written by KATHY SISSON https://theeverymom.com/fall-bucket-list
Ahhh fall, we love you. Maybe it’s a Midwestern thing, but fall always seems to breeze in like an old friend. It reminds us it’s almost time to snuggle up
and settle in for winter, so we better get outside while the weather is crisp and the outdoors are colorful. Even my daughter said today, “It smells like fall,” and I knew exactly what she meant.
Many of us will probably be doing some quintessential autumn activities, like heading to an apple orchard, picking out pumpkins, and prepping costumes and
front stoops for Halloween. While we love all the fall fun, the other beauty in the change of season is the much-needed pause between the hectic back-toschool time and the holiday chaos we know is on the horizon.
We hope this fall bucket list sparks some easy ideas to slow down and savor this in-between time
with your family.
1. Take a fall colors nature walk without your phone
Play eye-spy or look and listen with your kids as you crunch through the fallen leaves and take in the color-changing trees around you. Enjoy the moment without the pull of your phone to capture everything and allow yourself to be fully present.
2. Deck out your front door and porch for the season Walking or biking around the neighborhood is still good old-fashioned family fun, and now is the
perfect time to keep the neighbors (and your kids) entertained by decking out the front of your home for fall or Halloween. Try making handcrafted leaves into a colorful wreath for your front door, decorate a fall-themed front porch or entryway, or stick a kid-friendly spooky surprise in the windows like bats, ghosts, or a witch’s silhouette.
3. Thank your mail carrier and delivery people
Say thank you to your neighborhood’s hardworking mail carriers and delivery people for bringing a smile to your household this season. Plus, with the holidays on the horizon, we know they’ll continue to be working long hours all fall and winter. Add a note in chalk on the sidewalk or set out prepackaged snacks and bottled water to help them know they’re appreciated.
4. Attend a fall festival
Outdoor fall fests are great for families, often with kid-friendly music, crafts, food, and more. My plan is usually to go early before the crowds get too thick for a stroller and the spiked cider hasn’t yet been flowing through the other attendees all day. Just be sure to follow your local COVID guidelines and remember to pack masks and hand sanitizers and continue to social distance.
5. Make a Crock-Pot recipe bucket list
Our family has some slow cooker staples like shredded beef tacos, Crock-Pot whole chicken, and chicken pot pie. Collect recipes from around the web you want to try this fall and plan them out. An additional plus side to Crock-Pot meals? There are (almost) always leftovers.
6. Sip apple cider and watch a fall movie
From football flicks to Halloween favorites, there are tons of kid-friendly movies or shows to enjoy as a family during the fall season. Make it extra fun by sipping apple juice, apple cider, or mulled wine for the grownups.
7. Try a new way to decorate pumpkins
Channel your inner Martha Stewart and explore a new non-carving way to decorate pumpkins. Ideas are just a Google search away, but some of our favorites are toddlerfriendly finger-painted pumpkins, heirloom pumpkin towers, and painting the pumpkin stem with sparkles. Consider also painting one pumpkin teal to participate in the Teal Pumpkin Project to bring awareness and inclusion to food allergies.
8. Do a seasonal closet clean-out
Whether you’re motivated to do a Marie Kondo-style purge or you want to simply store your summer duds in favor of easily accessible sweaters and leggings, take the time to make the switch. Gather coats, sweaters, and shoes in good condition to donate. If you are extra-motivated, do the same thing for your kids’ closets, too.
9. Have a fall craft-a-thon
Fall’s bounty is full of so many natural craft supplies: pumpkins, gourds, leaves, acorns, and pinecones, to name a few. Paint pumpkins or pinecones, collect leaves for crayon rubbings, or another nature-inspired fall craft. Endless ideas are just a quick Pinterest search away.
10. Send an unexpected thank you note
Have someone you think about often but never actually tell the person? Forgo the text and send a handwritten note thanking your special person for being who they are. It’s an easy way to make someone’s day.
11. Holiday shop early at small and BIPOC-owned businesses
Holiday shopping is coming up quickly. Make an extra effort to support small businesses, including BIPOC-owned brands, by shopping early so you won’t need to rely as much on expedited Amazon Prime shipping.
12. Make a new recipe with pumpkins
Did you know pumpkins are a superfood? They are filled with tons of nutrients and antioxidants the body craves such as vitamins A and C. Thinking beyond pumpkin bread or pie and try to get adventurous with a new recipe using pumpkins.