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Fall brings with it pleasant weather and pretty foliage, making it a great time to get outside and spend quality time with your kids. Here are a few ideas for outdoor projects you can do with little ones, whether they’re helping you build something, planting new flowers, or just having fun!

Hands-On Crafts for Your Little Helper

These projects will get your kids excited about lending a hand.

Build a Bird Feeder

A bird feeder is a fun and functional addition to a backyard. If you’re working with young children, you take on the tasks involving power tools but let them paint the feeder once it’s built. Next, fill it with your preferred seed and hang it near a window so your kids can watch the birds feast.

A young girl in a rainbow striped shirt brushing bright blue paint on the front of a wooden birdhouse.

Make a Scarecrow

If you’re growing a fall garden, have your kids help you build a scarecrow to keep critters at bay. All it takes is a couple of wooden stakes, some old clothes, and straw, and you’re all set.

You can dress your scarecrow with unused shirts, pants, and hats sitting in the back of your closet or visit your local thrift store. Your little ones will have a fun time picking out overalls, plaid shirts, hats, and any other silly accessories.

A girl places a straw hat on a scarecrow in front of a blue fence and sunflowers.

Grow a Fall Garden

Having trouble getting your kids to eat their veggies? Show them how to grow and harvest vegetables, and they might gain a greater appreciation for them.

Vegetables

Plant these seeds in your veggie patch:

  • Carrots: While they take a couple of weeks to sprout, pulling fully grown carrots out of the ground is a satisfying experience for kids.
  • Lettuce: Lettuce is one of the easiest and quickest plants to grow, making it an excellent choice for kids who are still learning about patience.
  • Radishes: Radishes grow incredibly fast and are usually ready to harvest in less than a month. Your kids will love to watch these colorful little veggies pop out of the soil.
  • Kale: Kale thrives in cooler weather and can stay in your garden through winter so your family can enjoy fresh veggies in the off-season.
A child wearing overhauls stands in a garden and holds a bunch of carrots in one hand and the wooden handle of a garden tool in the other.

Flowers

Fill your landscaping and container gardens with these fall favorites:

  • Mums: Available in many bright colors, they boast vibrant blooms throughout autumn.
  • Asters: These colorful, sunburst-shaped flowers attract butterflies, making them fun for kids to watch.
  • Pansies: These hardy flowers come in a range of colors children can pick to make pretty bouquets.
  • Snapdragons: Kids love the cool shapes and colors of these unique flowers.
  • Marigolds: Beautiful and easy to grow, marigolds are great plants for beginner gardeners.
  • Calendula: Your kids will love these bright, cheerful, and edible blooms.
A child and adult wearing gardening gloves plant herbs in ceramic pots.

Kid-Friendly Fall Outdoor Activities

Get their bodies and brains moving with these ideas.

Go on a Bug Hunt

Your flower beds and vegetable patches are buzzing with life—more than just plants! Why not send the kids on a thrilling bug hunt? It’s the perfect way for them to take in the fresh air and discover the secret world of insects. Hand them a magnifying glass and a critter checklist, and watch their excitement as they uncover nature’s hidden gems.

An insect sits on the tip of a child’s outstretched thumb.

Play and Collect Leaves

One of the best parts about fall is changing foliage. Kids love playing with leaves, so why not hand them a rake and let them have a blast? Once they have their fun, start gathering the leaves and putting them into trash bags. You can even use the leaves for composting or fall crafts.

A young girl smiles as she holds autumn leaves in her hands.