Exploring the Wonders of Autumn at Footsteps
As the leaves begin change colours and the air becomes crisp (as well as rainy!), Autumn brings a new world of learning opportunities to Footsteps. This is one of our favourite seasons for outdoor exploration and hands-on adventures, and we love to see our children finding new ways to develop their curiosity, imagination and skills.
Nature Walks Filled with Discovery
Our nature walks are an amazing way to observe the changing world around us. Children notice fallen leaves turning from green to orange and deep red, and we love hearing them describe the sights and sounds of the season. There’s nothing better than kicking and jumping in crunchy piles of leaves and laughing together.
Along the way, we often look under rocks and logs to uncover hidden lairs of creepy crawlies such as worms, beetles, woodlice and spiders. These mini-beasts spark some fantastic conversations about habitats and the important role these creatures play in nature.
Natural Treasures for Creative Play
Autumn provides a treasure trove of natural resources that are perfect for both learning and imaginative play. The children collect:
Leaves in every shape and colour
Pine cones and conkers
Acorns, seed pods and twigs
Feathers, moss and bark
These materials are used in our crafts and tuff trays, where children count, sort, and create leaf rubbings or nature collages. In our outdoor areas, we mix our finds into magical potions adding water, petals and leaves to create their offerings.
Seasonal Cooking – Indoors and Outdoor
Autumn is also a season of harvest, and we love including seasonal produce in our cooking activities. Together we weigh, chop, mash and stir recipes like roasted butternut squash soup in our kitchen. Outside, our role play mud kitchens become rustic Autumn cafés, where children create their own “recipes” using mud, leaves, and sticks.
We are especially proud that the children help to pick vegetables they have grown themselves, like tomatoes nurtured in our outdoor spaces. This hands-on experience teaches them about sustainability, healthy eating and patience as they watch their plants grow over time.
Arts, Crafts and Seasonal Creativity
Autumn inspires some awe inspiring creativity at Footsteps. Our craft tables are full of exciting sensory activities including:
Apple printing with rich red, yellow or brown paints
Autumn wreaths
Hedgehog collages made from leaves
Conker rolling paintings
Vegetable sensory trays
Through these experiences carefully curated by our amazing team, children develop fine motor skills whilst exploring textures, patterns and colours.
Woodland Creatures and Hibernation
We also explore the changes happening in the animal world during Autumn. The children enjoy learning about woodland creatures such as hedgehogs, squirrels and owls. We talk about why some animals hibernate as the weather turns colder and food becomes harder to find. These discussions support our understanding of nature and spark thoughtful conversations about how we can care for animals during the colder months.
Coming Together as a Community
Autumn is a time for sharing and kindness, and each year we proudly take part in local Harvest collections. Our Footsteps families are always incredibly generous in donating tins, dried food and treats, which we deliver to local food banks and community centres. It’s a meaningful way for our children to learn about empathy, gratitude and helping others.
This is an amazing way to start thinking about all the other celebrations and community events from different cultures coming up such as Diwali, Halloween, Bonfire night and Remembrance Sunday. We can’t wait to see what else Autumn brings!
