25 Screen-Free Fall Activities for Your Family

The leaves are changing colors, the air is crisp and the days are getting shorter. That, plus the arrival of pumpkin spice flavored everything, means fall has arrived!

Your kids may have started school again. But there’s still plenty of time to have some fun outdoors before winter weather rolls in. Looking to keep your kids active and away from their electronics as the seasons change?

Here are 25 screen-free activities you can enjoy together:

25 GREAT IDEAS FOR SCREEN-FREE FALL FUN

1. Play in a pile of leaves. Rake up a pile as tall as you can, then watch your children get hours of enjoyment out of the fallen foliage.
2. Carve a pumpkin. Whether you’re going for the classic jack-o-lantern look, or a unique design of your own, pumpkin carving lets your whole family express their creative side. Be sure to light it up with a candle afterwards for proud display on the front porch. Just be sure to follow these pumpkin carving safety tips while you’re at it.
3. Go on a nature hike. Experience the beauty of nature and the fall foliage as you navigate a trail at your local park or explore new parts of your neighborhood. 
4. Take a family bike ride. Fall weather can make for a great time to go on a bike ride. Grab a light jacket and pedal along the sidewalks of your neighborhood or hit a local trail.Make sure to protect yourself from bike theft, too.
5. Pick apples at an orchard. Food tastes better when it’s fresh from the farm. Find a local orchard to pick your own apples, then let your kids help make a homemade apple pie. And don’t forget the fresh cider!
6. Jump in a puddle. Rain, rain won’t go away? Let your kids put on a poncho and boots to splash around. (And make sure to protect your home from heavy rain.)
7. Start a pickup game. Whether it’s soccer, basketball or flag football, get the family together for some friendly competition in your backyard.
8. Attend a football game. Cheer on your local high school, college or professional team in the stands, and take some hot dogs and hamburgers for tailgating before kickoff. Here are some tips to keep your tailgate safe.
9. Camp out under the stars. Grab your sleeping bags, pitch a tent and have a slumber party outside. Try one of these 10 camping hacks while you’re at it.
10. Have a bonfire. Warm up by sitting around the flames on a cool fall night. After all, kids and adults alike can get behind the idea of roasting marshmallows and eating s’mores. Here’s how you can build a fire pit in your yard.
11. Go on a scavenger hunt. Print off a scavenger hunt list online or create your own inventory of things your kids can find in nature. Then, let them go exploring.
12. Navigate a corn maze. Visit a local farm and find your way through the field from start to finish. But don’t get lost!
13. Visit a fall festival. Chances are, your community has an event that will align with your family’s interests – whether it’s music, art, crafts or food. Hop on a hayride or pick some pumpkins while you’re there.
14. Fly a kite. Pick up a kite from the store or make your own. Then, help your kids release it into the crisp fall air in a park or your backyard.
15. Take a trip to the mountains. Maybe it’s time for a quick weekend retreat. See the changing colors firsthand by renting a cabin for a short a family getaway.
16. Run in a race. Lace up your sneakers to get some exercise together, whether it’s in a competitive 5K or a casual 1-mile run.
17. Go to the zoo. Get up close with the lions, tigers and bears. Find out if your local zoo has a Halloween event where your kids can dress up, go trick-or-treating and see the animals all at once.
18. Have a picnic. Enjoy one of these fun family dinner ideas while taking a meal to your backyard or a local park.
19. Snap some family photos. Allow your kids to show off their smiles or silliness as you pose for the camera in a fall photoshoot. Learn how you can preserve those pictures for years to come.
20. Tour a haunted house. Get in the Halloween spirit as you experience the thrills of a haunted house. These local haunts can range in the level of “scariness” provided, so make sure it’s age appropriate.
21. Take a scenic drive. Load your kids in the car for some beautiful views along your favorite back roads.Grab some hot chocolate along the way, but be alert for these fall driving hazards.
22. Visit a playground. The local park isn’t reserved for summer fun. Encourage your kids to dress in layers, and encourage them to release some pent-up energy.
23. Have a sack race. Gather your family and some neighborhood friends for a friendly hop to the finish line. Or break into teams for a relay race. 
24. Decorate for Halloween. Put together a display in your front yard. Let your kids help while displaying carved jack-o-lanterns on your deck or hanging orange lights around your house. Don’t forget to get your house ready for trick-or-treaters.
25. Pick flowers. Find some fall flowers, like mums, that you can harvest and display in a vase. Or plant some bulbs to get ready for spring.

However you choose to celebrate the season, life is about enjoying what matters most. At Erie Insurance, our job is to relieve your stress and restore your peace of mind so you can relax and enjoy more of what makes you and your family happy. Learn more about homeowners insurance from ERIEand talk to an agent in your neighborhood today. 

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