Autumnal Activities for Under 5s: Simple Outdoor Adventures to Spark Curiosity

Autumn is the perfect season to get outside with little ones. From leaf hunts to puddle jumping, nature offers endless opportunities for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers to play and learn.

In this blog post, we’ll share easy autumnal activities for under 5s, including forest school–inspired ideas you can try at home.

1. Leaf Hunts and Colour Spotting

Children love collecting leaves in all shapes and sizes. Take a small bag or basket and go on a “leaf hunt” together, noticing the different colours, patterns, and textures.

You could even press your favourites between sheets of paper to keep them or use them in sensory or crafting activities! Click here for inspiration.

Developmental benefit: Builds early maths and science skills (sorting, comparing, categorising) and introduces new vocabulary.

2. Conker and Acorn Collecting

Parks and green spaces in autumn are full of conkers and acorns. They offer wonderful learning opportunities for collecting, counting and categorising.

You could also use them at home for simple games, like rolling them down tubes or hiding them in a “nature treasure box.” Click here for inspiration.

Developmental benefit: Great for fine motor skills, early counting, and understanding the natural world.

3. Puddle Jumping

A classic favourite! Pop on wellies and waterproofs and head outside after the rain.

Bring small sticks or leaves and watch how they float across the puddle — turning splashing

into a mini science experiment!

Developmental benefit: Builds gross motor skills, coordination, and confidence in movement.

4. Nature Rubbings and Collages

Take crayons and paper outdoors and make rubbings of tree bark or fallen leaves.

At home, children can use their autumn collections to make collages, crowns, or stick them onto cardboard to create “nature faces.”

Developmental benefit: Encourages creativity, strengthens hand muscles, and helps children make connections between nature and art.

5. Forest School–Inspired Play at Home

Forest school isn’t just for nurseries — you can bring the spirit of it into your own garden, balcony, or even a local park.

The key is giving children the freedom to explore nature in open-ended ways. Here are some ideas to try:

• Mini Dens: Collect sticks, branches, and leaves to build a small den or “fairy house” together.

• Nature Kitchen: Set up an outdoor “mud kitchen” with old pots, pans, and spoons. Children can stir up pretend soups with mud, water, leaves, and conkers.

• Quiet Moments: Sometimes the simplest activity is just sitting together, listening to birds, rustling leaves, or the wind. Ask your child what they can hear, smell, or see — a perfect way to slow down and be mindful.

Developmental benefit: Forest school play nurtures problem-solving, teamwork, imagination, and mindfulness, while helping children feel connected to the natural world.

Why Autumn Adventures Matter

Exploring the outdoors in autumn is about more than fresh air and exercise. These simple activities give children opportunities to investigate, imagine, and grow in independence. Plus, they make wonderful shared memories for the whole family.

So grab your wellies, wrap up warm, and head outside — there’s a whole world of autumn wonder waiting to be discovered!