Fall is a magical time for children, filled with vibrant colors, crisp air, and the excitement of seasonal activities. As the weather cools and the leaves start to change, it’s the perfect opportunity to get kids outside and engaged in games that celebrate the best of the season. Here are some fun and simple fall-themed games that kids will love, whether at home, in school, or at a fall festival!
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1. Pumpkin Bowling
Turn bowling into a seasonal activity with “pumpkin bowling.” All you need are small pumpkins (without stems) and a few empty cans decorated to look like ghosts, scarecrows, or other fall characters. Or you can find themed bowling pins.
What you need:
- Medium sized round pumpkins
- Fall bowling pins or empty cans
How to Play: Set up the cans or pins in a pyramid shape, just like in traditional bowling. Let the kids roll the pumpkins to knock over the cans. You can add a competitive twist by keeping score or timing how quickly each child can knock down all the pins!
2. Leaf Pile Treasure Hunt
This game combines the joy of jumping into piles of leaves with the excitement of a treasure hunt. The perfect fall game that all kids will love!
What you will need:
- Leaves
- Small toys or items
How to Play: Gather some small items like acorns, plastic bugs, or small toys and hide them in a large leaf pile. The kids can jump into the pile and search for the hidden “treasures.” You can make it a timed challenge or reward points for each found item.
3. Apple Bobbing with a Twist
Let’s bring back the game of bobbing for apples. But this time instead of filling a bucket with water tie it to a string. Let’s add a little bit of a twist to it.
What you need:
- Apples
- String
- How to Play: Tie apples with string on their stems. Hang the strings from a tree or anywhere they will hang. Ask the kids to keep their hands behind their backs while trying to bite the apple! It’s a lot less messy and just as much fun.
4. Scarecrow Relay Race
A fall-themed relay race can be a fantastic way to get kids active while embracing the spirit of the season. You can play with scare crow race many different ways. You can complete a race and get dressed, or use the act of getting fully dressed as a scarecrow as the race itself. Be creative and have fun!
What you will need:
How To Play:
- Option 1: Divide the kids into teams and give each team a pile of scarecrow clothes (overalls, hats, gloves, flannel shirts, etc.). The first child in each team must put on all the clothes, run to a designated point, and then take them off for the next teammate to put on. The first team to get all members dressed and undressed wins!
- Option 2: Everyone have their own scarecrow costume and whoever is fully dressed first wins. This option is best when you are limited to space.
5. Pumpkin Ring Toss
A pumpkin ring toss game is easy to set up and can provide hours of entertainment. There are several options of materials you can use. Try and use pumpkins with larger stems. Although smaller ones work as well.
What you need:
- Medium sized pumpkins with large stems
- Rope rings to toss
- OR rings
How to Play: Use pumpkins with long stems as targets and provide rings made from rope or hula hoops for kids to toss. Adjust the difficulty by varying the distance between the starting line and the pumpkins. Have fun!
6. Hay Bale Obstacle Course
If you have access to some hay bales, you can create an exciting fall-themed obstacle course. Usually stores that sell decorations have ones available around the fall season. Depending on where you live Home Depot, Spirit, Party City, Christmas Tree Store. Even supermarkets may sell them such as ShopRite, Stop and Shop and Trader Joes.
What you need:
- Hay bales
- Leaves
- Other fall things to make the obstacle interesting
- How to Play: Set up different obstacles, such as climbing over hay bales, crawling under them, or even jumping from one to another. Include other fall elements like a mini corn maze or leaf pile to add variety to the course.
7. Fall Fun Corn Kernel Sandbox
This sensory activity is perfect for younger children and adds a fall twist to traditional sandbox play. Scoop it, or fill up a dump truck either way your little one if guaranteed fun!
What you will need:
How to Play: Fill a small kiddie pool or large container with dried corn kernels. Add scoops, small toys, and containers for kids to explore and play with. It’s a great way for kids to enjoy a sensory experience without getting too messy.
8. Pin the Leaf on the Tree
A fun fall-themed version of “Pin the Tail on the Donkey.” This game is great for all children and will get them excited about fall!
What you will need:
How to Play: Draw a large tree on a poster brown paper and cut out paper leaves in various colors. Place double sided tape onto the leaves. Blindfold each player, spin them around, and see who can “pin” the leaf closest to a designated spot on the tree.
9. Fall Scavenger Hunt & Fall Games
A scavenger hunt is a perfect way to get kids exploring the outdoors and learning about nature in the fall. You can do this as a group of friends, or even at school as a class. Either way it’s bound to be some educational fun!
What you need:
- Scavenger hunt checklist
- Items from your checklist scattered around
How to Play: Create a list of or print a pre-made list, of fall items for kids to find. Things that are popular are things such as acorns, pine cones, red or yellow leaves, scarecrows, pumpkins and other fall related decorations. You can make it competitive by seeing who can find all the items first or use it as a more relaxed, exploratory activity.
10. S’mores Station and Campfire Stories
This isn’t exactly a game, but it’s a great way to end a day of fall fun. Gather around a fire pit or a pretend indoor “campfire” and have a s’mores-making station.
What you need:
How to Play: While the kids are enjoying their s’mores (maybe not heated), the kids can take turns telling fun or spooky campfire stories. It’s a simple way to create lasting memories while enjoying the best of fall.
Conclusion
Fall games and activities for kids offer a wonderful opportunity to embrace the season’s charm while keeping young ones engaged and active. Whether it’s outdoor fun like pumpkin ring toss, pumpkin bowling, or a leaf pile scavenger hunt, your kids are sure to enjoy the benefits of this nice crisp weather. Or perhaps you want some indoor games such as making leaf art, bobbing for apples or pin the leaf on the tree. Either way these activities will provide entertainment but also help children develop physical skills, creativity, and social interaction. Fall is the perfect time for kids to enjoy nature, learn about the changing environment, and create lasting memories.
Here are some other fall ideas you can use in the classroom:
I'm 40 years old and a mom of 2 three year olds and a first grader. I am also a Special education teacher. My passion has always been to help people, which is why I started this blog.