10 sustainable ideas for autumn with children

30 September 2022

Autumn is upon us!

Sometimes we look back longingly at the summer and forget all the great things autumn has to offer. Here’s a list of 10 sustainable ideas to enjoy with the kids this autumn:

Discover what your local vicinity has to offer. We all know that in autumn the leaves turn brown and fall, but have you ever looked with curiosity at what nature really has to offer at this time of year? Explore outdoors and discover what is happening day by day in your neighbourhood.

Take a walk in nature. Mother Nature offers us a canvas full of magical colours that change from week to week. Organise a family outing in nature with a simple route and enjoy the scenery at your leisure. Why not create a family tradition of returning to the same place at the beginning of each season to see what nature looks like at that time of the year?

Explore insects and animals during the autumnal season. There are significant changes compared to summer, especially with regard to insects. Can you find out which animals and insects can be seen in autumn? What happens to certain birds that fly in formation in the skies?

Fruit picking. This is the season of chestnuts, apples and walnuts, among other fruits. It is a good time to get outside into nature and look for chestnut, apple or walnut trees to find their fruits. It’s great when the children know where things come from, discover what can be done with them, and what various fruits and trees are called.

Create decorative material. You can use the leaves to paint them, create garlands with simple leaves – like the ones by Alisa Burke – or use leaves, nuts, fruit, etc. as decoration.

Play with leaves. The leaves form beautiful tapestries on the ground. The children can lie in them or thrown them up in the air to create an autumnal leaf shower. Children love it and do it almost instinctively.

Create some temporary art in nature. At this time of year, when the leaves and fruit are falling, natural materials are right at our feet. What could be better than creating your own work of art in nature and leaving it for others to find and enjoy? Let your imagination run wild and work as a team. Always remember that the most important thing is the fun of it and not the end result!

Play outside in puddles. In autumn there are rainy days with pleasant temperatures when you can go outside and play. It is important to give the children a positive feeling about the rain, because when it rains, you have to go out and celebrate it.

Visit a fruit or vegetable garden. Try visiting an orchard to find out which fruits and vegetables are in season. Nowadays, many organic vegetable gardens open their doors to show you their harvest and discover the wonderful shapes of pumpkins, potatoes, apples and more. You can take a good basketful home to cook yourselves.

Cook family recipes with seasonal ingredients. Find a recipe book or ask the grandparents what you can do with food from the trees and garden at this time of year. Cook a special dish as a family and make this mealtime a unique family moment by setting a special table (you have plenty of materials to decorate).