Fun and Safe Autumn Activities We Can Still Enjoy This Fall

I don’t know about you, but autumn is my absolute favorite season. The air gets crisper, leaves put on a colorful display, and I breathe easier knowing all the heat and humidity is behind us (and as an asthmatic, I mean that both figuratively and literally). Even though we need to take certain precautions right now, that doesn’t mean we can’t still enjoy our favorite autumn activities. Here is a list of 15 safe autumn activities that you can do from your home or while maintaining social distancing. 

1. Go for a foliage drive. Leaf peeping is extremely well suited to social distancing, as you don’t even need to leave your car! I love how robust the autumn display always is in New England. 
2. Jump in a pile of leaves. This time-honored autumn tradition can be carried out in your own yard, and as a bonus, you can get the kids to help out with the yardwork. 
3. Have a campfire. You can have a safe and fun little fire in your own yard or driveway, providing the perfect opportunity for fall foods like toasted marshmallows, s’mores, and pumpkin seeds. 
4. Tell spooky stories. Gather your family around a flashlight or lantern and take turns telling or reading ghost stories. Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark is a terrifying favorite from my childhood. 
5. Watch Halloween movies. My kid-friendly picks are Hocus Pocus, Halloweentown, Coraline, the Nightmare Before Christmas, and the Harry Potter movies. 
6. Go to pick your own farms (when safe and applicable). Local farms that allow you to pick your own apples and pumpkins are expected to open this season with social distancing measures in place. Please take precautions like wearing a mask, sanitizing your hands, and keeping 6 feet away from others while in public places. 
7. Carve jack-o-lanterns. A safer, less knife-oriented alternative for younger kids is to decorate pumpkins with washable paints. 
8. Make your own mulled cider. Here is a simple recipe for an easy and delicious crockpot cider recipe that I make every Halloween. For the adults, mulling your own wine is also an option. 
9. Have a fall family photo shoot. Snap some cute shots of your family, kids, and pets from home, all with an idyllic fall setting.
10. Cook soups, stews, and chilis. There are so many fun fall recipes to try with your family, and soups are wonderful for the fall. 
11. Make a scarecrow. Try this fun fall version of making a snowman in the winter! You’ll need burlap, straw, some old clothes, a hammer, twine, and garden stakes. 
12. Try some fall crafts or leaf pressing. I have a sketchbook full of fall leaves I’ve pressed going back years, and I love to look through it every fall. Here are some leaf pressing tips and a list of fall craft ideas for kids. 
13. Get cozy at home. Autumn is the time to break out the snuggly sweaters, soft throw blankets, and your favorite scarf. For me, add a book and a cup of tea and you’ve got a perfect fall afternoon. 
14. Bake autumn treats. Pumpkin and apple pies, snickerdoodles, pumpkin bread or muffins–the possibilities are endless! 
15. Dress up in costume. Even if Halloween parties and traditional trick-or-treating aren’t possible this year, that doesn’t mean you can’t still dress up. Whether you decide to make your own costumes from stuff you have around the house, or you order matching costumes online for the whole family, there are plenty of ways to have Halloween fun this fall. 

So there you have it–15 safe autumn activities to make the most out of fall this year. Even though everything works differently right now, it’s still very possible to have fun.

Allison Green
Boston Tutoring Services