Autumn might just be the best season for keeping kids entertained without spending a penny. The parks are full of conkers, crunchy leaves and puddles, and all you need is a pair of wellies and a bit of imagination.
I’ve rounded up our favourite free autumn activities for kids of every age, from toddlers to teens. To make it even easier, I’ve put together a free printable Autumn Adventure Pack with nature bingo, a leaf colour hunt, a tree diary, a teen photo challenge and more. Just print it, pop it on a clipboard and head outside.
Free outdoor autumn activities
1. Autumn nature bingo
Nature bingo turns any walk into a game. Each square has something to spot, from a conker to a robin, and the first to get a line (or a full house) wins. Our printable bingo card uses pictures, so even toddlers who can’t read yet can join in.
Best for: ages 2+ | In the pack: ?
2. Make a nature bracelet
This is the simplest craft you’ll ever do, and kids love it. Wrap a strip of masking tape around your child’s wrist with the sticky side facing out, then let them collect tiny leaves, petals, seeds and feathers to stick on as they walk. By the end, they’ll have a bracelet full of autumn treasures. Older kids can try a crown instead, using a longer strip of tape.
Best for: ages 3+ | In the pack: ? (with bracelet challenges)
3. Leaf colour hunt
Did you know you can find purple leaves in autumn? The colour hunt challenges kids to find every autumn shade they can, from bright green to deep crimson, and stick a leaf in each box. It’s brilliant for getting children to really look at what’s around them.
Best for: ages 3+ | In the pack: ?
4. Conker hunting (and a proper game of conkers)
No autumn is complete without a conker hunt. Little ones can count them, sort them by size or line them up, while older kids can have a traditional game of conkers. A grown-up makes a hole through the middle with a skewer, then thread through some string, tie a knot, and take turns trying to smash your opponent’s conker.
Best for: all ages | Safety: conkers aren’t edible and can make children and dogs poorly, so keep an eye on little ones.
5. Adopt a tree
Choose a tree near home or school and “adopt” it for the year. Give it a name, draw it, take a bark rubbing and count how many hugs it takes to get your arms around the trunk. Then come back each season to see how it changes. It’s a lovely way to teach kids about the seasons, and they’ll be surprisingly attached to “their” tree.
Best for: ages 4+ | In the pack: ? (with a diary page for every season)
6. Puddle jumping (with a twist)
Put the wellies on and head out after a rainy day. To make it more than just splashing, try measuring puddles with sticks, finding the deepest one, or seeing who can make the biggest splash. Afterwards, look for reflections, which tie in perfectly with the teen photo challenge.
Best for: all ages (grown-ups included!)
7. Stick boat races
Find a stream or a bridge and have a Poohsticks race, or challenge kids to build a boat from sticks, leaves and bark and see whose floats the longest. Simple, free and hours of fun.
Best for: ages 3+
8. Build a hedgehog home
Autumn is when hedgehogs look for somewhere cosy to hibernate. Pick a quiet corner of the garden and help your kids build a pile of logs, sticks and dry leaves to create a hideaway. It’s a free and genuinely helpful activity, and a great way to talk about wildlife.
Best for: ages 4+
9. Leaf art and nature mandalas
Collect fallen leaves, sticks, berries and pine cones, then arrange them into patterns on the ground: circles, spirals, faces or animals. Take a photo of your creation before the wind has its way with it!
Best for: ages 3+
10. Make a journey stick
Before your walk, find a sturdy stick and wrap a few elastic bands or some wool around it. As you go, children tuck in things they find along the way, like a feather from the woods or a leaf from the park. Back at home, use the stick to retell the story of your walk.
Best for: ages 4+
Rainy day autumn activities indoors
11. Leaf rubbings
Leaf rubbings are perfect for a drizzly afternoon. Place a leaf under a sheet of paper, bumpy side up, and rub over it gently with the side of a crayon to reveal the veins and shape. Try using two colours for a fiery autumn effect. Our printable rubbing gallery has six frames ready to fill.
Best for: ages 3+ | In the pack: ?
12. Press your favourite leaves
Pop your best leaves between sheets of kitchen roll inside a heavy book and leave them for a week or two. Once they’re flat, you can use them for cards, bookmarks or a window display.
Best for: ages 3+
13. Clear tape suncatchers
Lay a strip of wide clear parcel tape sticky side up, arrange small leaves and petals on it, then seal it with a second strip on top. Stick it to a window and watch the light shine through.
Best for: ages 3+
14. Conker and acorn maths
For little learners, your autumn finds make perfect counting objects. Sort them by size, count them into groups, make patterns or play “how many in my hand?” It’s maths without them even noticing.
Best for: ages 2–6
Autumn activities for teenagers
15. Autumn photo challenge
Teens might roll their eyes at nature bingo, but hand them a phone and a challenge list and it’s a different story. Our photo challenge has 16 shots to find, from the reddest leaf to a reflection in a puddle and steam rising from a hot chocolate. Make it a family competition: everyone shoots on the same walk, then shares their best three at home for a vote.
Best for: ages 11+ (and competitive grown-ups) | In the pack: ?
Autumn nature safety tips
A few simple rules keep autumn adventures safe and fun:
- Look, don’t touch mushrooms and toadstools, as some are poisonous.
- Don’t eat anything you find. Berries, conkers and acorns can all make children (and dogs) unwell.
- Only collect what’s already fallen, and leave living plants to grow.
- Wash hands after collecting, especially before snacks.
- Leave wildlife in peace. Take a photo of nests and creatures instead of taking them home.
Download your free Autumn Adventure Pack
Our free printable pack includes nature bingo, bracelet challenges, a leaf colour hunt, a leaf rubbing gallery, an adopt-a-tree diary, a teen photo challenge and an Autumn Explorer certificate for your little adventurers.
If you’re looking for more seasonal fun, try our free Halloween treasure hunt printable, or find the best pumpkin patches around Manchester for a family day out this October.
Autumn activities FAQs
What can kids do in autumn for free?
Autumn is full of free activities, from nature bingo, conker hunting and leaf rubbings to puddle jumping, building a hedgehog home and making nature bracelets with tape. Most just need a walk to your local park.
Are conkers poisonous?
Conkers aren’t safe to eat and can make children and pets poorly, so supervise little ones who might put them in their mouths. They’re perfectly fine to collect, count and play with.
What autumn activities are good for teenagers?
Teens often enjoy activities with a challenge or creative element, like an autumn photo challenge, a competitive game of conkers or a stick boat race.
Which is your family’s favourite free autumn activity? Let us know in the comments, and tag us if you try the Autumn Adventure Pack!
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