Staying Active as a Family
October is the month when so many enjoyable fall activities begin and the options for family fun are endless. With so much to do outdoors, it's easy to help your kiddos get their recommended 60 minutes of physical activity per day to help strengthen muscles, build strong bones and maintain a healthful weight. Plus, it keeps the entire family off electronics, which are important to limit since kids should get no more than 1-2 hours screen time per day, including time on cell phones.
Along with physical activity, fueling growing bodies with nourishing meals and snacks is just as important. Rainy day, fall-inspired activities in the kitchen help get your kids excited about healthful foods while keeping them engaged and learning new skills. Whether you're looking at a 70 and sunny forecast or wet and dreary day, here are some of our top fall activities the whole family can enjoy together.
Visit a Local Farm: Pumpkin or apple picking are both great outdoor activities for kids of all ages, so plan a day trip in advance with family and friends to visit a local farm. Enjoy a scenic hayride or wander around a corn maze together while there. Afterwards, working as a team to collect apples from trees or picking the perfect pumpkin to carve for Halloween is a great way to be active and create family traditions.
Go Leaf Peeping: Take a walk or hike to appreciate the vibrant fall foliage around us. Get children involved by having them point out different hues on the trees and collect leaves of different colors, shapes and sizes. Collecting leaves can also help children practice counting skills.
Get Crafty: Make your own autumn picture book as a family by taping collected leaves into a scrapbook. Or, use them as stamps to make a beautiful fall painting. Crayon rubbings are another fun way to use gathered leaves. Simply put a piece of paper on top of the leaf and rub a crayon over to create an original, and beautiful, work of art.
Spend a Rainy Day in the Kitchen: Baking on a rainy day is a great way to get your kids excited about the food they eat, which can help you raise adventurous eaters. Involve young kids by tasting different apple varieties picked at a farm or purchased from the grocery store. Older children can get involved in the kitchen by cutting apples using age-appropriate knives. For baking inspiration, try the “Frosted” Apple Oatmeal Muffin recipe featured in this month's e-newsletter to make a portable snack for the busy week ahead that the kids can help create.