๐ 1. Apple Washing Sensory Play
Let’s kick things off with a simple yet satisfying sensory activity: Apple Washing. This is perfect for building fine motor skills and introducing little ones to water-based play.
What You’ll Need:
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A few real apples (or plastic ones if you’re reusing)
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Two large bowls or bins
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Water
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A few drops of dish soap (optional)
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Sponges, brushes, or cloths
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Towels for drying
Why It’s Great:
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Encourages sensory exploration
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Supports fine motor development
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Fun for pretend play (little “farmers” or “shopkeepers”)
Modification for Age 1–2:
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Skip the soap if mouthing is a concern
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Use warm water only
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Supervise closely — smaller sponges or brushes might be choking hazards
๐ 2. Leaf Collage Art
Turn a nature walk into an art activity! Collect fallen leaves and create beautiful collages.
What You’ll Need:
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Assorted leaves (clean and dry)
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Paper (white, kraft, or construction)
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Glue sticks or Mod Podge
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Optional: googly eyes, pom-poms, stickers
Why It’s Great:
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Encourages creativity and color recognition
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Great for hand-eye coordination
Modification for Age 1–2:
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Pre-glue leaves so younger toddlers can simply press them down
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Avoid tiny embellishments
๐ 3. Pumpkin Guts Sensory Bin
A messy classic! Perfect for spooky season sensory exploration.
What You’ll Need:
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1–2 small pumpkins
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A bin or tray
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Spoons, scoops, small containers
Why It’s Great:
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Builds sensory tolerance
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Teaches about textures and natural materials
Modification for Age 1–2:
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Introduce small amounts of pulp in a Ziplock bag for mess-free sensory play
๐ฅง 4. No-Bake Pumpkin Pie Play Dough
This smells like fall and is safe for little hands!
Ingredients:
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2 cups flour
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1/2 cup salt
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1 tbsp cream of tartar
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2 tbsp pumpkin pie spice
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2 tbsp vegetable oil
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1.5 cups boiling water
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Optional: orange food coloring
Why It’s Great:
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Strengthens hand muscles
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Smells amazing for seasonal immersion
Modification for Age 1–2:
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Skip spice if allergies are a concern
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Closely supervise to avoid mouthing
๐งก 5. Fall Color Sorting with Pom-Poms
Use fall-themed colors to practice sorting and early math skills.
What You’ll Need:
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Red, yellow, orange, and brown pom-poms
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Muffin tin or small bowls
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Tongs or scoops
Why It’s Great:
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Teaches color recognition and categorizing
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Develops fine motor precision
Modification for Age 1–2:
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Use hands for sorting (not tongs)
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Choose larger pom-poms to avoid choking risk
๐ฝ 6. Corn Kernel Sensory Bin
A fun, fall-inspired twist on a traditional sensory bin!
What You’ll Need:
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Bag of dried corn kernels
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Scoops, cups, funnels, toy tractors
Why It’s Great:
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Offers tactile stimulation
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Encourages pretend farming play
Modification for Age 1–2:
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Use larger items like whole corn cobs or pasta for safer play
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Always supervise closely
๐ฐ 7. Acorn or Pinecone Painting
A nature-based twist on painting!
What You’ll Need:
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Acorns or pinecones (cleaned)
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Washable paint
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Paper
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Tray or box to contain mess
Why It’s Great:
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Strengthens grip and coordination
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Introduces textures through art
Modification for Age 1–2:
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Hold the painting tools and let them tap onto the paper
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Use large pinecones only
๐งฆ 8. Fall-Themed Sensory Bottles
Create calming, visual bottles with floating fall colors.
What You’ll Need:
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Clear plastic bottles
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Water + clear glue or baby oil
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Fall glitter, sequins, beads, tiny leaves, etc.
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Hot glue to seal caps
Why It’s Great:
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Great for calming
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Perfect on-the-go activity
Modification for Age 1–2:
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Ensure bottles are securely sealed with hot glue
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Use under supervision only
๐ 9. Fall Story Time & Puppet Play
Pair seasonal books with simple homemade or felt puppets.
Book Ideas:
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“Leaf Man” by Lois Ehlert
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“Apples and Pumpkins” by Anne Rockwell
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“Goodbye Summer, Hello Autumn” by Kenard Pak
Why It’s Great:
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Boosts language and storytelling skills
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Engages imagination
Modification for Age 1–2:
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Shorten stories or focus on pictures
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Use larger puppets that they can hold
๐ 10. Apple Slice Painting
This classic art activity never gets old — and it screams fall!
What You’ll Need:
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Apples sliced in half
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Washable paint
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Paper plates or paint trays
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Large sheets of paper
Why It’s Great:
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Introduces basic printmaking
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Uses real objects in creative ways
Modification for Age 1–2:
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You stamp, they press!
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Thicker paper is easier for them to manage
These toddler activities are fall-themed, developmentally supportive, and (best of all) fun for everyone involved. Whether you're exploring sensory bins or creating leaf art, remember to meet your child where they are and enjoy the process more than the outcome.
๐ Pin it for later and follow me at @iamchristinaxoxo on Pinterest for more seasonal play and toddler inspiration.
