Children will love these fun fall leaves counting games for kids. Invite Children to catch and count fall leaves as they drop to the ground during the autumn months for a fun outdoor gross motor movement and math activity for kids!
My daughter and I have made fall leaves counting games out of catching and counting autumn leaves as they dance to the ground that she loves to play!
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Fall Leaf Counting Games for Kids
Invite children to get outside to catch and count falling leaves as they tumble and dance to the ground. It’s a very simple yet fun outdoor counting game that my daughter loves to play.
There are many ways to play depending on the age of your child and their ability to count. You can even make up your own way to play.
If your child isn’t ready to count or doesn’t want to play fall leaf counting games don’t force it. Catching fall leaves is an environment ripe with opportunities to learn on its own, counting games or not.
Learning can happen naturally when children are allowed to play and engage with what interests them.
Catching falling leaves is a fantastic activity for gross motor learning, hand-eye coordination, and sensory input of all kinds whether they are counting or not! Go ahead, invite the kids to try fall leaves counting games and see what happens.
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Outdoor Leaf Counting Activities for Kids
One of the best things about the fall is the breezy days when the leaves rain down upon the Earth. It’s such a magical time of year filled with warm colors and the soft light of autumn.
My daughter and I started playing fall leaf counting games when I invited her to try to catch leaves in our backyard one day as they fell to the ground. Before I knew it a half an hour had passed in a hundred and one blissful squeals.
When she was finished she asked me how many leaves she had caught. “How many leaves did I catch mommy?” She asked excitedly.
I had absolutely NO idea… I stole a few moments while she was happily engaged in this nature play activity. It was lovely!
She was not happy about this. Mommy should have known the answer to how many fall leaves she caught before they hit the ground, and I did not–whoops!
The next time she wanted to play fall leaves counting games I was ready for the “how many leaves” question.
Before she started, I asked her to run over to make a mark on our outdoor chalkboard each time she caught an autumn leaf before it fell to the ground.
Making a mark after catching each leaf made the game even more exciting for my daughter. Running to the chalkboard to draw another line on the chalkboard became a reward for her because she did not catch very many.
When she was done catching falling leaves she could look at how many marks she had made and count them to know how many leaves she had caught.
How many autumn leaves can you catch before they fall to the ground?
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Fall Leaf Counting Outdoor Gross Motor Activities and Math Games for Kids
If you have more than one child they can choose to make it a competition, or they can make up their own way to play. Allow children to work out their own rules. This will add a social-emotional component to this gross motor activity and math game for kids.
On a day when the leaves are falling invite your children to try to catch and count the falling leaves!
Related: Fall Leaf Art Project for Kids and Teens
Autumn Leaves Counting Activity for Children
Fall leaves counting games are fun for children of all ages. Children can learn through play with these fun gross motor movement and math activities for kids.
This fall leaves counting activity is fun for all ages. Learning can happen naturally when children are allowed to play, catch, and count leaves.
Follow the lead of your child and you can’t go wrong. For more fun ways to play with fall leaves outside click on the link!
Related: The Best Fall Art Projects for Kids
More Outdoor Fall Leaves Activities for Kids
For more fun fall outdoor leaf activities, pop over to have a look at 10 Fun Ways to Play with Fall Leaves Outside!
More Fun Ideas for Playing and Creating with Real Fall Leaves
- Fall Leaf Lacing
- Watercolor and Fall Leaves Art
- Heart Leaf Lanterns
- Turkey Leaf Lanterns
- How to Make a Thankful Tree with Real Leaves
- Leaf Baby Craft
- Best Fall Nature Crafts (Includes leaf crafts that use real fall leaves)
Outside Nature Activities for Kids and Families
You may also enjoy this collection of outside learning ideas and nature activities for kids.
Learn more about Rhythms of Play HERE!
Don’t forget to check out our Fall Bucket List of Fun Activities and Crafts!
We moved into our first house this past spring, so this is our first fall here and I am in love with it! We have a huge elm tree and a few pecan trees and they are just “raining” leaves. You would think they would be bare by now, but nope not even close lol….I can’t wait to watch my little one catch the falling leaves! Great idea! 🙂
I’m so glad that you have the opportunity to enjoy autumn leaves raining to the ground in your own backyard. I hope your little one enjoyed catching and counting fall leaves!
Playing with leaves is one of our favorite parts of fall, and I love all the learning potential! Thanks for sharing, Nell.
Ours too! There are so many fun ways to play and learn with leaves.