Falling into Fun: Sensory Play Ideas for the Fall Season

As the leaves change and the air turns crisp, fall offers a rich landscape of colours, textures, sounds, and smells, making it a perfect time for sensory play. At York Paediatric Therapy Services, we often encourage families to take advantage of the season to support sensory development in a fun, hands-on way. Whether your child is working with an occupational therapist or you're simply looking for new ways to play and connect, fall is full of opportunities to engage all the senses.

Sensory play helps children explore the world, regulate their emotions, and build important skills like focus, coordination, and problem-solving. Here are some therapist-approved sensory play ideas that embrace all that fall has to offer:

1. Leaf Crunching and Raking

Nothing says fall like jumping into a big pile of leaves! But leaf play is more than just fun; it offers tactile and auditory input that can help with sensory regulation.

Try this:

• Let your child rake a small pile of leaves using a kid-sized rake. This builds gross motor strength and coordination.

• Encourage walking or jumping through crunchy leaves to stimulate the auditory and tactile systems.

• Create a leaf sensory bin with dry leaves, small twigs, and pinecones for hands-on exploration indoors.

  
  

2. Fall-Themed Sensory Bins

Sensory bins are an easy and effective way to explore textures, smells, and even fine motor skills.

Ideas to include:

• Dried corn kernels, oats, or rice dyed in fall colours (using food colouring).

• Mini pumpkins, cinnamon sticks, acorns (supervised), and plastic leaves.

•   Add scoops, spoons, and small cups to support hand-eye coordination and bilateral skills.

  
  

3. Apple Picking and Tasting

Apple picking is a great fall activity that can double as sensory exploration, engaging taste, touch, smell, and movement.

Tips:

• Have your child reach, bend, and carry to work on gross motor and balance skills.

• Try an apple taste test with different varieties. Talk about how each one looks, feels, and tastes.

• Make simple recipes like applesauce together to explore warm textures and smells.

  
  

4. Pumpkin Exploration

Pumpkins are perfect for messy sensory fun!

Ideas to try:

• Scoop out the insides of a pumpkin and talk about how it feels, smells, and looks.

• Sort and count the seeds for fine motor practice.

• Paint mini pumpkins using brushes, fingers, or even sponges for a textured art experience.

  
  

5. Nature Walks with a Sensory Twist

Fall walks can be an adventure in sensory discovery.

What to do:

• Create a fall scavenger hunt with items to find and feel (smooth rock, bumpy bark, soft moss).

• Encourage your child to notice the sounds of crunching leaves or rustling trees.

• Collect items to use later in crafts or sensory bins.

  
  

Sensory play doesn’t have to be complicated. It just needs to be meaningful and engaging. The fall season is the perfect time to slow down, get outside, and explore through your child’s senses. If your child has difficulty with sensory regulation or you’d like more personalized guidance, our team at York Paediatrics is here to help you make play purposeful year-round.