This post may contain affiliate links. Please refer to our disclosure policy.

Why Preschoolers Should Do Fall Activities

Fall activities captivate preschoolers’ senses and curiosity, offering a perfect opportunity to foster early learning through play. Engaging in seasonal crafts, science experiments, and outdoor exploration helps children aged 3-5 develop fine motor skills, spark creativity, and build foundational knowledge in science, math, and literacy. These fall activities also help preschoolers associate themes and ideas with the changing of the seasons, such as connecting falling leaves to autumn’s cycles or apples to harvest time, making abstract concepts tangible. By exploring nature’s transformations—like crunching leaves or observing migrating birds—kids develop a deeper connection to the environment, encouraging wonder, empathy, and a lifelong love for learning about God’s creation.

Apple-Themed Fall Activities for Preschoolers

Apples are synonymous with fall harvest, making them a great starting point for thematic learning. These fall activities focus on exploration, science, and creativity.

Apple Dissection and Facts Exploration

Description: Slice open different apple varieties and guide your preschooler through identifying parts like the stem, skin, flesh, core, and seeds. Use a labeled diagram to point out each section and share facts like how apples originated in Central Asia over 4,000 years ago.
Why It’s Great: This hands-on exploration introduces basic plant biology and encourages curiosity about nature, while tying into nutrition and historical stories like Johnny Appleseed.
Tips: Use child-safe knives or pre-slice for safety, and incorporate a taste test of varieties like tart Granny Smith and sweet Honeycrisp to engage senses.

Apple Life Cycle Printable Sequencing

Description: Download a free printable to sequence the apple’s stages from seed to fruit, including pollination and harvest. Read a related poem and ask questions like “Why are seeds in the center?” to deepen understanding.
Why It’s Great: It teaches life cycles and seasonal changes through visual and interactive play, building sequencing skills and vocabulary like dormancy and pollination.
Tips: Laminate the pieces for repeated use, and pair with real apple seeds or a germination experiment to make the cycle tangible.

Apple Stamping Art

Description: Cut apples in half, dip them in fall-colored paints like red, green, and yellow, and stamp onto paper to create prints. Add details such as leaves or stems with markers for a complete artwork.
Why It’s Great: This craft enhances fine motor skills and color recognition, while demonstrating symmetry and patterns found in nature’s designs.
Tips: Use washable paints on sturdy construction paper, and discuss how apples ripen to blend art with a simple science chat.

Read Next: Types of Paint for Homeschool Art

Apple Math

Description: A quiet math activity for practicing numbers 0-10. With an apple-theme this is a perfect little math lesson to incorporate into your fall.
Why It’s Great: It introduces the early math concept of recognizing numbers 0-10 in a repetitive way that connects to fall harvest themes.
Tips: Begin with numbers 0-3 and the add on from there as your child comes to recognize each.

Moon and Night Sky Fall Activities for Preschoolers

As days shorten in fall, nighttime exploration becomes accessible and exciting. I’ve brought together moon-themes, as well as stars to encourage your child to look towards the heavens during cooler evenings.

Moon Phases Snack Time Lesson

Description: Use soft cookies and a printable guide to nibble shapes mimicking moon phases, like a full moon as a whole cookie or a crescent by eating part away. Explain waxing and waning as you go.
Why It’s Great: This edible activity makes astronomy accessible, teaching cycles and vocabulary while combining snack time with hands-on learning.
Tips: Choose soft cookies to avoid crumbs (but crispy cookies can work too), and follow up with real moon observation to connect the snack to the night sky.

Easy Telescope Craft

Description: Decorate a paper towel tube with colorful tissue paper and glue to form a pretend telescope. Use it outdoors to spot the moon or stars during evening play.
Why It’s Great: It sparks imagination and fine motor skills, introducing basic astronomy tools and encouraging outdoor night sky exploration.
Tips: Add stickers or glitter for personalization, and pair with a moon phase chart for guided viewing.

Moon Phases Demonstration with Flashlight

Description: In a darkened room, position a flashlight as the sun, one ball as Earth, and another as the moon to simulate orbiting and show phase changes. Name each phase as it appears.
Why It’s Great: This simple setup demonstrates light, shadows, and cycles, building spatial awareness and foundational physics knowledge.
Tips: Use a bright flashlight with a concentrated beam for clear shadows.

Star and Moon Mobile Craft

Description: Cut moon and star shapes from cardstock, paint them in glow-in-the-dark colors, and hang on strings to create a spinning mobile. Display it in a window or room.
Why It’s Great: It fosters creativity and shape recognition, while tying into night sky themes for a calming, educational decoration.
Tips: Use fishing line for hanging to make it float, and discuss phases as you paint the moon shapes.

Nature Constellations Activity

Description: Print and laminate free constellation cards, then gather natural items like acorns for stars and sticks for lines to recreate patterns like Orion or Ursa Major on the ground. Discuss the shapes and stories behind them.
Why It’s Great: This outdoor craft introduces astronomy and mythology, enhancing fine motor skills and a connection to nature through pattern recognition.
Tips: Start with simple constellations, and use the SkyView app at night to match creations to the real sky.

Stargazing with Kids Picnic

Description: Bake star-shaped cookies, decorate with frosting and sprinkles, then set up a blanket picnic with books, a flashlight, and milk to stargaze and read under the night sky.
Why It’s Great: It combines baking, reading, and astronomy for family bonding, igniting wonder about stars and constellations.
Tips: Prepare books like How to Catch a Star in advance, and use the SkyView app for spotting constellations.

Bird and Nocturnal Animal Fall Activities for Preschoolers

Fall migration and longer nights make bird and nocturnal themes timely. I recommend grouping these for comprehensive wildlife lessons that will add to your fall adventures.

Pinecone Bird Feeder

Description: Coat collected pinecones in peanut butter, roll in birdseed, and hang them outdoors to attract and observe local birds.
Why It’s Great: It teaches ecology, like bird diets and migration, while promoting patience and nature observation skills.
Tips: Hunt for pinecones together first, and use sunflower butter if allergies are a concern; maintain a simple bird journal.

What Do Owls Eat?

Description: Check out this entire post all about owls and what their diet is made of. Included is a printable for a play based learning activity game.
Why It’s Great: This imaginative play introduces animal adaptations and nocturnal habits, teaching the food chain in a digestible way.
Tips: Make a paper plate owl masks craft, and extend with a nighttime walk to listen for real owls.

Nocturnal Animals Flashlight Exploration

Description: Read a book on nocturnal animals, then hide/place toy stuffies in the backyard. Then, use a flashlight to find them. Discuss their senses and habits.
Why It’s Great: It enhances literacy and imagination while teaching about animal behaviors like night vision.
Tips: Choose books like Flashlight by Lizi Boyd, and make hiding spots simple for success.

Bird Migration Game

Description: Print two pictures, one of a sun and another of a snowy scene. Hang these on two different trees, on either side of the yard. Talk your kiddo through how birds move places when the weather changes. Physically move from tree to tree, declaring, “it’s getting cold let’s head south to the warmth!” Or “summer is coming, let’s head north where there will be less competition for food!”
Why It’s Great: This game introduces geography and seasonal adaptations.
Tips: Watch short migration videos to visualize the journey.

Owl Pellet Dissection

Description: Purchase this awesome kit of owl pellets, then have kids dissect and identify the contents, which can complete skeletons, fur, and more. Explain what owls eat and regurgitate.
Why It’s Great: It explores food chains and biology safely, sparking interest in animal digestion.
Tips: Wear gloves for realism, and tie it to nocturnal hunting discussions for context.

Autumn Art and Craft Fall Activities for Preschoolers

Crafts capture fall’s colors and textures. I’ve grouped here a handful for you to find easy ideas to full your child’s creative expression. Some are messier than others so you’ll need to be the judge of what you have time and energy for.

Leaf Paint Stamping

Description: This is similar to the apple stamping but this time we’re using leaves to coat with paint and stamp down onto a paper.
Why It’s Great: It boosts creativity and pattern recognition, using natural materials to appreciate autumn’s beauty.
Tips: Start with a walk to gather items, and display finished pieces to celebrate their work.

Leaf Rubbing Craft

Description: Place collected leaves under paper, then rub over them with fall-colored crayons to reveal textures and veins. Cut out and arrange the rubbings.
Why It’s Great: This technique teaches plant structure while honing artistic skills like texture creation.
Tips: Use a variety of crayons for vibrant results.

Pumpkin Painting

Description: Provide small pumpkins and washable paints for kids to decorate with faces, patterns, or fall motifs. Let them mix colors freely.
Why It’s Great: It develops fine motor skills and color theory through a seasonal icon.
Tips: Cover tables with newspaper, and discuss pumpkin growth for a science tie-in.

Acorn Cap Picture Frame

Description: This adorable frame comes together with glue and acorn tops. Pop some leaf art created by your child in the frame after and display all of autumn.
Why It’s Great: Hunting for the acorn caps gets your child in nature and the gluing improves hand-eye coordination with natural elements.
Tips: Collect acorns on several outings. Then, keep it natural or if you’re brave enough you can have your child paint the acorns too.

Fall Tree Handprint Art

Description: Paint a child’s hand brown for a tree trunk and branches stamp, then use fingerprints in red, orange, and yellow for leaves on paper.
Why It’s Great: It personalizes art to teach seasonal changes, associating colors with autumn.
Tips: Use non-toxic paints, and frame as growth keepsakes.

Science Experiment Fall Activities for Preschoolers

Hands-on experiments make fall science not only accessible, but exciting. My boys love making a volcano with baking soda and vinegar so why not put it in a pumpkin? Already playing with playdough, add a fall scent in there; and better yet make your own playdough. These experiments are so fun with their autumnal themes:

Leaf Chromatography Experiment

Description: Crush fall leaves in rubbing alcohol, dip filter paper to separate pigments, and observe colors spreading upward. Compare green and red leaves.
Why It’s Great: It reveals chemistry behind leaf changes, teaching observation and natural processes.
Tips: Supervise alcohol use, and discuss why leaves turn colors in fall.

Pumpkin Volcano

Description: Carve a small pumpkin, add baking soda inside, then pour in vinegar to create a fizzy eruption. Watch the reaction overflow.
Why It’s Great: This demonstrates acid-base reactions in a thematic, exciting way.
Tips: Add dish soap for foamier lava, and explain the science simply.

Kitchen Time: Fall Scented Playdough

Description: Mix homemade playdough with spices like cinnamon or nutmeg, experimenting with amounts to vary scents and textures. Mold fall shapes.
Why It’s Great: It explores measurement and senses, linking to autumn aromas.
Tips: Invite your child to join you in preparing the dough, use non-cook recipes to make this easier.

Seed Germination Jar

Description: Layer damp paper towels and fall seeds like a pumpkin or corn seed in a clear jar, seal, and observe sprouting over days in a sunny spot.
Why It’s Great: It illustrates plant growth cycles, connecting to harvest themes.
Tips: Choose quick-sprouting seeds, and chart changes daily.

Wind Sock Weather Experiment

Description: Craft a wind sock from paper and streamers, hang it outside, and observe how fall winds make it move and change direction.
Why It’s Great: This introduces meteorology and wind patterns in a visual, interactive manner.
Tips: Decorate with fall colors, and tie to leaf-falling discussions.

Learning Games and Literary Fall Activities for Preschoolers

Our last group of fall activities for preschoolers includes reading and learning games. Use fall themes for play based learning games and choose autumnal books and poetry for your kiddo to fully experience the season. These are just a taste, be sure to check out the resources provided or go to Pinterest for more inspiration.

Poetry About the Seasons Recitation

Description: Select short fall poems from anthologies, read them aloud, and have kids recite with gestures or actions. Practice daily for memorization.
Why It’s Great: It builds language rhythm and emotional expression through seasonal themes.
Tips: Use books like Sing a Song of Seasons.

Books About Seasons Reading Circle

Description: Gather fall-themed books like Fletcher and the Falling Leaves, read in a circle, and discuss changes like falling leaves or animal preparations.
Why It’s Great: It enhances literacy and vocabulary while exploring seasonal cycles.
Tips: Ask open questions, and use props for story retelling.

Fall Scavenger Hunt Game

Description: Make a picture list of items like red leaves or acorns, then hunt outdoors and check them off as found
Why It’s Great: It promotes observation and physical activity with nature categorization.
Tips: Keep lists short, and craft with finds afterward.

Harvest Sorting Game

Description: Provide toy or real fall produce, sort by color, size, or type into baskets, and count groups. Think varieties of apples different pumpkins and gourds.
Why It’s Great: This teaches classification and early math through harvest play.
Tips: Use real items for texture, and discuss farm origins.

Fall Memory Matching Game

Description: Create cards with duplicate fall images like pumpkins and leaves, flip them face down, and match pairs by memory.
Why It’s Great: It improves concentration and visual skills with seasonal motifs.
Tips: Print from Playing for Hours’ Letter of the Week: Ll is for Leaves.

Nature Walks and Outdoor Exploration Fall Activities for Preschoolers

Fall’s vibrant colors and crisp air make it the perfect season for parents to take their preschoolers outside for simple, joyful nature-based activities that spark curiosity and create memories. Although this list is extensive and has lots of great play based learning opportunities, don’t forget that sometimes simple enjoyment is the key to helping your preschooler experience all that this beautiful fall season has to offer.

Try raking leaves into a pile and letting your child jump in, feeling the crunch and giggle as they scatter the leaves, or gather acorns during a walk to use for counting games at home, turning a nature find into a math adventure. Read fall-themed poetry from anthologies like Sing a Song of Seasons while sitting under a tree, letting the rhythm of the words blend with the rustling leaves to inspire wonder.

These low-prep activities—whether exploring a park, tossing pinecones, or pointing out migrating birds—encourage sensory exploration and a love for autumn’s magic. For more seasonal inspiration, check out this Family Fall Bucket List packed with ideas like apple picking and cozy bonfires to make your fall adventures unforgettable.

Fall Books for Preschoolers

Reading fall-themed books with preschoolers brings the season to life, and is one of the easiest things to do with your child. Blending whimsy and learning will spark curiosity about autumn’s changes. These stories, perfect for ages 3-5, introduce concepts like seasonal cycles, nature, and imagination through engaging narratives and vibrant illustrations. Here are five recommended titles with brief descriptions to inspire cozy reading sessions.

• Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert
  Description: Follow the journey of a man made of leaves as he blows through the autumn landscape, meeting animals and passing colorful trees. The collage art captivates young readers.
  Why It’s Great: It encourages imagination and teaches about fall’s natural elements through vibrant visuals.
• Fletcher and the Falling Leaves by Julia Rawlinson
  Description: Fletcher, a young fox, worries as his favorite tree loses leaves, learning about autumn’s natural cycle through gentle storytelling and warm illustrations.
  Why It’s Great: It teaches about seasons and empathy, connecting kids to nature’s rhythms.
• Goodbye Summer, Hello Autumn by Kenard Pak
  Description: A girl walks through nature, greeting animals and plants as they prepare for fall, with soft illustrations capturing the season’s shift.
  Why It’s Great: It fosters a connection to nature and illustrates seasonal transitions beautifully.

Making This Fall Unforgettable for Your Preschooler

Fall is a season bursting with opportunities to engage your child in meaningful play based learning that sparks joy. From apple-themed crafts to moonlit adventures and simple nature walks, these activities blend creativity, science, and outdoor exploration to create lasting memories. Each idea is designed to be accessible yet impactful, fitting into busy schedules while fostering skills like fine motor development, critical thinking, and a love for nature.

As a mom of three, I’ve seen how these moments—whether nibbling moon-phase cookies or curling up on the couch with a living book about autumn—turn ordinary days into magical learning experiences. So grab your kids, step outside, and dive into the wonders of autumn with these fall adventures. Be sure to share your favorite fall activity in the comments to keep the seasonal fun growing!