Family Fun
Fun this Fall
Posted on October 17th, 2011
Reap the bounty of autumn by taking the time to plan a few family-friendly fall activities.
Get Picking!
Apples are the fruit of fall. Pull your troops away from the couch, computer or TV with promises of cider, crisp autumn air and lots of homemade apple treats. A quick Internet search should point you in the direction of your local apple orchard. Many offer opportunities to pick your own fruit. Urban dweller? Find a farmer’s market and stock up on a variety of apples.
Get Baking
Now put those apples to use. Gather the kids in the kitchen for an afternoon of baking. Get fancy and perfect your piecrust or keep it simple and make a simple crisp. Look online for crust or crisp recipe options. Then peel and slice apples, toss with cinnamon, brown sugar and a little lemon juice. For the sweet topping, combine oats, whole wheat flour, cold butter and brown sugar. Sprinkle generously on top of apple mixture, bake in a 350-degree oven until lightly brown. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream.
Decorate with Nature
Put your home in a festive fall mood with décor items supplied by none other than Mama Nature herself. It’s free. It’s fun. It’s easy. Send the kids into the yard to collect colorful leaves, interesting sticks, pinecones and acorns. Place the findings across the dining room table for a beautiful Thanksgiving theme or outfit little ones with glue and paper for an afternoon of fall collage-making. Hang their masterpieces outside your front door for a warm fall welcome or place on the dining room or living room walls. Gourds, fall fruit and pumpkins are another natural way to create an inviting autumn atmosphere in your home. Have the kids fill big bowls with their favorite fruit and gourds.
Organize a Leafy Treasure Hunt
Have kids rake fallen leaves into a big pile. Drop a few treats into the pile – think organic lollypops or small bars of chocolate – and have everyone dig for treasure. The first ones to find the goodies, keeps (um, eats) them.
