*Advertorial Post
Autumn is that time of year that can be quite awkward when you become a parent. One day it will be raining, then the next it will be blue skies and bright sunshine. Personally, I love the cooler weather and it is the perfect time for us to get outside as a family. Our garden probably gets more use in the autumn months than the summer to be honest, but whatever the weather Isabella and Poppy love exploring outdoors. Autumn is such a generous season when it comes to 'gifts from nature' with the colourful leaves, conkers, sticks, apples etc. There are so many different activities you can do with children outdoors that cost almost nothing, by simply using what nature provides.
I've put together five of Isabella's favourite autumn activities using this Black Board with Clock from Wickey. They have a fantastic range of climbing frames, beds, swing sets and garden accessories that will keep your children entertained all year round. Their innovative and unique designs help to bring children's imaginations alive, as they can sail on a boat, be a pirate looking out for the enemy or be a princess in their castle. Their wooden climbing frame range is extensive, but these are my top picks...
I really like that for each climbing frame configuration you can choose the slide colour from red, green, apple, blue, violet and brown, as well as the roof colour from blue, green, red, yellow and orange. When you click on the different colours on their website you can see what it would look like, which allows you to create something completely suited to your child/ren and the space you have.
If you have a climbing frame or not Wickey also have a variety of different accessories that can be either added onto climbing frames or used independently. These include black boards, telescopes, binoculars, wheels, sirens, bells, mailbox, megaphones, mirrors, Tic Tac Toe games, basketball ring and flags. We use their Black Board with Clock out in the garden for a wide range of activities that both Isabella and Poppy enjoy and that stop us from staying indoors all day.
Below I've shared our top five autumn outdoor black board activities, so that your children can enjoy them too:
1) Conker Counting - Attach a small amount of blu-tak onto the back of conkers, write the numbers 1-5 (or higher depending on the age of your child) on the black board and ask them to attach the right number of conkers underneath.
2) Pictionary - Go on an autumn walk around your garden or local area, collecting sticks, conkers, leaves etc. Display them for your children to see and then take it in turns to draw one of the objects on the blackboard for everyone else to guess. Once someone has guessed it right then swap over roles.
3) Leaf People Puppet Show - Last year I wrote a blog post about how to make Leaf People using leaves you've collected from a leaf walk, which make the perfect puppets for a puppet show. Draw a backdrop scene onto the blackboard and then your children can enjoy making up stories, little plays or even add extra props like sticks and stones.
4) Apple Printing - Attach a large piece of paper to the black board. Cut an apple in half (this could be a bought one or one that's fallen from an apple tree near to you), paint on some paint in your chosen colour and print away. Other alternatives to apples could be leaves, potatoes, stones or using a stick as a 'paintbrush'. If using orange paint then you could always use a felt tip to transform them into pumpkins for Halloween!
5) Nature Rubbings - Collect a variety of leaves and stick them to the black board using Sellotape. Place a piece of paper over the top and using a wax crayon on its side rub over the leaves to see what pattern you are left with on the paper.
I hope you and your little ones have fun trying out these autumn activities outdoors.
What are your favourite autumn activities?
Feel free to leave a comment - I love reading every single one :)
Helen x
This look so much fun for little kids. taking inspiration from around your garden for pictionary is such a good idea.
ReplyDeleteI do love these ideas. So important to get kids outdoors and playing rather than sitting watching an ipad! An outdoor blackboard looks fun!
ReplyDeleteThere's some great ideas here! Love the conker counting one!
ReplyDeleteI love all the lovely ‘gifts’ nature provides in the autumn! Such a beautiful time of the year, and these activities look like great ways to get little ones enjoying being outside now the weather is cooler. Great blackboard too!
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of the outdoor blackboard I think it is a fantastic idea (not sure how it would stand up through our winters though!) All their outdoor sets look amazing
ReplyDeleteWe love leaf rubbing and have been collecting leaves for the past couple of weeks. Looking forward to trying Apple printing!
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness, these ideas are amazing and just what I needed to read because I wanted to do autumn activities with my boys but couldn’t hibk what to do. I love that blackboard and I would love to have the space for a climbing frame in the garden xx
ReplyDeleteLove the look of the blackboard. We like concur paint rolling this time of year
ReplyDeleteThese look very fun for kids. I like the sound of the nature rubbings
ReplyDeleteWe love doing nature rubbings... leaf prints and making from autumn finds. It’s a great month and when it’s cooler everyone seems much more motivated :-)
ReplyDeletePickle has an outdoor blackboard at school and loves it! Some great ideas here. Kaz
ReplyDeleteThese are all great Autumnal ideas. I used to love leaf rubbing when I was younger.
ReplyDeleteThese are great, my mums a nanny and always wanting more exciting ideas to do with the kids .. will pass on this blog to her 🙏🏼
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun idea. Nature rubbing is my favourite. Did that a lot as a kid. Thanks for reminding me.
ReplyDeleteThis is a nice idea for those who have kids! I am sharing this to my mommy friends.
ReplyDelete