5 fall-themed activities for your kids

So long, swimming pools, water balloon tosses and late-night ice cream shop stops. Autumn is en route (the autumnal equinox this year arrives Sept. 23) and with it comes plenty of seasonal activities to keep your little pumpkins entertained.

While summer may have had you feeling like you were an activities director at a camp, unstructured time is a lot less frequent now that school is back in session.

Here are 5 fun (and low-cost) fall-themed activities to do with your children.

No-carve pumpkins:

Little kids and sharp knives? That’s the scariest Halloween story we’ve heard, yet. Thankfully, there are plenty o’ pumpkin decorating ideas that are safe, cute and fun. Let your kids decorate pumpkins with paint, glitter, masks or googly eyes. One of our fave kid-friendly pumpkin design ideas: Decorate mini-pumpkins like donuts by using acrylic paint (pink for strawberry, brown for chocolate, white for vanilla) to “frost” the top. Then, while the paint is still wet, add sugary sprinkles. We also love the pumpkin craft ideas from Michael’s — including this Kids’ Monster Pumpkin made with poms, wiggle eyes and pipe cleaners.

Kids’ Monster Pumpkins supplies can be found here at Michaels (earn 3% Cash Back by using this link).

Donate to the local food banks:

With the holiday season coming up, food banks are always in need of extra canned goods. Teach your kids about gratitude by gathering up cans from the pantry to drop off at a local food bank or pick out a turkey to donate to a local homeless shelter that’s hosting a Thanksgiving dinner.

Looking for a local food bank to donate to? You can find a food bank by zip code or state at Feeding America.

Pick apples:

Take a trip to a local apple orchard. Apples, in general, are in peak season now through late October. Fuji, jazz, granny smith and braeburn varieties peak in mid-to-late October. Go on an apple-picking adventure at the orchard and then try out recipes at home — like making your own applesauce, baked apple crisps, apple pies or dip them in caramel. Heck, you can even have your kiddos bob for apples if it means getting them to eat more fruit.

Want to continue on the theme? Prepare for your apple-gathering mission with a book about Johnny Appleseed. “Who was Johnny Appleseed” — is a kid-friendly biography. Who was Johnny Appleseed, $15 (plus 3% Cash Back), Barnesandnoble.com

Take to the trails:

There’s just something about fall that makes us feel nostalgic. How about loading up a red wagon and taking leisurely strolls around the neighborhood to peep (and collect!) leaves. With the changing leaves and crisp fall air, autumn is prime time for hikes, trail walking and bike rides. We’re loving this Radio Flyer 5-in-1 that’s a modern twist on the Radio Flyer wagon that offers five different riding options. There’s removeable padded seats and seat belts, a removable UV-protection canopy, cup holders for snacks and drinks and Dura-Tred tires for a smooth ride. Radio Flyer 5-in-1 Family Wagon, $179.99 (plus 1% Cash Back), Toysrus.com

Play ‘Mad Scientist’:

If a cool day keeps you grounded indoors, pulled out some experiment kits. They’ll feel like games, but your children will learn along the way. This Young Scientists Series Kit teaches includes easy-to-set-up experiments that will teach your children about electricity, magnets, mirrors and more. The Young Scientist Series – Science Experiment Kits, $16.67 (plus 2% Cash Back), Walmart.com