I don’t know about you, but I love fall. It is hands-down my favorite season of the year with the trees changing colors, crunching leaves under my feet, embracing sweater weather, and enjoying all things cozy. During the “ber” months of the year (September, October, November, and December), my thoughts turn to connection. I look forward to this season each year and reflect on memories I’ve made with family and friends. Sometimes we can get caught up in all we have to do, and it can be hard to slow down and spend intentional time with those we love.
One simple and fun way to help your family stay present with one another is to shift your attention to your five senses: sight, sound, taste, touch, and smell. As children grow and develop, they engage these five senses every day, often through sensory play, to learn about their environment and how different elements interact with each other, make memories, and form opinions and beliefs about the world around them. As a parent, you can be an active participant in this experience as you provide opportunities for your child(ren) to use their five senses.
Many grounding exercises like this 5-4-3-2-1 Method encourage you to stop what you are doing and notice your environment by engaging one sensation at a time. Grounding practices are meant to help with emotional regulation, reduce anxiety, and root you in the present moment. Doing these types of activities with your child(ren) can help everyone involved calm their mind and experience their circumstances from a new perspective. To celebrate this season of change, here are some ideas of how you can connect with your child(ren) and explore this season with your five senses together:
- SIGHT: Fall is all about change in the environment to prepare for things to come. One way to see these changes take place is to take a drive around your neighborhood or a nearby canyon. What colors do you see on the trees? How many leaves have fallen to the ground? Playing a game like “I Spy” with your child(ren) can help them look out the window and use their words to describe what they see around them, helping improve their language development. Each day there could be a new change in the outdoors to point out!
- SOUND: When was the last time you visited your local library? Libraries have all kinds of resources for families to explore together and learn something new. I may be biased since I work at the library near my house, but I love seeing families come into the children’s section to pick out books to read together. Whether you sit down on a comfy chair in the library or bring books home to read before bed, reading books together can be a great way to encourage early literacy. Even a simple five-minute story can create a space of connection between you and your child. Try looking up books in the catalog specifically about fall and see what new stories you can enjoy this time of year!
- TASTE: One of my favorite fall activities is making (and eating) warm, yummy treats! A personal favorite treat of mine is pumpkin chocolate chip cookies. A few years ago I learned about a super simple recipe that only takes three ingredients: spice cake mix, pumpkin puree, and chocolate chips! Many memories from my childhood include spending time in the kitchen with my mom where she taught me how to bake and cook. I love that this recipe’s simple ingredients make it easy for a child to participate in the process. Spending quality time together and learning a new skill helps strengthen the parent-child bond, and it helps that the treat tastes so good!
- TOUCH: With the weather cooling down, it’s the perfect time to go on a walk outside and enjoy the gentle breeze. One way to make going on a nature walk more of an adventure is to make tape bracelets with the sticky side facing out so you can collect treasures along your way! This can be a great way for kids to practice their fine motor skills as they collect individual pieces to attach to their bracelet, or even save them for later to create a more intricate design. Maybe you find a leaf with multiple colors on it or a pokey pine cone or even a neat-looking plant. This activity is all about getting outside, getting your steps in, and getting curious. Help your child(ren) collect bits of nature along the way and then have a show-and-tell session when you get home!
- SMELL: One of the most common scents associated with fall is pumpkin spice (hence the pumpkin chocolate chip cookies!). While you can enjoy the smell of a yummy treat, it can also be fun to create your own simmer pot full of fruits and spices that make up this time of year. One simple recipe for an autumn simmer pot calls for an apple, orange, lemon, cinnamon sticks, nutmeg, and ginger. As you collect your ingredients, you and your child can sniff each and decide which one is your favorite and how much of each to put in. Combine these ingredients together in a pot on the stove and enjoy seasonal smells all day long. (This activity may be better suited for older children as the simmer pot may become hot to the touch)
What memories can you make with your family this fall using your five senses?
