The leaves are starting to turn, the air is growing brisker, and the pumpkin spice is running rampant. Fall is officially here, bringing with it a slew of seasonal literacy activities you can do with your child! As kids settle back into their school day routines, it’s a great time to instill an appreciation for reading and writing that extends beyond the classroom setting. Here are some fun, autumnal ideas from the team at the Children’s Literacy Foundation (CLiF):
Build a Fall Reading Fort
Transform a corner of your home into a cozy, fall-themed reading fort. Add some comfy pillows, a stuffed animal friend or two, and throw in some seasonal touches to create a dedicated space for your child to curl up with a book. Click here for more fort-building tips.
Seasonal Story Theater
Get crafty! Help your child create characters out of natural materials such as acorns, pinecones, sticks, leaves and stones, and then make up storylines for them. Act out the stories together, or write them down for posterity; both are great creative exercises.
Fall Flavors
Pick out some recipes featuring seasonal ingredients such as apples, pumpkins and squash, and cook them together! This activity is a fun (and tasty!) way to combine literacy with science and sensory exploration. Here’s a list of kid-friendly recipes to try. You could even compile the recipes you prepare into a cookbook of your own!
Put the “Boo!” in Books
It IS Halloween season, after all! Cuddle up together to share some age-appropriate scary stories, and send shivers down those spines! Here’s a list of some of CLiF’s favorite spooky books for different level readers. For an audio option, CLiF program manager Cassie Willner recommends the mystery podcast Six Minutes.
Walk and Talk (Or Sing!)
Take a foliage walk with your child, and make up freeform poems or songs inspired by your surroundings. Think of it as a glorified version of “I Spy,” where each sighting becomes an original composition. Here are some fall poems you can read together for added inspiration!
Book Potluck
Host a fall family-friendly gathering where each family brings a favorite book AND a dish inspired by that book to share. Kind of like Friendsgiving, but with an added literary twist! Guests can trade books at the end, so each family leaves with something new to read.
Visit Your Local Library
If it’s been a while since you popped by your local public library, it’s high time to get reacquainted, and to introduce your child to all it has to offer. Plus, September is National Library Card Sign-Up Month–what better time to sign your young reader up for their first card?
Do you have a favorite fall reading activity? We’d love to hear about it in the comments. Be sure to follow CLiF on Facebook and Instagram for more on our latest news and activities. To sign up for our monthly e-newsletter, click here.
