Outdoor Kid-Friendly Fall Activities on the Cheap

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If you’re trying to keep your hyperactive kids entertained AND trying to stretch every dollar, I see you. It’s getting colder, but you need your brood to get outside and run around so they burn off energy and and cause less destruction that you’ll need to repair. Right? Also, research shows that people who spend at least 2 hours a week outside in green spaces are significantly more happy than those who don’t. (Check out this study if you’re interested.) Below are a few ideas that may help you and your sweet cherubs reach your 120 minutes of outdoor fun.

Hide and Seek

It’s a classic for a reason. Play hide and seek with your kids, and absolutely don’t let them win! It’s a dog-eat-dog world. They need to learn how to hide better.

Pumpkin Ring Sling

We already had small pumpkins that we picked up from a local farm. I made rings out of two pipe cleaners wrapped together. The object is of course to toss the little ring over the pumpkin’s stem. Depending on the age of your kids, this could keep them engaged for a few minutes before the start harassing you for a snack.

Leaf Pile Shenanigans

Another classic, building a leaf pile, can serve multiple purposes: you get a workout from raking, your yard gets tidied up, and once they’re bored of jumping in the pile, you have all of your leaves in one place so you can easily shred them for compost. (Read more about composting here.)

Go for a Hike

If you have a wooded area nearby, take your kids for a sweet stroll. Maybe let them lead the way, and stop to notice all the stuff they point out. I know I already referenced the importance of getting outside, but group walks through nature are specifically cited as important in this study.

Spiky Ball Toss

We have a gum tree that drops an endless supply of spiky balls, and I have scads of Mason jars, so this game was an easy win. For people who either don’t have glass jars on hand or don’t want to use them, you might substitute empty cans or other small containers.

Homemade Obstacle Course

Admittedly, this one has a danger factor that not all parents would be cool with. Our obstacle courses usually include a wooden beam that my kids need to walk over, something for them to jump over, something to crawl under, something to slide down, etc. The beauty of the obstacle course is that you don’t need to buy anything. Kids are naturally innovative. Just follow their lead, and maybe draw the line when there’s too much barbed wire involved. #farmlife

Host a Fire Pit

Finding ways to hang out with friends (our’s and our kids’) during this dagnab pandemic has been crucial. We wanted a way to gather safely outside but still have something to keep our little tootsies warm. I realize this option isn’t necessarily convenient or free for some folks, but if you can somehow make it happen, you’ll be a happier human. Bonus suggestion: consider burning sensitive paperwork and/or dryer lint as kindling .

Let the Kids Lead the Way

The honest truth is you might be too exhausted to make any of the above ideas come to fruition. No offense taken. We’re all stretched thin.

I’m going to circle back to a fact you need to consider capitalizing on: kids are creative. They’ll make up their own games. Just sit back and play along with whatever weird business they get themselves up to. If nothing else, you can see a little insight into their internal worlds.