Five things to do in autumn with kids

The weather is getting colder, the evenings are getting darker, and you might be struggling for autumn family activities. Whether your family loves heading outdoors on a crisp cold morning or would rather stay cosy on the sofa, we've listed our five favourite activity ideas for keeping little ones busy this autumn.

Little ones love collecting all sorts of bits and pieces from nature - why not put these to use by making an autumn collage. Next time you go out for a walk keep your eyes open for beautifully coloured leaves and fur cones and nuts. Take a bag with you and start collecting them ready to use in crafts and decorations in the home. Find more free nature based autumn activities to try.

'Process art’ means focusing on the activity itself rather than the end result, and is a brilliant way for children to learn to express themselves. This can also take the pressure off and allow creative freedom which is a great way for everyone to relax, not just the kids.

Read more about the benefits of art and craft for children.

Simply cuddling up and watching a show together can be a lovely bonding activity. Make sure all phones and devices are put away, then laugh/cry/hang on to the edge of your seats together. Talk about what's happening, and see if your child can retell the story in their own words afterwards.

Head over to CBeebies and BBC iPlayer where you can feel the love and watch new episodes of Hey Duggee, laugh your flippers off with Piripenguins or grab your tool kit and join three curly tailed siblings in Piggy Builders.

You can also find loads of CBeebies Autumn themed episodes on BBC iPlayer and lean into the season.

Go outside and encourage your little ones to take in everything around them. Ask them to describe what they can see, hear and smell. Children use a lot more words when they play outdoors compared to indoors, so this activity is great for language development. Plus, who doesn't love jumping into a big pile of leaves?

See if you can help JoJo identify trees using their seeds in this fun and educational game from Jo Jo and Gran Gran.

Make sure to check out our handy bird spotting guide before you head outside!

Give your little one the chance to manage their own farm in this cosy game, full of animals, tractors and simple jobs to complete. Play A Year on Your Farm now.

Kids can learn how farmers must adapt to the changing seasons in this delightful game from Down on the Farm. Choose which crops, fruits and animals you will keep on your farm then work your way through each season. Wash and feed your animals, collect eggs, sow seeds and harvest your crops. It's a brilliant tool for teaching children about nature and loads of fun too! 

Read our top tips for introducing young children to gaming.

Are you the wise owl of your family? Or the energetic squirrel? Take this fun quiz to see which woodland creature you and your little ones are most like. A great way to learn about nature even when it's too wet and cold to go outside!

Once you have your animal, you could make some fun artwork, write a poem, or simply start a woodland adventure with role play games.

There are lots more puzzles and quizzes here on CBeebies that the whole family will enjoy!

For a collection of snuggly harvest clips to watch, fun autumn activities to try, autumn poetry, autumn animals and nature to spot, quizzes and games with your favourite CBeebies friends head to our CBeebies Autumn collection.

If you're getting geared up for some Halloween fun, you can find softly spooky content for the youngest ones with spooky quizzes, Halloween party playlists and games, Halloween songs, crafts and more in the CBeebies Halloween collection.

Try some creative autumn craft ideas and help JoJo identify the fallen leaves from the trees in this cute quiz from JoJo and Gran Gran.

For a different perspective on outdoor play with your little one, take a look at ways you can use the changing seasons as an opportunity to grow and learn with this article from CBeebies Parenting.