep on hand for some fun in the fall.
- How do you teach fall to preschoolers?
- Craving a calmer morning?
- Fall sensory activities for preschoolers
- Fall Breakfast Invitation activities for preschoolers
- STEM Fall Activities for Preschoolers
- Books and Book Activities for Autumn
- Autumn Activities are a Great Way to Learn and Play!
- How to Make a Fall Tissue Paper Pumpkin
- Frequently Asked Questions
How do you teach fall to preschoolers?
Ready to teach fall to your preschooler? Begin reading books about the change of weather and include a variety of hands-on open ended activities that invite your child to question ideas and learn information by exploring their senses. Fall is a sensory explosion of new textures, smells, and sights. Let’s uncover all of this with your preschooler.
RELATED: I can read your mind. Looking for Halloween activities for kids? I have a list for that too!
Craving a calmer morning?
Breakfast Invitations are simple learning games to begin the day with play.
Fall sensory activities for preschoolers
Sensory play will always have its place in fun activities for kids. They allow your child to investigate objects and feel new textures in their hands. It’s a way of letting them explore the world!
Using play dough, slime, or even water can help kids develop their fine motor skills too, so I was sure to include many of these activities in the list!
Apple Cinnamon Play Dough
Make special autumn-themed play dough. A fall activity for preschool on the sweeter side!
Apple Oobleck
Create Oobleck and add apple-shaped cutters. Want oobleck without the scent? Use my oobleck recipe.
Mess Free Fall Art
An easy way for your toddler to explore different colored paint to make a messy fall tree.
Pumpkin Balance
An easy way for your toddler to explore different colored paint to make a messy fall tree.
Fall Leaf Bath
Put sticky paper on the bathtub wall so your child can stick up leaves over bath time.
Fall Leaf Painting
Draw leaves on a roll of paper and watch your child paint them.
Fall Leaves Slime
Make this autumn slime for kids to experiment with!
Fall Pour and Scoop
Mix dried orange and black beans into a large sensory bin. Then, add in some simple kitchen supplies to mix it all up!
Fall Rock Soup
Paint different leaves on rocks for your toddlers to explore.
Fall Sensory Bin
Add an array of fall-themed colors, textures, and objects to a sensory bin.
Tissue Paper Pumpkin Art
Sequins and fake leaves in a water bottle look so beautiful!
Apple Scoop and Sort
Sequins and fake leaves in a water bottle look so beautiful!
Fall Sensory Bottle
Sequins and fake leaves in a water bottle look so beautiful!
Little Blue Truck Sensory Play
Make a mini farm scene and add fall objects.
Little Blue Play Dough Kit
This Playdough is perfect for creating over autumn.
Muddy Pumpkin Patch
Make a muddy, messy play and include plastic pumpkins.
Pumpkin Cloud Dough
Create pumpkin pie cloud dough for an autumn touch.
Pumpkin Slime
Use the insides of a real pumpkin for gooey slime!
Sticky Pumpkin
Tape pumpkin-shaped sticky paper to the wall and add tissue paper for your toddlers to stick on.
Fall Breakfast Invitation activities for preschoolers
I welcome fall with a giant mug of caffeinated goodness. Here are simple preschool activities to set up for your child in the morning to begin the day with play.
What better way to keep your Breakfast Invitation rotation going than to add some fun ideas for fall! – You know I couldn’t leave this category out. You can spend your mornings together conversing with your toddler while they have a lot of fun.
Want to get started? If you’re new to Breakfast Invitations, I wrote this easy-to-read guide to get started.
Apple Dot to Dot
Place apple stickers on a sheet of paper and see if your child can use a marker to join the dots.
Autumn Apple Gluing
Draw some apples and give your child textures such as pompoms to stick on.
Fall Lacing Wreath
Give your child the materials to lace together a fall wreath.
Fall Lacing Crown
Everyone likes a crown! So why not make one out of leaves?
Fall Tinker Tray
Add a collection of fall objects to a sensory tray for your child to explore.
Glue the Fall Leaves
Gather the leaves, grab the glue, and make some fun art!
Pumpkin Roll and Color
Draw out numbered pumpkins on a sheet of paper. Roll the dice and see if your child can place a pumpkin on the correct number.
Pumpkin Memory Game
See if your child can remember which number is under which pumpkin!
SAVE THE PUMPKINS
Get a pair of tongues and mini pumpkins. Let your child pick them up and place them in jars.
FINE MOTOR PUMPKIN PATCH
Similar to Save the Pumpkins, only this time your child is picking the pumpkins from the patch to collect in a jar.
STEM Fall Activities for Preschoolers
Getting your child exposed to some science, math, and the arts is never a bad idea. Balancing apples on paper rolls or making a clock out of a pumpkin are examples of science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (or STEAM activities).
RELATED: Fall means back-to-school! Read my parent’s guide back to kindergarten before the first day.
Apple Balance
Watch your kid balance apples on cardboard tubes.
Fall Engineering Challenge
Grab autumn-colored materials for your child to make a structure.
Fall Leaf Art and Science
Grab some real leaves and discuss with your child how gravity works and where the leaves land.
Pumpkin STEM Challenge
Build a structure using pumpkins, cardboard rolls, and pegs!
Pumpkin Clock STEM
Make a pumpkin clock with wires.
Why Do Apples Turn Brown?
Explore and talk with your child about why apples turn brown.
Books and Book Activities for Autumn
Reading with your child is always a great way to bond. Spending time with books will also help your kids on their way to literacy, making it another way to have educational fun.
Reading books that include the changing color of leaves, apples, and all the other frills of the changing season is a great autumn activity for toddlers.
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Retell Tree: A Peek Through Picture Book
This is a beautiful picture book that walks children through the four seasons.
There are so many more books that you can explore with your child!
You can check out this fantastic Fall Book List by Happily Ever Elephants or explore some of our other best choices below:
Apple Books for Autumn
- Apples for Everyone by Jill Esbaum
- Ten Apples Up On Top by Theo. LeSieg
- Bad Apple: A Tale of Friendship by Edward Hemingway
- How Do Apples Grow? by Jill McDonald
Autumn Season Change Books
- Apples and Pumpkins by Ann Rockwell
- Goodbye Summer, Hello Autumn by Kenard Pak
- Sophie’s Squash by Pat Zietlow Miller
- Leaves – by David Ezra Stein
- Because of an Acorn by Lola M. Schaefer
- Autumn by Gurda Muller
- We’re Going on a Leaf Hunt by Steve Metzger
- How Many Seeds in a Pumpkin? by Margaret McNamara
- Fall Leaves by Loretta Holland
Autumn Activities are a Great Way to Learn and Play!
These different autumn activities for toddlers are great ways to help your kids learn through play and warm your hours as the days get colder.
Which preschool fall activity will you try out first?
How to Make a Fall Tissue Paper Pumpkin
Materials
- Cardboard box
- Paintbrushes
- Liquid glue
- Tissue paper
Instructions
- Set the paper on a piece of cardboard or mat. This will help absorb the extra water.
- Rip up orange and yellow tissue paper. – Any size or shape will work! Have your kids help!
- Make the glue mixture by adding water.
- Place paintbrushes next to each workstation and invite children to begin.
Notes
Frequently Asked Questions
Preschoolers enjoy learning about the change of seasons, investigating fall leaves, and activities involving apples or pumpkins. Think about what interests your child and allow them to revisit favorite activities.
Fall is fun to head outside and watch the natural environment change. My favorite fall activity is this outdoor sensory hunt that collects nature for a fun collage.
The MVP of fall is this leaf painting activity. I like to find an outside space to hang the kraft paper. Leave this mural out to paint throughout the day!
