After the long days and relaxed schedules of summer, fall offers the chance to get back into a natural rhythm that makes room for family time. One of the best ways to get started is by creating intentional fall family traditions that bring everyone together throughout the season.
Below, we’ll go over how to make the most of fall with 10 family traditions you can come back to every year.
Discover simple fall family traditions that can help your family connect, create memories, and make the most of the season together.
1. Celebrate the First Day of Fall
Make the first day of fall something special every year. Toward the end of September, when everyone is finally getting into the swing of the school year, it’s the perfect time to come together and celebrate the season with a delicious meal or a favorite fall activity.
While some families may choose to celebrate the autumnal equinox (which generally lands on September 21 – 24), others may prefer to wait for that first cool, crisp day that really feels like the season has begun.
2. Take a Family Fall Photo
Choose a weekend each autumn to take a family photo in the same location. This could be under your favorite tree in the backyard, the local orchard your family loves to visit, the beach, or at your front door.
Over time, you’ll create a visual record of how your family has grown while preserving memories from each season.
And while the kids may not think it’s the most exciting tradition in the moment, as they grow older, they’ll cherish the yearly photos that show how you’ve all grown and changed as a family.
For the best results, we recommend pairing this fall family tradition with another, such as…
3. Visit a Local Pumpkin Patch and Orchard
Nothing says fall quite like a visit to your local pumpkin patch and apple orchard. It’s a fun outdoor fall activitythat can be enjoyed by children of all ages.
Once everyone has a basket (and belly) full of delicious apples, spend some time exploring the grounds. Oftentimes, apple orchards offer other activities such as hayrides or family-friendly games. And they almost always have a selection of pumpkins to choose from.
Let everyone choose their own and keep the fall family traditions going back at home with #4.
4. Carve Pumpkins
Pumpkin carving is another classic fall family tradition that’s fun for everyone. Kid-friendly pumpkin carving kits are available and include tools without sharp edges, making it easy for children to safely get creative.
Once the pumpkins are carved, take this fall tradition to the next level by washing the seeds, lightly coating them with cooking oil and salt, and roasting them until they’re golden-brown.
5. Create a Seasonal Memory Box
Throughout the season, collect small reminders of your family’s fall experiences: colorful leaves, ticket stubs from local events, photographs, drawings, or notes about favorite memories.
At the end of the season, place them in a keepsake box and revisit them the following year. Doing so can help reignite favorite memories from the year prior and get everyone excited for what’s to come!
6. Choose a Fall Read-Aloud Book
Reading together can be a fun fall family activity, regardless of the children’s age. For example, if you have a family with children of varying ages, an older child may enjoy doing the reading while the younger ones listen.
Select one book each autumn and make it part of your family’s evening routine. Even a few chapters each week can create a shared experience that becomes associated with the season. Plus, this autumn tradition is perfect for those rainy days when everyone is stuck inside!
7. Pick a “First Cozy Day” Tradition
Speaking of rainy days… another fun fall family tradition is spending the first cold or wet autumn day indoors as a family enjoying a cozy seasonal activity. As the freedom and warmth of summer fade, this yearly tradition gives kids something comforting to look forward to!
Get everyone bundled up in their warm pajamas and add some blankets to the mix. You might consider making soup, hot cider, or baking pumpkin bread, then settling in for an easy day of relaxation and family time—whether that means watching a movie together, reading a book, or playing a board game.
8. Make a Seasonal Recipe
A recurring recipe is one of the easiest traditions to maintain.
Perhaps your family always makes chili on the first chilly weekend of the year or bakes the same apple crisp every October with apples you’ve picked yourself. Just the smell of a seasonal recipe you make together each year is usually enough to get everyone in the fall spirit!
9. Take an Annual Nature Walk
Whether you live in the city or in the country, spend at least one day each fall exploring a favorite trail in nature. This could be a regularly repeated walk or a single seasonal outing you enjoy as a family just when the leaves are starting to change.
Children often love to watch as the landscape comes to life with vibrant colors, while also searching for wildlife and taking photos of what they see.
10. Try Something New
As the season of change, fall is an excellent time to try something new as a family. Every year, you can make it a tradition to learn a new skill, visit a place you’ve never been, cook an unfamiliar recipe, or explore a cultural tradition from another part of the world.
The activity itself may change from year to year, but the tradition of embracing something together can become a meaningful part of your family’s fall season.
Learn how hosting an au pair with Au Pair in America® can help your family discover new traditions and perspectives this fall.
For families who host an au pair, fall can be an opportunity to discover new traditions alongside familiar ones. An au pair may introduce your family to a favorite seasonal recipe, a holiday celebrated back home, or a tradition they looked forward to growing up. These shared experiences often become meaningful additions to the traditions your family already enjoys.
Families interested in genuine cultural exchange and flexible, live-in childcare should consider trying something new this fall by hosting an au pair with Au Pair in America®.
