I love fall and everything about it, well maybe not daylight savings, but other than that I love fall! The clothes, the food, the activities, our family traditions, the scents, opening windows, gazing up at full moons. Not too cold, not too hot and living in Louisiana low humidity, is just right! Oh,  I love fall! With all the wonderful things about fall, comes many wonderful opportunities to experience “everyday learning” with your little ones. 

You don’t have to spend too much money or change your everyday fall activities to maximize learning opportunities. Work with what you have. I believe the fall is the one season kids understand the least, especially those living in the south where they don’t get to experience fall. Throughout the season from mid September to mid December there will be many opportunities to learn.  Some of the learning opportunities  available include:

Academics:

• Science: weather, moon cycles, season changes, leaf changes, hibernation
• Agriculture: harvest, farming, seasonal food, pumpkin patch, apple pickings
• History: Native Americans, Pilgrims, colonies
• Civics: elections, government

Family Life:

• Holidays: history, purpose
• Seasonal activities: fall fairs
• Family Traditions: visiting pumpkin patches, baking, decorating pumpkins

Activities:

• Visiting pumpkin patches
• visiting apple orchards
• carving pumpkins
• costume making
• roasting seeds
• giving thanks
• watching football
• decorating
• baking

A few vocabulary words you can use throughout the season can include vocabulary from fall, holidays, traditions, football, and elections. Allow a natural use of your vocabulary. As opportunities arise, use some of these colorful fall words. Don’t over do it, you don’t have to use them all. Remember, quality over quantity.  

This fall take the time to to teach your little ones during your everyday activities, you will be amazed at how much they will learn.