Sensory autumn activities for skills development

Injecting seasonal activities into play and leisure time is great way to invigorate routines and keep our kids motivated and engaged in activities that support their development. With the arrival of Autumn comes cooler days, a new canvas of colours and sensory experiences that we can use for inspiration. Here are some ideas to try that focus on sensory exploration, speech & language skills, and motor skills development.

Nature walks

Take a stroll through parks or natural trails where children can experience the sights, sounds, and textures of autumn. Encourage them to feel the crunch of fallen leaves under their feet, listen to the rustling of branches, and observe the changing colours of the foliage. To help speech & language skills, talk about the sights and sounds of autumn; describe what you see, hear, smell, and feel using descriptive words (e.g., “crunchy leaves,” “rustling branches,” “cool breeze”).

Leaf art

Collect fallen leaves of different shapes, sizes, and colours during your outdoor excursions to use for art projects at home. Activities like leaf rubbing, painting, or creating collages with leaves can enhance fine motor skills, creativity, and colour recognition.

Apple picking

Visit orchards for apple picking adventures (or whatever fruit is in season in your state!) Encourage your child to touch, smell, and taste different apple varieties. Sorting apples by colour or size can improve cognitive skills, while the sensory experience of picking and handling apples fosters fine motor development.

Autumn-themed sensory bins

Create sensory bins filled with autumn-themed materials such as dried corn, small pumpkins, acorns, or pinecones. These bins offer tactile stimulation and can be customised to target specific sensory needs, such as providing calming sensory input or promoting sensory exploration.

Seasonal story-telling

Use autumn-themed story prompts or books to inspire storytelling sessions. Encourage them to narrate stories using descriptive language, sequencing words (e.g., “first,” “next,” “then”), and expressive speech. This activity supports narrative skills, imagination, and language fluency.

Leap into leaf piles

Grab a rake and pile up all those fallen leaves for some fabulous sensory, gross motor fun!

Letter leaf fun

The focus is on paper leaves for this activity rather than the real ones. Write letters of the alphabet on paper leaves and hide them around your home or outdoor space. As your child finds each leaf, encourage them to identify the letter, say its sound, and think of words that start with that letter. This activity promotes letter recognition, phonemic awareness, and vocabulary development.

Autumn-themed dance session

Create a dance or movement session with autumn-themed music and movements. Encourage your child to express themselves through dance, rhythmic movements, or gestures that reflect seasonal elements like falling leaves, wind, or harvest motions. This activity promotes gross motor skills, coordination, and creative expression.