Harvest Season Fun

September is the perfect time to celebrate the changing seasons with your grandchildren and to welcome autumn. There are many things about this season that make it special, so next time you have your grandchildren over for a visit, enjoy some autumn themed activities together.

The weather might be cooler, but this doesn't mean you can't get outside and enjoy what autumn has to offer. Go for a walk, but pack some paper and crayons to make leaf rubbings. Collect a variety of different leaves to make rubbings of, asking your grandchild if they know what kind of tree each leaf belongs to. If they don't, look up each leaf in a guide or online when you get home. This is also a great opportunity to teach younger grandchildren about why leaves change colours and fall from the trees.

Raking the leaves might seem like a chore, but it's easy to turn into a fun game! Making piles of colourful leaves and jumping in them is a great way to get some exercise. You can also easily turn raking the leaves into a treasure hunt by hiding small treats like fall themed stickers or little bundles of candy corn in the leaves.

Take a trip to the local pumpkin patch or apple orchard. This is a great place to talk about harvest time and how autumn is the transition between summer and winter. It is also the perfect place to gather some autumn foods that can be used to make special treats like apple cider or pumpkin bread. Also while you are at the pumpkin patch, look for mini pumpkins or gourds. These are lots of fun to decorate with markers, paint and other embellishments when you get home.

If your grandchildren are coming to visit you on or around the first day of autumn, consider celebrating with a Harvest Party. Plan a couple of activities and snacks that reflect the coziness of the season. For decorations, look to the colours you see when you look out the window. Decorating can be an activity in itself. Gather some red, orange and yellow construction paper and encourage your grandchild to help you cut out and decorate some leaves or make a paper chain. Other fun activities could include stuffing a scarecrow or ring toss using large pumpkins as targets. Pressing leaves to add to a scrapbook or to other crafts is a perfect way to capture the season. For your harvest party snacks, try to include some foods that are unique to the autumn season like roasted pumpkin seeds or different varieties of apple slices with caramel dip.

No matter how you choose to celebrate the changing seasons, by something as simple as going for a walk and taking in the beautiful colours of the leaves or by hosting a Harvest Party, you will surely be making some new memories that will last long after the season is over.

What's going on at Scholar's Choice in September?
View our Calendar of Events.