Even if the autumn season still brings the occasional warm, sunny day where you live, fall brings plenty of crisp, fresh air that’s perfect for outdoor games. It’s a season that so many people love because of the cooler temperatures and the beauty of the changing leaves. It’s the perfect time to throw on a sweater and get the kids off the couch and out of the house to play fun fall games.
Kids love to be outside, especially if there are awesome games for them to play. If you’ve been looking for outdoor games for your kids to play this fall, check out these creative ideas. And parents, you are more than welcome to join the kiddos in any of these outdoor games to make beautiful autumn memories.
1. Pumpkin and broom relay race
If children used outdoor balls to play this game, it would make it too easy. Pumpkins are much more interesting, as they never roll in a straight line because none of them are ever perfectly round. If you have a group of children, this makes the perfect relay race. Grab a couple of brooms and a few pumpkins, set a start and finish line, and you are ready to go.
Split the children into teams if you wish. If you do, give each child a broom and put a small pumpkin in front of them. On the count of three, they race to the finish line, pushing the pumpkins. The first one to get to the finish line leaves the pumpkin there but brings the broom back. They hand it off to their teammate, who runs to the pumpkin at the finish line and pushes it back, and the process repeats.
2. Treats in the haystack
This is definitely a good game if there are younger children around who would like to play. First, find some receptacles — for example, they could be wheelbarrows, a bucket, a baby pool, or whatever else you have on hand. Grab a bale of hay and put some hay into each bin or basket. Along with the hay, add some “treats” that the kids will get to find. It could be anything from small, wrapped candy to cute little toys that you would find at your local dollar store. Make sure to give each child a little bag to hold everything that they collect.
3. Scarecrow run
You will hear a lot of giggling with this game! Grab that pile of clothes you have sitting in the back of your closet you’ve been hanging onto and bring it outside. Split the children into teams. When the referee says “go,” they have to run to the pile of clothes and dress like a scarecrow. Once they have done that, they have to run back to their other teammates, where the next child runs to the pile and also does the same thing, and the process repeats. The team with the last person dressed as a scarecrow who crosses the finish line first to reach their teammates wins.
4. DIY autumn cornhole
Everyone loves cornhole. It’s quite an entertaining game to play, plus it’s easy, especially for kids. Bring this sometimes-indoor game outside. Grab a large cardboard box and cut out the holes to resemble something that reminds you of fall, whether that’s a leaf, a pumpkin, or an apple. This makes it more fall-themed and interesting for the kids to try to toss some beanbags into the holes. If you don’t have beanbags, you could always sew your own using dried corn and some fabric. The kids will love playing with each other in this adorable fall version of cornhole.
5. Apple stacks
This is a great game to play with smaller kids. All this game takes is a bunch of apples! It’s kind of a “minute-to-win-it” sort of game, and the premise is simple. Within a certain time span, each child has five apples they have to stack, and that stack has to stay standing for five seconds. The kids should stack them any way they want, as long as at the end of the time they are still standing. After the games are over, the kids will come in and have the apples as snacks.
6. Leaf maze
If you have a lot of trees in your backyard, why not hold off on raking? Wait until the leaves all fall down, and when that time comes, create a “leaf maze” for the kids to wander through. Take your rake and make small mazes around the yard. To make it even sweeter, put a small treat at the end of each maze for the kids to find when they navigate their way through the lanes you have created. Little ones will love this activity and parents will get a kick out of watching to see which child goes which way.
7. Candy corn on the cob
You could play this with younger kids if you don’t mind a mess, but this works better for the older kids who need a more intricate game to get them out of the house. For this game, all you need is a peeled banana and candy corn for each child playing. The idea is to have each child push the candy corn in the banana to make it look like corn on the cob. You could set a timer and see who gets the closest when time runs out, or just let the kids get to work and the first child to complete a whole corn on the cob banana wins. If they ask to eat this when the game is over, that’s going to be up to you.
You’ll definitely want to plan time to be outdoors during mild fall nights and on those cozy weekends. The kids will love playing these games while you either relax or challenge your children to see which generation reigns supreme. The kiddos will definitely tire themselves out playing these games, which should make for a much more restful night for everyone. But the end result of playing any of these fall games will always be memories that you and your children will remember.
Editors' Recommendations
- How to play hopscotch (plus 5 great variations)
- The best outdoor games for kids – try these fun, classic activities
- Plan a great family road trip: The best aquariums in the U.S. for kids
- 4-year-old birthday party ideas: 7 low-stress themes your child will love
- Healthy extracurricular activities kids and teens should explore
