30 Ways to Enjoy the Fall Season with Your Grandchildren

This year has certainly stood out and brought with it many challenges. Hasn’t it?

Social distancing guidelines and quarantines have many of us going stir-crazy. We long to get out. And nothing sounds better than some face-to-face time with others, especially our grandchildren.

As the colors change and the temperatures cool, I’m reminded that this is a wonderful time to get outside and play. So, call your grandchildren’s parents and set up a time to enjoy a little togetherness.

Below are 30 fall-ish ideas for getting your “planning juices” flowing:

30 Ideas for Enjoying the Season with Your Grandchildren

1. It is all about the leaves: Collect them.  Rake them.  Play in them.
2. Visit a pumpkin patch.
3. Carve a pumpkin.
4. Put together a leaf collection.
5. Go on a hike.
6. Make s’mores.
7. Pick apples.
8. Play football.
9. Make a scarecrow.
10. Take a flashlight walk through your neighborhood.
11. Bake a pumpkin pie.
12. Take a walk through a favorite park.
13. Make leaf rubbings.
14. Collect pinecones.
15. Collect food for a local food bank.
16. Spend a Saturday at a festival. (If you can find one this year!)
17. Attend a high school football game. (This year you might choose to watch a game on TV instead. Make it special by including some special “game day” snacks.)
18. Plant mums.
19. Go for a hayride.
20. Drink hot chocolate.
21. Visit a corn maze.
22. Picnic on a blanket with your favorite fall foods: corn dogs, caramel apples, pumpkin cookies, cider.
23. Make an autumn wreath.
24. Send Thanksgiving cards.
25. Clean out the garden and flower beds.
26. Plant bulbs.
27. Decorate your mantel or front door for fall.
28. Make Halloween costumes.
29. Tell stories around a fire.
30. Fly a kite. Yes, in the fall!

Grandparent, you absolutely can make this a season to remember even as you sit surrounded by all the COVID uncertainty!

Make it Happen

Download the Free Ideas for Fall printable, grab a mug of your favorite warm beverage, and spend some time scanning the list. Choose two or three of the activities from the list that call out “FUN” to you.  Then, go ahead, begin to make your plan for enjoying some intentional, face-to-face time with your grands!

When Face-to-Face Just Isn’t Possible

And for those grandparents who find face-to-face an impossible option this fall due to being long-distance grandparents or temporarily immobilized by COVID, there are no passes just because the situation is a bit difficult!  You, too, can connect with your grandchildren this fall season. All it takes is a little thought and creativity. Download the list and search it looking for two or three activities you can do with your grandchildren even across the miles.

A Little Creative Inspiration

One thing you might do is collect some leaves from your area and mail them to your grandchildren with the suggestion that they make some leaf rubbings or place mats from the leaves.  Ask them to send you photos of their work when complete.

Or…  mail your grandchildren some bulbs to plant in their yard.  Have them share the planting experience with you via photos, Zoom, or a written note.  To continue the fun, request that they send photos of the plants as they begin to sprout in the spring.

Or… schedule a Facetime call and drink hot chocolate together as you visit.

Yes, it quite likely will require a little more thought and planning, but distance and COVID restrictions do not have to knock you out of precious time with your grands!

It’s your turn.

If you have a fall season activity you and your grands particularly enjoy, please share with us.  We’d also love to hear from you with any great ideas for connecting with grandchildren whether face-to-face, long-distance, or making the best of COVID restrictions.

Let’s work together in helping one another connect and build relationships with our grandchildren even in the midst of what many are finding to be a very strange year!