Fall is a season filled with rich sensory experiences, from the vibrant colors of changing leaves to cooler air and unique scents like cinnamon and apples. While many enjoy these sensory delights, children with sensory sensitivities may find the transition from summer to autumn overwhelming.
At Meemzy Magic, we believe that every child should be able to comfortably engage with the world around them. So, we created a list of fall-themed activities that allow children to enjoy the season while still staying within their sensory comfort zones.
Creating a Sensory-Safe Environment for Fall Activities
Before engaging in any activities, it is essential to create a sensory-safe environment for your child. This might mean adjusting lighting, sounds, and textures to help avoid overstimulation.
Some excellent ways to create a sensory-safe environment include:
- Use soft, ambient lighting instead of harsh overhead lights.
- Keep background noises low by opting for soothing fall nature sounds like the rustling of leaves or the gentle whistle of the wind.
- When it comes to decorating, avoid flashing lights and decorations with intense textures.
- Incorporating soft fabrics, smooth pumpkins, and gentle colors can help create a calm space for your child to enjoy the season.
Setting up a sensory-friendly environment will create a foundation for a successful and stress-free fall experience.
Sensory-Friendly Fall Play Ideas
Children learn through play, and fall offers countless opportunities to explore the season’s unique textures, sights, and smells in a way that won’t overwhelm them. Some sensory-friendly fall play ideas include:
Autumn Sensory Bins
Create sensory bins filled with fall items like dried corn kernels, acorns, pinecones, and artificial leaves. Adjust the materials based on your child’s comfort level. Choose soft, dry items for those who avoid sticky or wet textures, or offer gloves if they’re curious but need an extra barrier.
Pumpkin Exploration
Let children explore the exterior and interior of pumpkins at their own pace. If your child is sensitive to slimy textures, they can touch the seeds and pulp with gloves or use tools to scoop them. You can also opt for smooth, artificial pumpkins to avoid the mess altogether or opt for an activity like painting pumpkins instead.
Calm Leaf Sorting Activity
Leaf sorting is a gentle, engaging way to appreciate nature. This activity involves collecting leaves and sorting them by color or shape. It’s a calm, repetitive action that allows focused play without sensory overload. Collecting the leaves together beforehand is another excellent way to get your child out in nature and help them enjoy the beauty of autumn.
Gentle Fall Scent Exploration
Scents like cinnamon, vanilla, and apple are synonymous with fall, but for children with sensitivities to smell, it’s important to keep things subtle. Explore these scents using lightly scented oils, candles, or even natural items like cinnamon sticks. You can let them be involved in making apple cider and experiment with adding cinnamon to it to explore fall-through taste as well.
Engaging the Senses with Fall-Themed Crafts
Crafting is another wonderful way to stimulate the senses in a controlled, safe manner. The following activities allow children to explore fall through touch, sight, and creativity:
Tactile Leaf Rubbings
Encourage children to place leaves under a sheet of paper and rub over them with crayons. This activity allows them to feel the different textures indirectly while also creating beautiful fall art. Feeling things indirectly is an excellent way to introduce a new texture in a non-pressured environment.
Soft Fabric Pumpkins
Have children make pumpkins out of soft fabric materials like felt or fleece. This activity lets them engage with the texture of the fabric without discomfort, creating their own sensory-friendly fall decorations. When you are finished, work together to find somewhere to display their creations to help them feel confident and accomplished about what they created.
Sensory-Friendly Fall Wreaths
Create fall wreaths using soft materials such as felt leaves, foam pumpkins, and gentle ribbons. These materials allow children to engage in crafting without dealing with rough or uncomfortable textures. If your child wants, they can hang their wreath on their door so they can enjoy it all season long.
Movement-Based Activities for Sensory Regulation
Movement is essential for sensory regulation, and fall offers plenty of opportunities. The weather tends to be more enjoyable than the summer and winter months, and there are new sights and sensations they won’t get in other seasons. Some excellent movement-based activities include:
Nature Walks
Taking a slow, mindful walk through a fall landscape can be a soothing rather than overwhelming sensory experience. Encourage your child to observe the colors of the trees, listen to the sound of leaves crunching underfoot, and feel the cool breeze against their skin. If possible, choose quieter, less crowded paths to help maintain a calm environment.
Fall Obstacle Course
Set up a sensory-friendly obstacle course using soft hay bales, leaf piles, and non-slippery paths. Incorporate activities like gentle swinging or balance challenges that help children with sensory regulation. This is a great way for children to move while staying within their sensory comfort zone.
Calming Fall-Themed Sensory Play
Calming play is just as important as active play, especially for easily overstimulated children. It’s also an excellent way to wind down after school and other activities. Two options we love include:
Weighted Blankets & Fall Storytime
Create a cozy corner with a weighted blanket for deep-pressure sensory input. Pair it with a fall-themed storytime, selecting books that feature the calming aspects of autumn, like gentle rain or the quiet changing of the seasons. This combination helps children feel grounded and secure.
Autumn-Themed Sensory Bottles
Create calming sensory bottles by filling them with non-toxic liquids, glitter, and small fall objects like plastic leaves or pumpkins. These bottles can be shaken or swirled to help calm children when they are feeling overstimulated. Plus, the soft movements inside the bottle are soothing to watch.
Start Enjoying Fall-Themed Activities with Your Child Today!
Fall is a season of exploration and beauty, and every child deserves the opportunity to experience it in a safe and comfortable way. Incorporating sensory-friendly activities into your routine will help your child fully engage with fall without overwhelming their senses. Whether crafting, playing, or simply enjoying a quiet walk through the changing leaves, these activities provide a sensory-rich yet calming experience.
For more ideas on sensory-friendly activities and products, explore Meemzy Magic’s Sensory Kits and take the guesswork out of creating the perfect autumn experience for your child.