There’s always a bit of a bittersweet feeling when summer is on its way out — the long, sunny days start their fade, backyard barbecues and beach trips are memories. Even so, I get excited when I see the leaves starting to turn. I love the crisp air, the explosion of fall colors, the cozy sweaters. Fall just has its own kind of magic that no other season does. 

Autumn is also a great time to get into activities that spark kids’ creativity and curiosity. We get the chance to make learning something they actually want to do. If you haven't already, this is a great time to introduce some Montessori thinking into your kids' education at home. Montessori is a way of living, not just teaching. Kids get to explore their worlds and learn life skills by getting their hands on things and figuring it out for themselves. In our house, Montessori family activities are part of our everyday.

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Those awesome fall colors are a great excuse for kids to get out there and learn by doing. A simple and fun way to explore this is leaf sorting and classifying. 

Grab your kids and head outside to gather up some dead leaves. Encourage variety — big ones, small ones, and all the different colors they can find. Once you're back home, spread the leaves out on a big sheet of paper or a tray. 

Now comes the fun part: ask your kid to sort the leaves any way they want. They could make piles by color—reds with reds, yellows with yellows—or line them up by size, from the tiniest to the biggest. They might even group them by shape, like heart-shaped leaves, the spiky points of a maple leaf.

While they’re at it, throw in some questions to get them thinking: “Can you find two leaves that are the same color but look different?” or “Which leaf looks the biggest to you? Which one's the smallest?” These kinds of questions get kids to observe and think a little more critically.

This leaf sorting game isn’t just about making little piles but it’s also about noticing how diverse nature really is. Every leaf is a bit different. Each has its own patterns and textures. Looking closely and comparing leaves helps kids appreciate how amazing the natural world is.

Turn your backyard (or local park if you don’t have a yard) into a treasure hunt with a nature scavenger hunt. This gets kids exploring, moving their bodies, and connecting themselves with what's around them.

First off, list the natural things that are common in your area during the fall — stuff like acorns, pinecones, different types of leaves, bright berries, feathers, or maybe even critters like ladybugs or butterflies. Throw in some things they can feel or smell too, like "something smooth," "something rough," or "something that smells nice."

Once your list is good, give each little adventurer a basket or bag to collect what they find. Encourage them to use all their senses as they hunt for each item. They’ll be surprised by the cool stuff they stumble on outside their door.

A scavenger hunt is a Montessori family activity to fire up curiosity. Kids will come across all sorts of plants, animals, and natural things that can each spark a million questions. That’s the real magic.

Sensory bins are another fantastic way for kids to use their senses and discover new things in a safe, playful space. With fall in the air, there’s no shortage of stuff to fill those bins up.

This is kind of a reverse version of the scavenger hunt. In this case, you bring all that stuff to them instead of the other way. Collect some natural items like bright leaves, smooth acorns, spiky pinecones, tiny pumpkins. Mix in other textures, like dried corn kernels, uncooked rice, little twigs. Fill up a big bin or container with these materials, and boom — you've got a mini fall wonderland for your child to explore.

Let them dig in — literally. They run their fingers through the leaves, feel the smooth acorns, or trace their hands over the rough pinecones. Throw in a few scoops, spoons, or small containers to keep them busy for even longer. This is a little home version of those big sandboxes full of dry corn kernels you see at farms and rural fairs. 

Playing with sensory bins isn’t just a fun time, it’s great for development. It gets their senses firing, helps build fine motor skills, and helps promote cognitive growth. As they play, pay attention to what catches their interest. Ask them to describe the things they’re feeling, seeing, smelling. You can help them boost their vocabularies and communication.

The beauty of sensory bins is there’s no “right” way to play. Let their imagination take the lead, and see where it goes.

You don’t need a sensory bin or a scavenger hunt to bring the beauty of the outdoors inside. On your nature walks, gather natural materials like colorful leaves, sturdy twigs, and prickly pinecones. You can transform those goodies into fall-themed decorations for a little bit of warmth and whimsy.

Encourage your kids to let their imaginations run wild and get creative. Maybe they arrange leaves in cool patterns, glue pinecones onto cardboard to make rustic picture frames, or weave twigs into a simple wreath. There are no rules here – it's about enjoying the process and celebrating the season.

Making these DIY fall decorations connect us with nature and let us express ourselves. Kids start to see the natural world in a new light and realize how it can spark creativity when they collect their own materials and come up with their own ideas.

Apple Stamping Art

You might have done this when you were a kid. Fall means apples, and at least in this case I will recommend playing with your food. Apples aren’t only for eating! They can also be great for making some fun art. Apple stamping is an awesome way to combine art and sensory play. Kids have a chance to get messy, learn about colors and explore textures.

Cut some apples in half and show your kids the cool star pattern in the core. You can let them pick a design and carve it into the apple themselves (if they’re old enough) or you can do it for them. Then, they dip the apple halves into different paints and stamp them onto paper or fabric to make bright, bold prints. They can mix and match colors, try layering stamps, or add details with brushes or markers for extra flair.

Apple stamping is a hands-on way for kids to experiment and see what happens when they mix colors and play with textures. If they improve their knowledge of apple varieties, apple trees, and their fine motor skills, even better.

Everybody loves play dough. If you’ve ever spent money on playdough just to watch your kids immediately mash it all together into a colorful but used up chunk, then you probably already know the recipe for the homemade stuff. But in case you don’t, it’s easy - flour, salt, water. Making your own play dough is a hands-on activity that's perfect for getting kids involved in making something from scratch. It's sorta like baking... but without any of the tricky stuff, like having to use an oven.

The kids can help at every stage from measuring, mixing and kneading. Honestly, making the dough is half the fun. They get to see these simple ingredients turn into something they can squish, mold, and shape however they want.

Once the dough's good to go, toss in some fun tools like cookie cutters, rolling pins, or stamps, and let 'em loose. They can make whatever their wild little minds dream up—tiny animals, fake cookies, or whatever pops into their heads.

At the end of the day, the best part of getting creative is just enjoying the ride. Don’t stress about the mess or worry about doing it "right." Let the kids explore, get a little messy, and have a blast making stuff up as they go.

Speaking of apples and farms, fall is also the season for apple picking. The way it usually works is for a low per-kid fee, the whole family can walk around among the apple trees and pick their own, right off the tree. Kids get hands-on with where their food comes from and learn a bit about nature while they’re at it.

At home after you've picked a bushel and a peck of apples, you and the kids can do some actual baking by baking apple pies or muffins. Freshly baked apple pie is one of the best smells in the world.

I don’t have a recipe for apple pie in my Mealtime Guides, but rest assured I have plenty of other ideas in there for healthy, sustainable eating. Download it today for help with meals for kids of every age (and you might even get some ideas for your own meals).

With the right approach, yard work doesn’t have to be boring—it can be a fun and educational family project.

Get some rakes and get after those heaps of leaves outside. Rake them up with the kids, let them jump into the piles, or even make some leaf art on the lawn. Use it as a chance to teach them about composting when you're done. Explain how composting turns stuff like leaves into soil that helps plants grow. They learn about the natural cycle of life and how reducing waste can make a big difference.

For kids to pick up some useful skills, there’s no better place than the kitchen. Involve them in making some fall-themed snacks—pumpkin muffins, apple slices with peanut butter, or a homemade trail mix with nuts, seeds, and dried fruit.

Measure, mix, and decorate their creations—let them do it all. They’ll be proud to serve up their own snacks and will love what they’ve made.

For a great way to store those snacks you make, I recommend the Circle Trio – three sizes of stainless steel containers that can put up with any and all punishments your kids are likely to put them through, and they’ll look pretty snazzy through it all (if I do say so myself). 

Fall really is something special. Crisp air, leaves burst into color, and a cozy feeling of something good on the horizon sets in. It’s a great time to spend quality time with family, slow down, and enjoy the simple pleasures. And honestly, what better way to do that than with some fun, hands-on activities that spark curiosity and help kids fall in love with learning?

The Montessori approach reminds us that kids are natural explorers, ready to dig into the world around them. Give them chances to use their senses, try new things, and get creative, and we help them stay curious and set them up for a lifetime of learning.

As you and your families get into your own adventures, remember that Ahimsa's got your back on this path to sustainable living and healthy eating. I’ve designed a bunch of durable, eco-friendly products in bright, fun colors that are made to bring a bit more brightness to mealtimes. Together we can make everyday moments a little bit healthier and a whole lot more fun with Montessori family activities.