Fall Sensory Play Ideas for Kids

Seasonal Sensory Bin Ideas

1. Pumpkin Patch Bin 🎃

• What You Need: Dried corn kernels, mini pumpkins, small scoops, cups, and a shallow bin. If you have a child under 3, you can substitute the corn kernels with water, sand or shredded paper.
• How to Play: Children can scoop, pour, and “plant” the pumpkins while practicing fine motor skills.

2. Apple Orchard Bin 🍎

• What You Need: Red pom-poms (to represent apples), cinnamon sticks for scent, small baskets, tongs/tweezers and scoops.
• How to Play: Encourage kids to “pick” the apples, count them, and sort them into the baskets.

3. Autumn Nature Hunt Bin 🍂

• What You Need: Real or faux leaves, pinecones, acorns, twigs, and magnifying glasses. Add some scoops, tongs/tweezers and plastic containers to sort the items.
• How to Play: Invite children to explore different textures and shapes while talking about colors, sizes, and patterns. Older kids can take on a sorting challenge and sort by colour, size or type of item.

Pumpkin Spice Play Dough ✨

Bring the smell of fall indoors with this cozy, hands-on activity that kids will love.

• What You Need: Flour, salt, cream of tartar, water, oil, orange food coloring, and pumpkin spice.
• How to Play: Roll, squish, and sculpt pumpkins, leaves, or letters for endless fun.
• Bonus: Watch this quick video for the play dough recipe and see how you can make homemade pumpkin spice play dough in just minutes.
  

Outdoor Sensory Adventures

Don’t forget — sensory play doesn’t have to stay indoors! Here are a few ways to take the learning outside this season:

1. Leaf Crunch Walk 🍁

Take a walk and collect fallen leaves. Once you’re back, sort them by size, color, or shape. This simple activity builds vocabulary, observation, and sorting skills — plus, nothing beats the satisfying crunch of stepping on fall leaves.

2. Nature Sound Hunt 🎧

Head outside with a simple checklist and invite kids to listen for the sounds of fall — rustling leaves, chirping birds, or the wind blowing through the trees. For younger children, keep it simple with picture prompts; older kids can check off or even draw what they hear.

3. Pumpkin Washing Station 💦

Grab a few buckets, fill them with warm water, and add scrub brushes for a simple, engaging cleanup station. Kids will love washing and scrubbing small pumpkins while developing hand strength and coordination.

Mess-Free Sensory Options

Need something quick and cleanup-friendly? Try these simple, no-mess sensory setups:

Fall Sensory Bags 👜

• What You Need: Zip-top bags, water, glitter, leaves, and small seasonal items like faux flowers or mini acorns.
• How to Play: Fill the bag, seal tightly (tape edges for extra security), and secure it to a table or window. Children can squish, press, and explore without any mess.
• Bonus: Watch this quick video to see how you can make a sensory bag in just minutes.
  
  Tip: Want more ideas like this? Get step-by-step guidance in my Sensory Play Made Simple mini-course — perfect for parents and educators looking for easy, play-based learning setups.
  

Final Thoughts

Fall is such a sensory-rich season — and the perfect time to explore the world through touch, sound, sight, and even smell. Whether you’re setting up a pumpkin patch sensory bin, heading outdoors for a leaf crunch walk, or creating a mess-free sensory bag, each of these activities helps children build important skills while having fun.

Ready to take your sensory play to the next level? Check out my Sensory Play Made Simple mini-course for more easy, affordable, and brain-boosting ideas that you can start using today.