Outdoor Fall Leaf Activities for Kids: 20 Ways to Play, Learn, and Create with Autumn Leaves

Here’s a list of outdoor fall activities for kids that make use of the most overabundant free resource in the autumn–leaves!

Here’s a list of fun fall outdoor leaf activities that kids from toddlers to teens can do outside with fresh fallen autumn leaves. When the air turns cold and the trees burst with vibrant shades of red, orange, and gold, autumn invites us to step outside and enjoy the season’s beauty. One of fall’s simplest joys is right under our feet–leaves! This autumn play guide teaches how to enjoy unique outdoor activities that utilize fall leaves as a free resource. The overabundance of leaves in the fall provides endless opportunities for outdoor fun, learning, and creativity. Fall is the perfect time to head outside, explore nature, and have some good old-fashioned fun!

Use this list of outdoor fall activities to get kids outside this autumn. Whether you’re a teacher looking for outdoor learning ideas, a parent planning weekend adventures, or a kid ready to jump into a giant leaf pile, there are many exciting ways to play and learn with fall leaves. Invite children outside to play with fall leaves with these fun outdoor autumn activities for kids. Bundle up, step outside, and get ready for some leaf-filled fun! You may also enjoy this list of outdoor nature activities. It offers several additional fun outdoor activities for toddlers, preschoolers, kindergarteners, older elementary school-aged children, and teens, many of which have a fall theme.

Fall Leaf Outdoor Activities for Kids of all Ages:

The fall season is a magical time of year, with the trees putting on a colorful show, and the ground is covered with crunchy, colorful leaves. From leaf piles to nature crafts, there’s no shortage of ways to enjoy this brisk, colorful season. Several of these fall outdoor activities for toddlers and up can also be enjoyed by adults. First published in September 2015, this list of autumn leaf activity ideas is regularly updated to enhance the content and ensure its relevance.

It originally included ten fun fall leaf activity ideas. Today, it contains twenty fantastic outdoor autumn leaf activities for children and adults of all ages. Autumn is an excellent time of year to get outside to play in the freshly fallen leaves. However, there’s a lot more to do outside in the fall besides playing with leaves. For this reason, this informative play guide has been updated to feature an additional seven fall outdoor activities for kids. The intention is to make it a more well-rounded autumn activity guide for kids. You may also enjoy this list of indoor and outdoor fall activities. It includes even more options for kids and the young at heart.

Related: 20 Ways to Play in the Rain

Benefits of Playing Outdoors in Fall Leaves:

Playing outdoors in the fall provides a natural way to nurture the well-being of both younger and older children. Spending time outside in the fall is an excellent way to stimulate cognitive, emotional, and physical well-being. The crisp autumn breezes and seasonal scents encourage individuals to breathe deeply and savor the fresh outdoor air. These activities are essential for maintaining lung health and supporting the immune system. 

Immersing oneself in the beauty of autumn leaves can also help alleviate stress and enhance overall well-being. Fall leaf activities, as listed below, provide a fun and well-rounded experience for kids of all ages. Playing outdoors in the fall can also foster a strong connection with nature and encourage a sense of environmental stewardship. You may also enjoy teaching children how to care for planet Earth.

Fun fall activities, such as playing in autumn leaves, benefit all ages. They are particularly beneficial for toddlers and older children during their developmental years. If you have ever wondered how to entertain a two-year-old, consider keeping a toddler busy in the autumn by playfully tossing, kicking, jumping, and rolling in fall leaves and doing creative projects that enhance both fine and gross motor skills.

On the other hand, it’s best to keep older children engaged in educational activities, fun games, and creative projects. The outdoor activity ideas below have something for everyone to enjoy! Scroll down to enjoy some fall leaf fun. You might also enjoy the activities on this excellent list of outdoor learning ideas and nature activities for kids.

Best Outdoor Fall Leaf Activities for Kids:

There are numerous fun ways to play with freshly fallen autumn leaves that the whole family or an outdoor classroom can enjoy. Here’s a list of fun outdoor adventures and fall activities, featuring classics like jumping in a pile of leaves, along with new and unique ways to play and learn with autumn leaves you might not have heard of. Best of all, you won’t need much more than a rake for these fall leaf activities.

All you need to do is step outside to enjoy most of these autumn leaf activities. Encourage children to play outdoors with autumn leaves using the fun ideas below. Grab a sweater, head outdoors, and get ready to explore playful activities that celebrate everything autumn has to offer. You may also enjoy this fall tree craft activity idea for kids.

Alternatively, look through this list of fall nature crafts and art activities to learn how to make crafts with fresh autumn leaves, acorns, pinecones, twigs, apples, and more of the natural treasures you find outside in the fall!

Outdoor Fall Activity Ideas: 20 Fantastic Ways to Have Fun Outside Playing with Fall Leaves:

Whether you’re a child, a parent, a teacher, or just young at heart, here’s a list of outdoor fall leaf activities you can try. Click on the blue text for the complete step-by-step instructions for each of the outdoor fall activities. This post is part of the Get Outside and Connect Series. Please visit the page to learn more about it.

1. Play Fall Leaf Counting Games:

As the leaves begin to rain down from the trees this autumn, try this simple outdoor fall leaves counting game. Visit the link for step-by-step instructions on this creative outdoor counting game suitable for toddlers and older children.

2. Rake Autumn Leaves:

Raking leaves might seem like a chore, but for kids of all ages, it can be so much more. It’s a chance to get outside, move their bodies, and enjoy the beauty of fall in a hands-on way. With the right attitude (and maybe a few friendly challenges), raking leaves can be transformed into an engaging activity that builds responsibility while still feeling like play. Raking leaves is a great way to develop coordination, practice teamwork, and enjoy the fresh autumn air.

Kids can work together to create giant leaf piles. Shape piles of leaves into mazes or forts. Or even compete to see who can make the most enormous pile the fastest. With a kid-sized rake in hand, even younger children such as toddlers and preschoolers can work alongside older siblings and family friends to gather piles of colorful leaves. Turn the task into a playful family challenge or team effort. But let’s not forget about the reward at the end. Jumping into a soft, yet crunchy heap of leaves is something everyone can look forward to. Scroll down to learn more about this exciting outdoor fall activity for kids.

Related: How to Raise a Helper

3. Jump in Leaf Piles:

Jumping into a pile of leaves is a classic fall leaf activity idea for all ages. This activity is one of the easiest ways to get outside and have fun with fall leaves. Grab a rake and get the whole family to help make leaf piles. Or ask an adult to help make leaf piles to jump in with the leaf blower. Once you have a nice big pile of leaves, jump into it as my daughter so beautifully demonstrates in the photograph below. However, please use caution. Jumping into a pile of leaves can be hazardous.

Please remove any hidden sticks, rocks, sharp objects, and other hazards from the pile before jumping into a leaf pile. Also, beware of leaf piles that have been sitting for an extended period. Piles of leaves can become wet and dirty, moldy, and attract insects. It’s best to jump into a fresh pile of leaves you made to avoid these hazards. Suppose you want to make jumping in the leaves more interesting. Try one of the following outdoor autumn leaf activities while you’re at it. Scroll down to learn more about each one.

4. Make a Leaf Maze or Labyrinth in Your Backyard:

Most people need to rake leaves in the autumn months. So, why not make a leaf maze or labyrinth like THIS one while you’re out there? Raking leaves into the shape of a maze is a fun way to play with fall leaves while raking them up. Your children are sure to love this fun fall activity idea!

5. Build or Make a Leaf Slide:

If you’re looking for a unique and fun fall activity for the backyard, make a leaf slide! Yup, you read that right–a leaf slide! Raking leaves is an excellent fall activity children can do outside in the autumn. However, getting the kids interested in raking them can be challenging. It is much easier to motivate children of all ages to help with these autumn yard chores when there is something enjoyable for them to do at the end of the task. Invite the kids to create a leaf slide to boost their motivation to help with yard chores in the autumn. Making a leaf slide is a fun fall activity idea for children of all ages. Hop on over to Happy Hooligans for all of the fun details.

6. Burry (a Willing Participant) in Leaves:

Burying kids in leaves is a fun and playful way to enjoy the fall season outdoors. Once a big pile of leaves is gathered. Invite kids to take turns lying down while others gently cover them from head to toe, leaving only their face or hands visible. The photograph below shows my daughter as a toddler, buried in leaves so that only her smiling face and the fringe of her blonde hair are visible.

It’s a silly and exciting activity that often results in lots of laughter. Especially when the buried child, usually a baby, toddler, or preschooler, suddenly pops out to surprise everyone. Just be sure to check the pile for sticks, sharp objects, rocks, and bugs to keep play safe and enjoyable for everyone.

7. Enjoy Outdoor Sensory Play with Fall Leaves:

Parents or teachers can help young children, such as toddlers and preschoolers, enjoy sensory play with fall leaves by encouraging them to explore the vibrant colors, crunchy textures, and earthy scents of the season. Encourage children to touch fallen leaves, smell them, crush them with their hands, roll in them, cover themselves with them, and throw them in the air so that they rain down on them. You can provide buckets, scoops, or magnifying glasses for learning opportunities. Adults can join in by asking open-ended questions or sharing stories about the leaves to spark children’s imaginations and foster a connection with the natural world.

8. Make an Autumn or Fall Leaf Angel:

One of the most classic winter activities is making snow angels. Instead of creating angels in the snow, the fall is an excellent time of year to make a leaf angel! There may not yet be snow on the ground to make angels in the fall. However, depending on where you live, plenty of autumn leaves are often strewn across the ground, perfect for making leaf angels, as shown in the photograph below. Be aware that you might get wet while doing this activity, depending on the moisture level of the leaves and the ground.

To make a leaf angel, start by lying down somewhere with a large number of leaves. (Grassy backyards, schoolyards, and parks are great for this activity. It’s not as fun to make a leaf angel in the dirt. But it is possible.) Then move your arms up and down by your sides, and your legs back and forth to create an autumn leaf angel. In the photograph below, you can see the angel appearing in the negative space of the grass where the leaves have been moved away.

9. Host a Local Fall Leaf Nature Scavenger Hunt:

Here’s an educational outdoor fall activity for children and adults. Choose three to ten tree leaves from different trees in your local area. For example, you can choose a few different shapes and sizes of leaves from your backyard, the block you live on, the schoolyard, a playground, a local trail or park, or a nature reserve.

In other words, collect a few leaves from trees where you will host the fall leaf scavenger hunt. Three to five leaves are sufficient for toddlers, preschoolers, and kindergarteners to explore. Older kids might enjoy searching for a few more varieties of leaves, but it’s best to keep it simple for the younger children.

Be sure to grab leaves and needles from local deciduous and evergreen trees to increase the challenge and the fun! Once you gather a few leaves, give them to the kids and challenge them to find more of the leaves they see.

If desired, glue the fall leaves to a nature sensory card or put them in a basket or another container, such as a recycled cardboard shoe box, before giving them to children for this creative fall scavenger hunt idea. You might also enjoy searching for the signs of autumn or this printable fall scavenger hunt for toddlers and preschoolers.

10. Enjoy Leaf Sorting Activities:

Leaf sorting is a fun and educational fall activity that helps kids observe, compare, and organize the natural world around them. To start, take a walk outside with children to collect a variety of autumn leaves in different colors, shapes, and sizes. Once you’ve gathered a good selection of leaves, find a flat surface like a picnic table, bench, blanket, or large piece of cardboard to begin sorting.

Encourage kids to group the leaves in different ways–by color (reds, yellows, browns), by shape (pointed, rounded, lobed), by size (small, medium, large), or even by tree type if they are ready for that level of classification. Adults can guide the leaf sorting activities with questions like:

• “What do you notice?”
• “How are these leaves the same?”
• “What makes this group different from that one?”

During fall, it’s fun for toddlers and preschoolers to sort the same kinds of leaves by color gradation. In other words, line up a series of maple or oak leaf samples from green to yellow, orange, and red or brown. My daughter demonstrates how to sort leaves in the photograph below. Leaf sorting activities help develop early science and math skills such as observation, comparison, and classification, while providing children with a hands-on way to appreciate the beauty and variety of autumn leaves.

11. Learn to Identify Leaves and Trees:

First, take your favorite leaf or tree field guide with you on a nature walk, or pick some autumn leaves and bring them home to explore in more depth. Next, use the Wildlife Guide by Reader’s Digest or one of the following specialized tree field guides: The First Guide to Trees by Peterson, Audubon’s book about trees, or the Sibley Guide to Trees. You can also get this deck of Tree identification cards with 100 trees from North America by Sibley. Excellent educational resources like these make it easy to help your children learn to identify the leaves and trees in your local neighborhood, park, trail, or nature preserve.

12. Go on a Leaf Hunt:  

Discover other fun ways to go on a leaf hunt with this educational fall leaf idea from Edventures with Kids! Use the printable fall leaf scavenger hunt cards to inspire your children to get outside, practice a little math, and (most of all) enjoy the season’s beauty!

13. Make an Autumn Fall Leaf Mandala:

Use a variety of autumn foliage and fall leaves to make a mandala. Creating a mandala with various colors and types of autumn leaves is a simple outdoor art project that kids and adults of all ages can enjoy making in the fall. Click the link to learn how to make a fall leaf mandala with the step-by-step tutorial on Rhythms of Play. Nature mandalas are fun to make in the autumn, with fall leaves and other seasonal nature treasures throughout the year as one season changes to the next, as shown in the photograph of seasonal nature mandala ideas below:

14. Use Fall Leaves to Make Land Art:

Several other types of land art that can strengthen fine motor skills and encourage creative thinking can be created with fall leaves, such as the leaf mandalas shown above. Using fall leaves and other natural materials to make different forms of outdoor land art, such as animal shapes or other designs. Check out this list of fall nature crafts and these nature art projects and activities for more creative ideas you can make with autumn leaves.

15. Find the Tree That Matches the Leaf:

Visit Confidence Meets Parenting for details on how to play this fun outdoor fall leaf game for kids. This game is fun to play with the trees in the backyard, schoolyard, playground, local park, hiking trail, or outside in nature.

16. Look for Symmetry in Nature:

Turn your next nature walk into a simple lesson in symmetry with this fun fall leaf activity for kids. Use real autumn leaves and other natural items to see if they are symmetrical like the maple leaves in the photograph below. Symmetry is when something is balanced and identical on both sides if you divide it down the middle. Maple leaves often exhibit symmetry because their left and right sides are similar in shape and size when folded in half. This kind of symmetry is called bilateral symmetry. Looking for symmetrical patterns and shapes in the great outdoors is a simple, hands-on way for kids to explore basic math concepts.

17. Go on a Leaf Counting Scavenger Hunt:

This fall leaf scavenger hunt, created by Hands On as We Grow, offers a unique way to count leaves outdoors. Click on the link to learn about this simple leaf-counting twist. Next, invite children to try this fun leaf scavenger hunt idea.

18. Serve the Community:

In the fall, children can serve their community and even earn some money by offering to rake leaves for neighbors. This is especially true for the elderly or those who might have difficulty doing yard work themselves. This simple act teaches responsibility, teamwork, and the importance of helping others while creating community and giving kids a chance to be active outdoors. They can work alone or with friends or siblings, bringing their own rakes and bags, and offering their services with a friendly attitude. Whether they choose to volunteer or charge a small fee, this activity helps children develop a strong work ethic, a healthy growth-mindset (“I can help others,” “My work is worthy,” etc.), and a sense of community pride.

Related: Growth-Mindset Books for Kids That Teach Important Life Lessons

19. Try Leaf Rubbing:

Use the vibrant yellow, gold, orange, and red leaves of various shapes and sizes to make leaf rubbings with crayons. Creating leaf rubbings is a fun and simple outdoor activity for people of all ages, especially during fall when leaves are plentiful. This hands-on activity encourages creativity, helps children connect with nature, and teaches them about the changing seasons.

To start, head outside with a few basic supplies: blank white paper, block crayons (or crayons with the wrappers peeled off), and a clipboard or another hard surface to press on, such as a picnic table. Collect a variety of leaves in different shapes and sizes. Once you’ve gathered your leaves, place one under a sheet of paper on your clipboard.

Hold the paper steady and gently rub the side of a crayon over the leaf. As you rub, the texture and shape of the leaf will appear on the paper. As you work, point out the veins and edges of the leaf for children to observe. Choose another leaf to place under the paper in a new spot and rub the crayon over it. Try using different complementary or contrasting colors with each new leaf to create various effects. Repeat as desired.

20. Collect Leaves for Fall Crafts:

Fall is an excellent time of year to make gorgeous autumn leaf crafts. Whether making a fall leaf crown, creating autumn leaf art, making a glowing leaf lantern, or learning to sew, there are many fun and easy ways to play, learn, and craft with leaves. Encourage the kids to go on a nature walk outside to collect leaves of different colors for fall leaf crafts.

You might also enjoy this list of fall nature craft ideas featuring DIY projects for leaves, acorns, walnuts, shells, twigs, sticks, and more! Fall leaf arts and crafts like these are lovely fall nature craft projects that help kids and adults improve their fine motor skills and develop creativity:

• How to Preserve Leaves
• Autumn Leaf Crown Craft
• DIY Fall Leaf Lantern
• Fall Leaf Sewing for Kids
• Best Fall Art Projects (Contains autumn leaf art ideas)
• Fall Nature Crafts (List fall leaf crafts)
• Turkey Leaf Crafts for Thanksgiving
• Watercolor and Fall Leaves Art
• Heart Leaf Lanterns
• Leaf Baby Craft
• Turkey Leaf Lanterns
• How to Make a Thankful Tree with Real Leaves

Related: Nature Crafts and Nature Activities that Use Natural Materials

Outdoor Fall Leaf Activities for Kids:

With a bit of imagination, a handful of leaves can open up a whole world of fun right in your own backyard. Autumn leaves aren’t just beautiful to look at–they’re perfect for playing, creating, and exploring together. Whether you’re making leaf art at school, tossing leaves in the backyard, or going on a nature walk with your family, fall is full of simple joys waiting to be explored.

Get outside, connect, and have fun playing and learning about leaves this fall with these autumn-themed outdoor activities for kids of all ages! For more entertaining and educational outdoor activities you can enjoy year-round, visit this extensive list of Outdoor Learning Ideas. It includes several fall outdoor activity ideas and nature activities for children and adults of all ages.

The next section of this play guide offers several additional outdoor activity ideas with a fall theme suitable for toddlers, preschoolers, and children of all ages. Please scroll down to see them all! You might enjoy these fall art projects, crafts, and painting ideas.

7 More Fall Outdoor Activities and Autumn Adventures for Toddlers to Teens:

Here are a few more classic outdoor activities (that don’t typically involve leaves) that all ages can enjoy. I thought I would include them here to ensure this guide offers a well-rounded selection of outdoor activities that everyone can enjoy. For several more ideas, be sure to check out this massive list of fall activities, which includes several more outdoor activities you can do in the autumn. Take a break from your screens, breathe in the crisp, fresh air, and reconnect with the simple pleasures of the autumn season with these outdoor fall activities:

1. Fall Nature Hike and Outdoor Fall Scavenger Hunt Ideas:

Invite children on a nature hike into a familiar or unfamiliar area to witness the transformation from fall to winter. Or go on a fall nature hunt with a specific purpose, such as looking for particular flora, fauna, animals, birds, minerals, or rocks, to learn more about them.

Embarking on a fall nature scavenger hunt outdoors is another educational and entertaining activity for kids of all ages during the autumn season. Toddlers, preschoolers, and kindergarteners will most enjoy this Fall Scavenger Hunt activity with a printable.

At the same time, older elementary school-aged children, tweens, teens, and adults are more likely to prefer this more advanced Signs of Autumn scavenger hunt. This educational fall activity includes basic science concepts, such as why leaves change color in the fall, that can help you teach children about autumn. Either of these fall outdoor scavenger hunts is ideal for kids of all ages to enjoy.

You can also encourage toddlers to hunt for natural treasures outside. They could then put them in a fall sensory bin, such as the autumn-themed nature basket shown in the photo below, or collect items to create an autumn nature table. Choose your favorite fall nature scavenger hunt idea and get outside!

2. Visit a Pumpkin Patch:

Go on a field trip to a pumpkin patch near you. There is usually much more to do than pick pumpkins at the pumpkin patch. Other attractions often include a corn maze, a petting zoo with farm animals, hayrides, and other fun fall-themed ideas.

3. Go Apple-Picking:

Plan a field trip to an apple farm this fall to go apple-picking. Picking apples is a fun autumn-themed educational adventure for homeschoolers, families, and schools.

4. Find Your Way Through a Corn Maze:

Have you ever been lost in a corn maze? Please invite friends and family to find their way out of a corn maze this fall. Keep toddlers and preschoolers close so they don’t get lost!

5. Enjoy Bird watching:

Birding is an educational outdoor activity that even toddlers can enjoy. Young children are usually better at identifying and imitating bird calls, sounds, and songs than most adults can. My daughter out-birded me a few times when she was a toddler. Click the link for several bird-watching activities, including a few scavenger hunt activity ideas you can try.

6. Go on a Fall Lantern Walk:

Here’s a meaningful outdoor fall activity idea for kids of all ages, from toddlers to adults. First, put together some simple lanterns. Then, carry them with you on a lantern walk. Click the link to learn more.

7. Outdoor Rainy Day Activities:

Rainy-day activities don’t have to be confined to indoors; send the kids outside to learn and play with this extensive list of outdoor rainy-day activity ideas for toddlers and teens. Outdoor rain activity ideas include making mud pies, playing with bath toys, rain painting, singing in the rain, sensory play ideas, and everyone’s favorite rainy-day activity: jumping in Puddles!

Outdoor Fall Activity Ideas:

I hope you enjoyed these outdoor fall activities for kids. Autumn leaves aren’t just a sign of seasonal change–they’re a canvas for adventures, laughter, and making memories outdoors with family, friends, and classmates. Grab your jackets, gather some leaves, and enjoy this colorful season with fun outdoor activities. Whether you’re jumping into a freshly raked pile of leaves, creating leaf art masterpieces, or going on a nature scavenger hunt, the magic of fall is all around.

As mentioned at the top of this post, you might also enjoy this list of fall activities, which includes printable indoor and outdoor fall activity options for ideas and inspiration. The list has recently been updated, and there are now two printable fall bucket list options to choose from. Consider hanging one on the wall for everyone to enjoy.

The outdoor fall activity ideas on the list include visiting the pumpkin patch or an apple orchard to go apple picking and then make apple cider, carving and decorating pumpkins, birdwatching, spying on squirrels, finding your way through a corn maze, baking bread and other confections with pumpkin spice or cinnamon, painting fall foliage, making autumn arts and crafts with real colorful leaves, and more fall fun for everyone!

Happy fall, ya’ll!

Learn more about Nell Regan Kartychok, author of these outdoor fall activities for kids HERE, and Rhythms of Play HERE!

Autumn Activity Ideas:

Here are a few more fall activity ideas for children of all ages:

• Fall Books for Kids
• Best Fall Art Projects for Kids
• Fall Nature Crafts