With dozens of activities planned throughout Monterey and Santa Cruz Counties for the month of October, it’s a busy time. Why not take some time this fall to enjoy being home with the family?
School is in session, pumpkin spice lattes are back, and it’s time to embrace fall! While we may share common autumn activities like pumpkin patches, apple picking, Halloween festivities, or local hikes without the summer crowds, here are three additional activities to expand your family’s repertoire as you enjoy the season together at home. Be sure to check page 31 for cultural celebrations that you can learn about as a family.
1. Take a family photo. Fall is a great time to capture colorful family photos, which might be helpful for upcoming holiday greeting cards. Embrace the fall colors with color-coordinated family outfits, or carve some time out on your calendars to have fun taking that family photo you keep putting off. Make the experience enjoyable, low-stakes, and involve the kids. Let them pick their favorite outfits, what colors everyone should wear, or what decorations or props to add. This makes the experience more fun and meaningful for everyone, plus it increases your chances of getting a great family photo and story for the memory books.
2. Get crafty. Start your craft activity with a hike into Garland Park or Toro Park. Collect leaves to use for a family crafts project. You can also purchase a bag of artifical autumn colored leaves if you want to make things super easy. You can create leaf rubbings, leaf collages, or even press them between wax paper to make beautiful window decorations. Even little ones can help attach leaves to a wreath frame you can purchase inexpensively at Michael’s. They’ll be super proud when you hang it on your front door to welcome guests. You’ll find a ton of ideas on Pinterest to get your creativity flowing.
3. Practice gratitude. Fall is the perfect season to pause and reflect before entering the bustling holiday season. Have each family member write or share something you are grateful for each day for a week or longer. Keep it simple: take turns at the dinner table or in the car to share something you appreciate, or write it down on a post-it note and stick it on the fridge. For craftier families, you can prepare different colored paper leaf cutouts, have each family member write down something they are grateful for daily on a leaf, and then make a tree or scrapbook with the leaves. When the week or month is over, spread the joy of gratitude by mailing some of those leaves or post-it notes to people your family might have referenced, especially if it is a friend or family member who lives far away.
4. Have a movie night. Choose classic or family-friendly fall-themed movies (“Hocus Pocus,” “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown,” or “Harry Potter”). Set up a cozy movie night with blankets and pillows, and prepare fall snacks like caramel popcorn, hot cocoa, or s’mores.
The most important part of any season is the experiences you share and the memories you make as a family.
Denise Green has worked in education for over a decade, specializing in mathematics pedagogy and professional development. She, her husband, and their two children reside in the sunny hills off Highway 68.
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