Ah, autumn. Or fall, if you’re reading this from across the pond. It’s that time of year when the mornings suddenly smell crisp, your neighbours start putting up pumpkins far too early, and you convince yourself that buying three new scented candles is “essential” for your wellbeing. For mums, though, autumn can be a double-edged sword. On one hand, cosy evenings, hot drinks, and kids finally back at school (hallelujah). On the other hand, the shorter days mean more time indoors, and the dreaded chorus of “Muuuuum, I’m bored” echoing through the house before you’ve even had your coffee. So, let’s strike a balance. Here are five free (or nearly free) autumn activities that will keep the little ones entertained, give your house that cosy Pinterest-worthy glow, and maybe even allow you five uninterrupted minutes with your hot chocolate before someone spills it on the sofa.  

🍂 1. Leaf Collecting Adventures: Nature’s Free Art Supplies

There’s something magical about leaves in autumn. They’re bright, crunchy, and bonus — they cost nothing. Think of it as free craft supplies scattered across your street. In Newcastle, you’ve got Jesmond Dene, Town Moor, and Exhibition Park, all practically carpeted in shades of red, orange, and gold. In the US, chances are your local park, or even your front garden, will do the trick thanks to those big maple and oak trees. Hand each child a bag and send them on a “leaf treasure hunt.” Once home, you can press the best ones between heavy books, glue them onto paper to create leaf collages, or even string them into garlands. If you really want to look like an overachiever, laminate them for bookmarks. Meanwhile, you get to pat yourself on the back for providing an “educational science activity” while really just enjoying a quiet walk with your coffee.  

🎃 2. The Great Pumpkin Hunt (Budget-Friendly Edition)

Now, I know pumpkin patches are all the rage. In the US, they’re basically Disneyland with hayrides, corn mazes, and cinnamon doughnuts. In the UK… let’s just say they’re catching up. But here’s the thing: a family day out at one of these patches can cost more than your weekly food shop. Here’s the hack: buy two or three pumpkins from Aldi, Lidl, Walmart, or wherever is cheapest, and hide them in your garden or living room for your very own pumpkin hunt. It’s like an Easter egg hunt but without the sugar rush. The kids will shriek with delight when they find a pumpkin “hiding” behind the garden bench or under a blanket indoors. Stick googly eyes on one of them, and suddenly it’s a haunted pumpkin with a story to tell. It’s silly, memorable, and about 90% cheaper than a patch outing.  

☕ 3. Turn Your Kitchen Into a Cosy Café

There’s something about autumn that makes us crave café vibes: steaming mugs, warm lighting, and the faint smell of cinnamon. Trouble is, a round of pumpkin spice lattes for the family can set you back enough to question your life choices. So, recreate the magic at home. Let the kids design little menus with crayons and folded paper — “Hot Chocolate £1,” “Marshmallows 50p.” Then set up a DIY café: hot chocolates topped with cream, some bagels, or scones if you’re feeling fancy. Put on a candle (out of toddler reach), dim the lights a little, and add an acoustic playlist. What you get is not just snacks, but an experience. The kids love playing “waiter,” you save money, and you don’t have to drag a buggy through Starbucks in the rain.  

🍪 4. Baking Something (That Only Looks Seasonal)

Pinterest will tell you to bake pumpkin bread, spiced apple muffins, or maple pecan pies. But let’s be honest: sometimes the kids just want cupcakes. So here’s the trick — make your usual cupcakes, dye the icing orange, sprinkle cinnamon on top, and call them “Harvest Cakes.” Voilà, autumnal enough. If you’re in the US, go ahead and chuck candy corn on top the kids will think it’s magical. In the UK, we can stick to a dusting of icing sugar and maybe some edible glitter if you’re feeling brave. The real fun, of course, is letting the kids “help.” Yes, it means your kitchen will look like a flour bomb went off, but the memory is worth it (and so is the sugar hit you get while “taste-testing”). End the session with a family movie like Hocus Pocus or Paddington 2 for a proper autumn evening.  

✂️ 5. Crafting With Sticks, Pinecones, and Whatever Else the Kids Drag Home

Every parent knows this truth: children will find the stick. The one stick they cannot possibly live without. It will come home with you, and it will be added to your already growing collection of “special sticks” by the door. This autumn, embrace it. Collect pinecones, acorns, and sticks during your walks, and then turn them into crafts. Glue googly eyes onto pinecones to make hedgehogs. Wrap yarn around sticks to make “wand crafts.” String acorns into necklaces if you’ve got patient kids. You don’t need expensive craft supplies when the outdoors is basically handing you a free box of materials. Display the creations proudly on your mantelpiece for at least a week, or until Grandma visits and says something politely vague like, “Oh, how… creative.”  

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Autumn doesn’t need to be a budget-busting season filled with expensive outings and Instagram-perfect decorations. With a little imagination, a few pinecones, and a willingness to accept that your floor will now permanently be covered in crunchy leaves, you can create traditions your kids will actually remember. 

So whether you call it fall or autumn, the important bit is the same: making time to slow down, get outside while you can, and bring the season’s magic home. And if you manage to drink your hot chocolate while it’s still hot? That’s the real win of the season.

xoxo