Fall Activities for Infants and Toddlers

Nature Walk & Talk
Take the children on a walk and look for nature items. Point them out, name and describe the item, and introduce new vocabulary to children.
Learning supported: language, attention, concept development, stamina

Leaf Pile Play
Collect a pile of fallen leaves and invite children to play in the leaves. Encourage them to use their senses as they explore the leaves; talk about how they smell, sound, and look.
Learning supported: language, curiosity, visual discrimination, comparing

Where is the Wind
On a windy day, ask the children to find the wind. Have them turn toward the wind and feel it on their faces. Use a ribbon, pinwheel, bubbles, or other materials that will blow in the wind, inviting the children to notice where it is coming from as it blows.
Learning supported: observing, problem-solving, coordination, persistence

Sound Search
Have the children sit on the ground and encourage them to listen for nature sounds. Talk about the sounds you hear, and ask the children to listen for them. Invite them to clap or move their bodies when they hear the sound.
Learning supported: sound discrimination, following directions, focusing