While the rest of the world is gearing up for fall fun, we are still coping with our nearly endless summer weather in the state of Florida. But as hot as it is, we won’t let the heat keep us from diving into fall with the rest of the world. As parents, it’s easy to let the fall season slip by with beginning-of-the-school-year responsibilities. But there is so much great fun to be had during this time of the year. We’ve curated a list fall fun parenting tips to help you get started.
1. Be In Nature
As the weather begins to cool, and it will eventually, outside is the best place to be during fall weather. The combination of cool breezes and the warm sun are perfect in the coming months. In Central Florida, we are fortunate to be surrounded by some amazing natural wonders. In every direction, there are bodies of water, from oceans and springs to lakes and rivers. There is hardly a dry area in the state. For most of our fall, it’s still nice enough to swim, so take advantage of the temperate climate we’re so blessed to have!
Fall ushers in many fun outdoor activities like apple picking, corn mazes, and pumpkin patches. Keep your eye out for events like this in your area. They’re usually an inexpensive way to get your family outdoors to enjoy the weather. But don’t stop there. Fall is also when beautiful leaves and pine cones fall from trees and litter the ground below. Take your family to any park in the area and start a collection. Perhaps you could turn them into a craft? More on that later!
2. Cozy At Home
As an alternative, fall is a great time to cozy up with your family in front of a warm fire. After you’ve spent a long day outside enjoying the weather, cuddle up with a mug of hot cocoa and your favorite indoor activity. Some families love to watch movies, while other families are more into playing games. Regardless of your preference, the idea is that you enjoy spending time together.
Some other great indoor fall activities are pumpkin carving, making yummy snacks like caramel apples, pies, or cookies. Try having a picnic dinner on the floor of your living room or decorating for the fall season with the whole family. There are so many ways to enjoy fall inside this year, even if it’s just a movie night with fall treats. Keep it simple and stay cool with a seasonal flavor of ice cream or make frozen coffee-free versions of popular fall drinks for everyone!
3. Crafty And Creative
Some of our favorite indoor fall activities are crafts. Exploring their creativity is a fun and easy way to keep your family occupied all year round, but fall brings a new twist to it. Remember all of those fun fall leaves, pinecones, and acorns you collected outside with your kids. Let’s turn them into something fun! With a little bit of glue and some construction paper, your kids can take those items and turn them into a fall masterpiece. Let them go wild, use their imagination, and create something beautiful out of the change in seasons.
Two fun holidays happen during the fall season, Halloween and Thanksgiving. In the spirit of Halloween, work together with your kids to design and execute a creative costume. It takes a little bit more time than buying one off the rack, but it’s a fun and cost-effective way to spend time together being creative. When Thanksgiving rolls around, and you begin formulating your family plans, work with your kids to create table settings and decorations to make the family table feel fun and festive.
4. Act Like A Tourist
When you’ve lived in a place long enough, it’s easy to forget why other people fall in love with it. The tourism economy in Florida is flourishing and tells us that people worldwide think this is an extraordinary place to be. Find some ways this fall to experience your community with fresh eyes. Here are some things that will help you.
Have you ever stayed in a hotel in your hometown? Most of us probably haven’t, but this is a great way to experience your town with fresh eyes. In DeLand, we welcome families to town for various fun, fall events like Monsters on Mainstreet and the Fall Festival of the Arts. This activity doesn’t have to be limited to the community where you live. Choose a small town nearby that you’d like to know better and rent a room for the weekend for the whole family.
Another fun and more expensive way to enjoy Florida as a tourist is to visit the various theme parks around the state. Disney is one of the most well-known attractions globally, and it’s only an hour from here. Take a day trip to visit some of our most popular attractions. But if that isn’t in the budget for you, fall is a great time to see some of Florida’s beautiful historical sites. From the Spanish forts in St. Augustine to the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex just south of us, there are some incredible places to visit around Florida where brave explorers made history.
Some people would argue that fall is the best time of the year. While we’re not willing to take a side on the issue, we agree that pumpkin spice and cozy sweaters are a nice respite from the heat of a Florida summer. This fall, there are so many fun ways for your family to enjoy spending time together, and this list is intentionally inclusive of families with any type of budget. From the St. Barnabas Episcopal School family to your family, we hope you enjoy every moment of the coming months. Take a look through past blog posts for other seasonal ideas. And to learn more about admission to our school, contact us!
