by Alexandra Dorian

Created on: September 11, 2008   Last Updated: September 17, 2008

Fall is a magical time. Crisp air, soft sweaters and the dazzling display of foliage make it wonderful to enjoy the outdoors. The lingering days of autumn provide a bounty of options. Nature's free gift of vibrant reds, yellows and oranges dotting the landscape can be enjoyed by every member of the family.

Children can especially find joy in the season and even learn something in the process. Start your day at the local library. Check out a few guides on tree species, and make sure to pack notebooks, crayons, pencils and glue, before heading out. On the ride to a park, kids can look through the books and find interesting trees and leaf shapes. The hunt to find them in nature will be on! A hike through a leaf-covered path can provide tons of specimens for examination. Encourage children to find a leaf of every color and many different shapes and sizes. It's a fun way to learn the names of common trees. After gathering some great leaves, find a picnic table or lay out a blanket and play show & tell with the day's discoveries. Try identifying each leaf type with the guide books. Arts and crafts easily lend themselves to a fall day of fun. Create leaf rubbings with some paper and crayons, or make a surroundings inspired drawing. Children will be delighted with a souvenir scrapbook. Glue each leaf on separate pages in a notebook and have kids label them, or find perfect descriptions for each distinct shape. They won't even realize they're learning while enjoying fall!

A day of autumn entertainment doesn't mean straying far from the backyard. Raking leaves can be hours of amusement. Buying child-size rakes includes children in this activity, which they are certain to have more energy for than adults. A pile of fresh leaves just begs for you to jump in. Make sure piles are not swept onto hard surfaces, like a driveway, before anyone takes a dive. If you live in an area were ticks are a concern, dress in long sleeves, pants, pull socks up and tightly tie sneakers. A quick skin check at the end of the day can ensure those nasty little critters are kept away.

Fall holidays are a great tie-in for foliage. Collect leaves and incorporate them into crafts for Columbus Day (Oct 13), Halloween (Oct 31) or even Thanksgiving (Nov 27). A turkey's tail is so colorful made out of bright red and orange leaves. Fallen foliage from the Sassafras tree looks eerily like a sheet-covered ghost. There's little need to worry about mess since these crafts are perfectly suited to a deck or patio table. Bring on the paste, glitter and sticky fingers! Pumpkin carving in the open air is a quintessential way to appreciate all of fall's offerings.

Autumn brings a once a year kaleidoscope of color. One weekend of outdoor adventure and crafts is a brilliant way for the entire family to appreciate Nature's beauty and create lasting memories.

Learn more about this author, Alexandra Dorian.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.