Fall has officially arrived, and now that the weather is starting to cool off, you want to get outside with your kids and enjoy it! Fortunately, there’s plenty to do outside, and our preschool in Raleigh is sharing our favorite outdoor activities for preschoolers.
Fall Scavenger Hunt
Perfect for the backyard, a walk around the neighborhood, or an afternoon at the park, a scavenger hunt is always fun! An I Spy list may make it easier and keeps you from having to carry home a basket of pine cones, leaves, and rocks, (though you most likely will have to do that anyway). Pinterest has plenty of autumn scavenger hunt checklists, or you can make your own and even customize it with themes like colors (brown pine cone, brown acorn, white cloud, red leaf, yellow school bus) and the alphabet (acorn, blackbird, colorful tree, dried leaves).
Visit an Apple Orchard
There are numerous apple orchards around the Triangle, and a visit to one is the perfect way to spend a fall afternoon. Not only will you have a basket of delicious, healthy apples to enjoy, but this gives you a great opportunity to explain where we get our food. The seeds from an apple become a tree which grows and sprouts more fruit, and showing children the connection we have to our food helps them appreciate it.
Visit a Pumpkin Patch
With Halloween just around the corner, you’ll need a jack-o-lantern to decorate, and while you can pick one up at the grocery store, visiting a pumpkin patch is much more enjoyable. In addition to large pumpkins to carve, you can also find decorative gourds and small pumpkins which can be used for all types of craft activities on rainy, indoor days.
Match the Trees
If you have a park or a wide variety of trees growing around your neighborhood, you can play “match the tree” or “find the tree.” First, challenge your child to find a wide variety of fallen leaves on the ground, then it’s up to them to determine which tree it came from. If it’s been breezy, this may be a bit more challenging.
Once you’ve matched the leaves to the trees, identify the different types of trees you found – maple, oak, pine – using a tree identification book or website for some added education.
Plant Bulbs for Spring
While we usually talk about gardening with your preschooler in the spring, bulbs are often planted in the fall so they will bloom during the spring. Most bulbs work well in either your flower bed or a container, so even if you don’t have a lot of garden space, a good size flower pot should work. Wait until the weather turns a bit cooler as bulbs thrive when the soil is below 60 degrees. Consider the following types that grow well in Raleigh:
- Daffodils
- Tulips
- Crocus
- Bluebells
- Hyacinth
When planting a bulb, make sure to plant it fairly deep, around four to six inches, with the pointed end up. Bulbs also work well in clusters, so a hole that is 15 to 16 inches wide and around 6 inches deep will hold multiple bulbs for an attractive presentation in the spring.
Schedule a Tour of Our Raleigh Preschool
We love fall and all the activities it allows us to share with the children. If you’re looking for a preschool for your child that provides a nurturing environment and plenty of opportunities to learn and grow, consider our five-star child care center.
Primary Beginnings Child Development Centers in Raleigh encourage playtime. Both of our Raleigh preschool locations allow playtime outside for your toddler and preschool children. Call us at our Spring Forest location at (919) 790-6888 or our North Hills location at (919)785-0303 to request a tour of one of our North Raleigh child care centers or fill out the contact form below.
