Autumn is here, and this means it is time to enjoy the fall leaves! Fall leaves make a wonderful sensory experience for children.
The soft stems and delicate leaves of our Japanese Maple make beautifully soft leaf piles, and my kids had a blast in their new sensory playground!
We raked the leaves up over and over, so they could run through them, throw them in the air,
And style fashionable hair accessories!
Benefits of Playing in the Leaves for Kids
What You'll Find on This Page
Playing in the leaves looks like it is “just” fun, but it provides so many learning opportunities for kids! Here are a few things kids learn by playing in leaves:
- Sensory input, especially sight, touch, and smell
- Physical activity in the fresh fall air
- Science! By playing in the leaves, kids get the chance to really explore how autumn leaves are different from spring and summer leaves. They also quickly learn about insulation as they discover that they stay much warmer under a pile of leaves.
Leaf Themed Books for Kids
Once you head back indoors, check out these fun fall leave themed books for kids:
- Leaves! Leaves! Leaves! (can you guess where I found my inspiration for the title of this post?)
- Leaves
- Leaf Man
- We’re Going on a Leaf Hunt
- Fletcher and the Falling Leaves
- Why Do Leaves Change Color?
- I Can Name 50 Trees
Do you have a favorite autumn leaf themed book we should read?
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MaryAnne is a craft loving educator, musician, photographer, and writer who lives in Silicon Valley with her husband Mike and their four children.
How fun! Abby enjoyed helping Dave rake the leaves this weekend too! We back to woods, so there were plenty!
So much fun!! One of my most cherished childhood memories is playing in leaves. Beautiful photos!!
.-= Valerie @ Frugal Family Fun Blog´s last blog ..Easy Leaf Wreath =-.
So fun!! And your kids are gorgeous and bundly, too. Love it!
.-= Elisa | blissfulE´s last blog ..Michael builds a train track =-.
We have a tree in our front yard that drops lots of leaves, but they’re not the “piling” type of leaves. Weird. Great pictures!
.-= Quadmama´s last blog ..The Sacrifices Finally Paid Off =-.
What a beautiful tree to have. You really do have the perfect sensory playground. So much fun and laughter to be had in that pile of leaves.
@Elise – I LOVE our tree, and yes, we are very blessed to have such a wonderful yard!
@Natalie – Yes, seeing things through a child’s eyes makes it all the more beautiful, doesn’t it!
@Jen – Too bad we can’t send you some of our leaves =)
@Susana – Ours is quite large, for a Japanese Maple. I LOVE this tree, I think it is the most beautiful tree in the world!
We did yesterday as well, and it was so much fun. This time of the year is so beautiful, and it’s even better when one can look at all the beauty with child’s eyes.
.-= Natalie´s last blog ..Raising Lifelong Learners =-.
So fun! And yes, a sensory playground!
Lovely pictures! I love leaf piles!
.-= Jen´s last blog ..Weekend Sewing =-.
The kids look adorable as always and look like they are having a blast!
Your Japanese maple must be huge compared to ours to have that big pile of leaves. It’s my favorite tree. So pretty.
.-= Susana´s last blog ..Thanksgiving Unit Study Plans =-.
Oh, I’m so jealous!!! No leaf piles like that in our yard!
.-= Jennifer´s last blog ..Tot School – Week of 11-8 =-.
Great pictures!
.-= Christy´s last blog ..Fine Motor Skills and Patterns – Turkey Style =-.