As the weather cools and the nights get longer, many of us moms look forward to our sweatshirts and jeans and our Fall-themed foods, drinks, decor and activities. The best part about Fall, though, might just be doing amazing Fall-themed kids' activities. Having fun with our kiddos in the Fall season can be a real blast. The idea that we can create lasting, core memories with our children is a heady feeling! 

So, what can we do with our kids during this season? If you’re in the North Alabama area, you have tons of choices! And even if you’re not, you are likely to have many options where you live. Here’s a busy mom time management tip–check out the Kid Friendly Venue app! It’s free to download, and this handy app will let you find great Fall-themed spots in your area.

Look For Outdoor Venues

Some of the greatest options for outdoor activities include apple orchards and pumpkin patches. Who doesn’t love the idea of donning a sweater, going out into the crisp air, and tromping through nature to pick shiny apples from trees or plump pumpkins from the vine?

Another great outdoor option is visiting a local family farm. You can see farm animals, sample the foods made right on the site, and you can often buy products produced right there on the farm. These small family farms often offer great experiences, and as an added bonus you’ll be helping a small business in your own community.

Scott’s Orchard is a North Alabama apple orchard. It’s situated 90 miles south of Nashville in the town of Hazel Green. They offer apple picking, bouncy pads for the kids, a store with gifts, ciders, donuts, slushies, and food trucks for those who get hungry while visiting. 

The orchard is open for fall activities throughout most of September and October, and their operating hours vary from Thursday-Sunday. They also offer June-August hours for peaches and other summer produce, as well as some winter hours.

HERE’S A TIP! Use the KFV app to look for orchards, pumpkin patches, or local family farms in your area!

Stay Indoors

If you can’t quite make it to the pumpkin patch or the apple orchard, you might want to consider baking up some yummy fall treats with your kids. Apple pie or apple dump cake made with fresh apples is a great choice. You can also try a pumpkin cookie or a pumpkin pie. Spice cake is another great choice, as are popcorn balls. 

Of course, you may want to stick with kid-friendly favorites like chocolate chip or sugar cookies. If you’re more into the prepackaged dough scene, you can even find cute fall themed pre-cut cookie dough!

Whichever recipe you choose, make it special with dedicated time together. Add flare with fall themed sprinkles and snacks, and maybe finish it up with a fall-themed movie or a cozy fall picture book.

Another indoor activity option is taking your children to the local dollar store and letting them pick out some fall themed decor. Young kids love window clings, and older kids might love candles, spooky decor, or florals. Obviously, this will depend on your own kiddo and their temperament.

Tips for Your Day

A few tips can help your day go more smoothly, whichever activity you choose.

• Have everything ready ahead of time. If you’re going to a new-to-you pumpkin patch, make sure you know how to get there. Know the cost, and know the schedule. Also keep in mind your child’s regular schedule. Are they going to need a nap during the time you’ll be gone? Are they going to get hungry? You may want to pack snacks!
• If you’re baking at home, have all of your ingredients planned out and purchased. Few things are worse than getting ready to bake and realizing you’re short an ingredient!
• Don’t forget the allergy meds! If your kids are anything like mine, they tend to get very sneezy when we visit pumpkin patches or apple orchards. The hay, the pollen, and in many instances the petting zoo animals can cause their sinuses to go nuts! I give them a dose of allergy meds before we even leave our house.
• Have a plan “B”. We all know things don’t always go as planned. Having a plan “B” in place can save the day. For instance, if you plan an outdoor activity in advance but then you wake up to rain, what can you do instead? What if you plan a day of baking but the power goes out? Having a backup is a good idea in most areas of life!

Whatever you choose when it comes to fall-themed activities, your children are sure to make memories that last a lifetime. We here at Mom’s Tribute, a top blog about parenting, want nothing more!

Katie C