The cool weather and changing season are synonymous with cozy fall activities for so many families. Something about that crisp autumn air and a nice sweater seems to draw us indoors underneath fluffy blankets with hot mugs of coffee, tea, cider, or hot cocoa. For families, the season is the perfect time to gather and spend some time dialing up the coziness together.
Here are some ways to encourage relaxation and connection this fall.
Discover cozy fall activities the whole family can enjoy this season!
Make Hot Homemade Treats
Just-baked apple pies cooling on the stovetop. The taste of pumpkin spice on a cool autumn day. Does it get much cozier than that?
Spend a few hours in the kitchen making your favorite fall treats with family or whip up something quick like hot chocolate with marshmallows or spiced cider.
These treats can take an autumn day spent at home to new levels of coziness!
Read a Book
Now that you and your children have a warm mug or freshly baked treat in your hands, spend an hour reading together. Just being in the same room while you each enjoy your own reading can help bring the family together while letting everyone relax and enjoy their own books.
Pillow Fort Storytime
If you want to turn up the cozy dial even higher, we recommend bundling up on a cold or rainy fall day, building a pillow fort, and snuggling up together for story time. It doesn’t get much cozier than that!
Try Knitting, Crocheting, or Weaving
Knitting and crocheting are relaxing and highly practical skills that are perfect for fall days spent indoors. They can be paired with a family movie night or just an afternoon reclining on the couch.
For younger children, weaving is a great introduction to the fiber arts. A simple weaving board can be made from cardboard and yarn and occupy children for hours.
These crafts can be especially beneficial for children who like to keep their hands and fingers occupied.
Go for a Scenic Drive
Cozy fall activities don’t require you to stay at home.
For this autumn adventure, dress everyone in their warmest flannels and chunkiest sweaters and head out on a drive. Search for country roads draped in the yellows and oranges from turning trees, go for a walk in a local forest, or find a farmstand to pick out some fall staples such as cider donuts, pumpkins, apple cider, or pies.
Sometimes going out during the day makes those fall evenings spent indoors feel even more homey!
Game Night
Set up a weekly game night for the fall. You can rotate games each week or stick to a family favorite. A few fun ideas include charades, fishbowl, board games, puzzles, and card games.
Build a Fire
If your home has a fireplace, make a fire at night or on a cool fall afternoon. It makes the perfect setting for reading, puzzles, family game night, or just spending some time relaxing together.
If you have space in the yard, you might also consider having a bonfire on a crisp fall evening. Bonus points if you pick a clear night when you can see the stars!
Learn how hosting an au pair can help your family make more time for cozy moments together this fall.
While most parents would love nothing more than to spend their free time getting cozy at home with their kids, work and childcare responsibilities often make it hard to find the time.
For parents who host an au pair, it’s easier to share childcare responsibilities and find meaningful moments with the children—rather than spending most of your time together rushing them to and from school, appointments, and after-school activities.
In addition to providing flexible, live-in childcare support, au pairs can introduce new recipes, stories, crafts, and traditions from their home countries, adding a unique cultural element to the fall activities your family already enjoys.
If you’re interested in learning how hosting an au pair with Au Pair in America® can help your family enjoy more quality time together, explore our program and browse available au pairs on our website.
