Enjoying Autumn to the Fullest

When we were kids, we knew how to enjoy the change of the seasons. We’d jump in puddles in the spring and make snow angels in the winter, and have crafty seasonal parties where we would paint paper plate pumpkins or suns, or bizarre turkeys using our hands as a guide (you know what we’re talking about).

As adults, we get to vicariously enjoy it all again through our own kids. And while we still jump in puddles whenever our shoes allow, here are a few of our favorite adult ways to get the most out of autumn with the fam.

Get Outside

Gentle skies, falling leaves, golden fields: nature seems to celebrate when September and October roll around too. Fortunately, most traditional fall activities involve taking in nature at its best. Bundle up the kids and try:

• Wandering through a corn maze.

• Picking apples at an orchard.

• Stopping by the pumpkin patch.

• Visiting a petting zoo.

• Walking through a farmers’ market.

• Hiking through the woods.

Along with allowing us to enjoy the season, it creates a great opportunity to help our kids embrace and appreciate the world’s beauty around them.

Bring Autumn Indoors

As beautiful as nature is, fall is also the perfect time of year to snuggle up inside with a book or a movie. To make your autumnal snuggle sessions all the more special, you can make your bedroom cozier with the change of season. That means autumnal décor.

Fall interior design can be bright and fun or understated and elegant, depending on your preference. For a subtle seasonal nod, you can add a fall wreath to the door or seasonal flowers to your table display, like marigolds or sunflowers. Or you can have the kids create a spooky, Halloween-themed haunted house.

Embrace Fall Fashion

Fall also marks the start of a new season in fashion, so updating your wardrobe is another great way to welcome the season. Here are a few traits that mark fall fashion to help start the process:

• Focus on darker, neutral colors as a base.

• Add pops of fall-inspired colors like red, yellow, and orange.

• Embrace layers.

• Break out fall shoes, like boots and sneakers.

• Top off the outfit with fall accessories, like wide-brimmed hats, scarves, or autumnal earrings.

When in doubt, you can’t go wrong with pulling out your favorite comfy flannel shirt or an oversized sweater for a comfortable look that screams fall.

Slow Down

Finding ways to enjoy fall to its fullest doesn’t have to look like going to a pumpkin patch or finding the perfect pair of leather boots. Sometimes, it’s a matter of sitting on the front porch and watching the leaves fill the yard or savoring the feeling of the cool air against your skin.

Enjoyment isn’t an activity; it’s a state of mind. It’s appreciating the things that are right in front of us. We can do that, whether we’re a ten-year-old or mother to a ten-year-old.