Half-term is nearly here, and you might be looking for activities for your whole family to enjoy together. We have some ideas of fun, autumnal things you can do with your little ones to celebrate the school break.
1. Go To An Apple Orchard
A few different orchards will be running apple festivities during the half-term, including Brogdale Collections in Kent and Godolphin in Cornwall. You can find your local orchard through a quick Google search.
Picking your own apples is a huge event at most orchards, and the fun doesn’t have to stop once you’ve left. You can take your picked apples home and you could try baking an apple pie together. The aroma of an apple pie will make your home feel cosy and seasonal. Your family could also use freshly picked apples to make apple sauce too.
There will also be other autumnal-themed events such as an apple relay and a tour of the orchard with a guide. Some orchards grow more than one variety of apples, so a tour is a wonderful way to learn about the differences between them, and what each can be used for.
There may also be smaller orchards local to you that might be a better fit for younger children. You know your children best, and if the bigger festival type atmosphere is not for them, there will be other options.
2. Go For A Walk
With the weather becoming cold and crisp, and the leaves showing so many colours, a walk is a great way to get some autumnal bonding time with your little ones. Take a bag with you and you can collect some leaves and use them for autumnal-themed crafts when you get home. You could also try adding a scavenger hunt aspect to your walk and see who can find a red leaf, a yellow leaf, etc. For older children, you could ask them to find leaves from specific trees, or items such as acorns, conkers and pinecones.
3. Make An Autumnal Soup
There’s nothing better than a warm bowl of soup, some crusty bread and autumn weather outside the window. This recipe is easy and delicious, making the most of seasonal vegetables. You can find jobs for your children so you can all make it together too.
Ingredients
Tablespoon of olive oil
1 finely diced onion
1 thinly sliced leek
3 sliced carrots
2 sticks of sliced celery
1 small parsnip diced
1 medium potato peeled and cubed into half-inch cubes
500ml vegetable stock
Salt
Pepper
Method
- Heat the olive oil in a deep, wide saucepan. Add the onion and leek.
- Cook on a low heat, with the lid on for about five minutes, until softened.
- Add the carrot, celery, parsnip and potato.
- Add the vegetable stock, a pinch of salt and pepper, and bring to the boil.
- Simmer on a low heat for about fifteen minutes with the lid on. Make sure all the vegetables are soft.
- Blend to a smooth puree. If the soup is too thick, you can add some boiling water from the kettle.
- Serve with crusty bread.
Children should always be supervised in the kitchen so ensure they are not left unattended during this activity.
4. Visit A Pumpkin Patch
A visit to a pumpkin patch is a Halloween must. Check your local area to see if you have one nearby. Most pumpkin patches have child-friendly activities, and some may offer autism-friendly hours as well. You might be able to pick a pumpkin to take home. You could use it for pumpkin carving and use the flesh to make pumpkin soup or pie, and bake the seeds off to make snacks.
5. Family Photos
Some of the best family photos are taken during the autumn. The changing colours of the leaves make a wonderful background. Dress everyone up in warm cosy coats, hats, scarves, and gloves, and head out for the day with your camera. You could team up with family or friends, so you aren’t left taking all the pictures and you can be in some as well. You could take some posed shots but try to get some where everyone is playing in the leaves too.
