60 Fall Bucket List Ideas for Families with Toddlers
As moms, we know Fall is one of the most magical times of the year.
It's time to make the most of those crisp days and colorful leaves! I am in Texas, and our leaves aren't as colorful as I wish.
Whether carving pumpkins, exploring a corn maze, cozying up indoors with a movie night, or wearing cozy sweaters, this season is packed with opportunities for fun.
Fall is the perfect time to create meaningful memories with your toddlers.
But let's be honest: keeping toddlers entertained can feel like a full-time job plus a part-time side hustle most days.
Finding easy, affordable, and toddler-approved activities can sometimes feel overwhelming. But don't worry, I've got you covered!
I'm sharing 60 Fun Fall Activities For Families with Toddlers that are simple to plan and will keep your little one smiling all season long. From outdoor adventures to cozy crafts, this list has everything you need to make the most of the season.
Are you ready to experience the fun of autumn season ideas? Pour yourself a cup of coffee and explore these exciting activities.
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Fun Fall Outdoor Adventures for Toddlers
Fall is the perfect time to get outside with your toddler, and these activities will help you take advantage of the crisp air and colorful leaves.
Take a Hayride: Head to a local farm for a relaxing hayride. Your toddler will love the bumpy, scenic adventure.
Escape a Corn Maze: Visit a corn maze designed for young children. Watch as your toddler explores and leads through twists and turns.
Go Pumpkin Picking: A classic fall activity! Let your toddler pick out their very own perfect pumpkin, perfect for carving or painting later. Many patches also have hayrides, corn mazes, and other toddler-friendly activities.
Apple Picking: Go visit an apple orchard and pick some sweet apples. This a fun way to enjoy the fall season. Toddlers love picking apples right from the tree, and you'll love the fresh fruit!
Visit a Farm: Spend a day at a local farm where your toddler can interact with animals, explore pumpkin patches, and experience all the joys of Fall.
Jump in a Big Pile of Leaves: It's simple, free, and always a hit! Rake up a big leaf pile and let your toddler go wild. They'll love the sound and feel of the crunchy leaves. The giggles will be endless.
Fly a Kite: Fall's gentle breeze makes it the perfect time to take a kite out for a spin with your toddler. A great way to burn off energy while enjoying the season.
Outdoor Picnic: Pack up fall treats like apple slices and pumpkin bread, and enjoy a picnic at your local park. Your toddler will love eating outside.
Visit a Fall Harvest Festival: Many local festivals have toddler-friendly attractions like petting zoos, hayrides, and pumpkin painting. A fun day out for the whole family!
Pick Blackberries: If you're lucky enough to have a local berry farm nearby, take your toddler to pick blackberries. It's sweet, sticky fun!
Visit a Haunted House (Kid-Friendly): Look for a not-so-scary haunted house designed for young children. Your toddler will love the spooky-but-silly atmosphere.
Go Trick or Treating: Dress up your toddler in their favorite costume and hit the neighborhood for some classic trick-or-treating fun!
Go on a Scenic Drive: Pack up the car and go for a drive to see the changing leaves. Your toddler will enjoy pointing out all the colors.
Go Costume Shopping: Head to the store or browse online and let your toddler pick out a Halloween costume. This builds excitement and gets them involved.
Go Ghost Hunting: Create a simple ghost hunt with glow-in-the-dark stickers or decorations. Your toddler will love "finding" the ghosts!
Creative & Crafty Fall Activities for Toddlers
When the weather turns chilly, it's time to get creative indoors! These fall crafts are simple and perfect for little hands.
Carve a Pumpkin Together: While you do the carving, let your toddler help scoop out the seeds. It's a sensory activity they'll love.
Make a Pumpkin Volcano: This mini-science experiment uses just a few ingredients ( baking soda, food coloring, vinegar, and dish soap) and a pumpkin.
Pumpkin Painting If carving and pumpkin volcano are too difficult, let your toddler paint their pumpkin with bright colors and fun designs.
Decorate the House for Fall: Let your toddler help with easy fall decorations like paper pumpkins, leaf garlands, and window decals. They'll love seeing their work displayed.
DIY Scarecrow: Use old clothes and pillows to build a scarecrow together. Your toddler can help stuff the scarecrow and give it a fun face!
Create a S'mores Kit: Put together a DIY s'mores kit for your next bonfire. Your toddler can help by gathering the marshmallows, chocolate, and graham crackers. We love to make ours in the oven.
Make a Thankful Tree: Cut out paper leaves and have your toddler share what they're thankful for. Hang the leaves on a "Thankful Tree" for a fun family tradition.
Fall Sensory Bins: Create a sensory bin with items like dried corn kernels, mini pumpkins, and leaves for some hands-on, quiet play.
Fall Nature Art: Collect leaves, acorns, and twigs during a nature walk, then use them to create fall-themed art at home.
Color Halloween Pictures: Print out some Halloween coloring pages and let your toddler's creativity shine with markers or crayons.
Make Fall Crafts: From handprint turkeys to leaf collages, these simple fall crafts are perfect for toddlers and can be displayed around the house.
Watch Spooky Movies: Cuddle up with blankets and watch not-too-scary Halloween movies. Here is a list to help you get started: 31+ Best Spook Free Halloween Movies To Watch With Your Toddler.
Make Halloween Movie Snacks: Make movie night extra fun by serving Halloween-themed movie snacks.
Watch Football: For sports-loving families, make a game day tradition. Let your toddler wear your team's colors and enjoy the excitement together.
Read Halloween Books: Fall is the perfect time for cozy storytime. Read Halloween-themed books like Duck & Goose, Honk! Quack! Boo! by Tad Hills.
Tell Ghost Stories: Gather around with flashlights and share silly, not-too-scary ghost stories that will make your toddler giggle.
Host a Halloween Party: Throw a mall, toddler-friendly Halloween party with games like "Pin the Hat on the Witch" and a mini costume parade.
Have a Family Game Night: Bring out your favorite board games and enjoy a cozy family fun night. Toddlers will love simple games like Let's Go Fishing.
Have a Halloween Photo Shoot: Set up a mini photo shoot at home with fun Halloween props and costumes. These photos make adorable memories!
Make Halloween Breakfast : Make breakfast extra fun by serving Halloween-themed breakfast like green eggs for guts and bacon for skin.
Prepare Costumes: Let your toddler help put together costumes. Whether they're a superhero or a spooky ghost, they'll love getting involved.
Trunk or Treat with Your Neighbors: Create a surprise Halloween basket for your neighbors and secretly leave it on their doorstep. Your toddler will love the sneaky fun!
Take a Family Photo: Capture the beautiful fall season with a family photo. Whether it's casual or dressed up, it's a memory you'll cherish forever.
Tasty Autumn Treats & Eats to Enjoy With Your Toddler
What's Fall without some delicious treats? Here are a few easy, toddler-friendly recipes to enjoy together.
Roast Pumpkin Seeds: After carving your pumpkin from the list above, roast the seeds with your toddler. Add some cinnamon sugar or salt for a tasty snack.
Roast Marshmallows: A fall bonfire isn't complete without marshmallows. Let your toddler toast their own (with supervision, of course!). Then, make some s'mores!!
Bake a Pie: Baking a pumpkin pie is a great way to spend a fall afternoon. Pumpkin pie is easier to adapt if you want to add less sugar. Let your toddler help with the dough or filling.
Bake Sweet Bread Loaf: A classic fall treat, pumpkin and banana bread is easy to make and delicious to eat! Let your toddler help with mixing and pouring the ingredients.
Make Caramel Apples: Get a little messy with caramel apples. Let your toddler dip apples into caramel and decorate them with sprinkles.
Make Apple Pie: Use those freshly picked apples to bake a delicious apple pie. Let your toddler help with the slicing and mixing.
Bake Cinnamon Rolls: These are perfect for a chilly morning! Make gooey cinnamon rolls together; your toddler will love rolling the dough.
Make Applesauce: Homemade applesauce is easy to make and fun for toddlers to help with. Plus, it makes your home smell amazing!
Make Pumpkin Treats: Pumpkin muffins or cookies are always a hit with toddlers. Let them help mix the ingredients and scoop the batter.
Eat Candy Corn: Whether you love it or hate it, candy corn is a Halloween staple. Let your toddler enjoy a sweet treat after their Halloween activities.
Drink Apple Cider: After a long day of fall fun, warm up with some apple cider. It's a cozy, delicious treat for all ages.
Make Soup or Chili: Nothing says fall like a bowl of soup or chili. Let your toddler help pick the ingredients at the store. Then, when back home, let your toddler wash the ingredients.
Make Halloween Cookies: Cut out cookies in fun Halloween shapes and decorate them with icing and sprinkles.
Hot Chocolate Time: Warm up after a chilly fall day with a mug of hot chocolate topped with whipped cream or marshmallows.
Cider Tasting: Enjoy a cider-tasting session with hot or cold apple cider. Toddlers love the sweet flavors!
Toddler-Friendly Fall Festivals and Events
These festive fall events are perfect for toddlers and will give your family something fun to look forward to this season.
Participate in a Harvest Scavenger Hunt: Some festivals offer scavenger hunts where toddlers can collect small items like mini pumpkins, fall leaves, or stickers as prizes
Celebrate Thanksgiving: Involve your toddler in the Thanksgiving celebration by letting them help set the table or make simple decorations. It’s a great way to teach gratitude.
Attend a Fall Livestock Show: Introduce your toddler to the world of farm animals at a fall livestock show. These events often feature kid-friendly attractions like petting zoos, pony rides, and hands-on exhibits where toddlers can learn about agriculture and meet animals up close. It's a fun and educational outing that brings the charm of the farm to the fall season.
Join a Toddler Storytime at the Library: Libraries often host fall-themed storytimes, complete with books, songs, and simple crafts tailored for toddlers.
Join a Fall Kite Festival: Participate in a kite festival where the autumn winds are perfect for flying kites. Many festivals offer kite-making workshops and demonstrations that are engaging for children.
Explore a Hot Air Balloon Festival: Witness the sky filled with colorful hot air balloons. Many festivals offer tethered balloon rides, allowing families to experience the thrill of a balloon ascent in a safe environment.
Visit a Renaissance Fair: Step back in time at a local Renaissance fair. With period costumes, jousting tournaments, and artisan crafts, these fairs offer interactive experiences that can captivate both toddlers and adults.
Fall is the perfect season to make lasting memories with your toddler, whether you’re outdoors enjoying the crisp air or indoors baking treats and watching movies. With this family themed fall bucket list, you’ll have all the inspiration you need to fill the season with fun, laughter, and quality family time.
Want even more fall fun ideas? Don’t miss my next post: 15 Fun and Easy Fall Activities for Kids That Moms Will Love. It's packed with even more ways to make the most of this magical season!
