Fabulous Fall Fun: Corn Maze

Fall is almost over for me (okay, let's be real, it was over about three weeks ago, I mean, it is snowing while I write this). Anyway, the "calendar" says fall so I am doing a fabulous fall post. 

One of our favorite traditions is to do a corn maze. I am sure not all of you will have access to a corn maze because corn doesn't grow everywhere. You might have a straw maze or something that you can go to.

Now, some places will have a corn maze that is kid-friendly--meaning it is not several miles of maze. If you do not have a kid-friendly version, don't be afraid of turning around and coming back out the entrance. We have done that several times. If you don't have an hour or two to walk through the maze, there is no problem with retreating out the entrance. 

If you go for the long haul, we have found this to be most pleasant if it is warm, so going on a Saturday in the middle of the day is better for us than trying to beat the sunset after work on a weekday. Bring a stroller for young kids--even young kids who typically walk (unless you don't mind carrying this young child). Bring blankets, hats, and coats. 

We let Brayden take the map and navigate us through the maze, which he is very happy about. If you don't want to hand it all over to the child, let the child help look at the map and talk about which way to to to get out. 

A maze is a great activity! You get exercise, you can practice map reading and maze-following as well as instruction following. Lots of fabulous fall fun!

Fabulous Fall Fun: Playing in Leaves

If your children are like mine, you already know that leaves=fall fun. Did you ever think about the learning value to playing in leaves? We have little child-sized rakes for our children. They work on their gross motor skills as they rake leaves, jump in the piles, and toss the leaves in the air.

They also get some great sensory input as they touch the leaves with their hands and feel them crackle. 

It is also a great time to learn scientifically about the changing leaves. Why do they fall from the trees? Why do they change colors? Why do they only do this in the Autumn? So as you enjoy your Fall weather, be sure to include a fun leaf-jumping activity and have fun while learning.

Fabulous Fall Fun: Hiking

Hiking in Zion National Park in Spring

Isn't Fall fabulous? I love the season and all it brings with it. I wanted to do a little series on all of the fabulous things you can do in the Fall. My first highlight is hiking.

Hiking is a tricky thing to talk about with a global audience. For some of you, Spring is the best time of year for hiking. For others, Summer is the time for such activities. Some might even find the best hiking weather in the Winter. For us, however, we prefer Fall hikes. 

Hiking in Yellowstone National Forest in late Summer

Hikes are walks on steroids. A walk is a great activity to do. A hike offers even more learning opportunities. You are much closer to nature on a hike. You can see amazing geological formations. You can gather Fall leaves. You can see animal tracks and nesting places. 

6 month old McKenna in the Kelty

For young children, we find a hiking backpack to be well worth it. We own a Kelty and love it, but I know others who love other brands. 

Hiking close to home in the Fall

Here are some tips I have for hiking with children:

• I suggest you keep your hikes so that you can get back to home/car/camp quickly if needed. This doesn't mean you have to do only short hikes--just keep hiking trails close to civilization. Don't overestimate your child's abilities. I once found myself pregnant and carrying 3 year old Brayden for a mile--not fun!
• Wear sunblock if needed. Usually hiking means rising in elevation, which means closer to the sun. It also means time spent outside.
• Wear proper shoes and make sure your child's shoes fit well.
• Bring lots of water.
• Bring snacks.
• Bring hats (summer hats, winter hats), jackets, and whatever other clothing might come in handy. 
• Go at your child's pace.
• Be on the lookout for cool discoveries like animal prints and nesting spots. 
• For added fun, you can make a card of things to find on the nature walk. 
• Another idea is to gather nature items and make a collage when you get home.