Are you looking for creative ways to spend the fall season with your infant? Children under two years old need encouragement to explore and learn about the world around them. Sensory play is essential to their overall development. This time of the year provides lots of opportunities for young minds to familiarize themselves with different textures, colors and smells.
Below are 8 fall-themed activities for infants that are safe, engaging, and explorative.
1. Fall-Themed Sensory Bins
Create a sensory bin and fill it with leaves and textures associated with fall: pine cones, mini pumpkins, apples, or acorns. Ensure all materials are non-toxic and large enough that they can’t be swallowed. If you’re carving pumpkins, you can also use the inside to make pumpkin sensory bags for infants. This activity promotes fine motor development and tactile exploration.
You will need: a shallow plastic bin/container, autumn-colored fabrics, and various objects (mini pumpkins, dried fruit, acorns, pine cones, leaves, cinnamon sticks, etc.).
Directions: Fill a shallow plastic bin (or two) with objects and materials. Hide some of the objects underneath a bed of shredded paper or under a pile of leaves. If they want to try and guess the object, let them close their eyes and guess three times.
2. Red, Orange, Yellow
Go outside and forage around for different types of leaves. Collect all their findings and create a tree together. Help them categorize each color.
You will need: a large sheet of paper with a pre-drawn tree template on it, and non-toxic glue.
Directions: Collect all the leaves. Draw three categories on the tree that represent 3 different colors of leaves that you have collected. If they struggle to categorize them, they can also simply glue them on different branches.
3. Reading About The Season
Incorporate a story time for infants to introduce them to seasonal vocabulary. Try to use books with simple pictures of pumpkins, leaves, and animals in Fall colors, especially those that have texture, flaps, or audio recordings. This will engage curiosity and stimulate their sensory system.
Recommended Fall books: “Fall is Here!” by Fhiona Galloway, “Jump Into Fall!” by Gareth Llewhellin, and “Mouse’s First Fall” by Lauren Thompson.
4. Do A Leaf Rub
While younger infants may not be able to do leaf rubbing independently, you can assist by gently coloring over them while your child watches. Allow them to hold the crayons and touch the leaves.
You will need: non-toxic crayons, white paper, and leaves with different textures.
Directions: Place the leaf under the paper and use a crayon to trace its edges and texture onto the paper. If they want to try, gently place your hand over theirs and guide their hand motion.
5. Fall-Themed Sensory Bottles
Similar to sensory bins, a sensory bottle is a safely-enclosed mini-environment in which children can explore the different objects associated with Fall. Make a fall-themed sensory bottle by adding different color beads, glitter, artificial leaves, and small figurines to the water. Children will easily engage with this activity as he/she shakes/rolls the bottle and watches the objects float around inside.
Directions: Use clear plastic bottles and fill them with water, glitter, and other small items with an autumn theme. Seal the bottle very tightly.
6. Pumpkin Patch Crawl
Create a small “pumpkin patch” to encourage infants to crawl and explore indoors in a cushioned, supervised space. Add soft, fabric pumpkins or plush toys in autumn colors to create a stimulating environment. This will give younger ones the chance to practice crawling and some of the larger toys can help stabilize them if they want to stand up.
You will need: large, soft pumpkins or fabric leaves, an infant-friendly zone.
7. Fall-Themed Music and Movement
Activities where children can sing and dance are fantastic tools that develop their physical and cognitive capabilities. Choose simple songs with lyrics about the season. Focus on songs that involve actions, such as clapping or swaying, to engage infants.
Recommended Fall songs: “The Leaves on the Trees” (to the tune of “The Wheels on the Bus”), “Five Little Pumpkins Sitting on a Gate” and “Fall Leaves Are Falling Down” by The Learning Station.
8. Apple Stamps
For this activity, cut apples in half and use them as stamps with non-toxic paint. Younger children will enjoy the imprint of the apple and play with its texture. You can let them feel the apple halves first before guiding them to dip the apple in the paint and press it onto the paper.
You will need: apples, non-toxic paint, and paper.
Connect With Providence Children’s Academy To Learn More
When you incorporate these activities into your playtime schedule to introduce little ones to this lovely season, it will provide enriching environments that nurture curiosity, affirm early learning, and support engagement with the outside world. With simple, age-appropriate activities, playtime can become not only explorative but also educational.
Providence Children’s Academy is a coconut creek based preschool dedicated to laying solid foundations through curriculum-based education, safety, health, and social development in a fun and friendly environment. For more information on our school or to schedule a tour call us today 954-570-6914.