In October childcare, kids will be captivated! A collection of play ideas to fully enjoy autumn
October brings a stronger sense of autumn, and the playground is now filled with colorful fallen leaves and acorns.
Using these gifts from nature, along with Halloween-themed crafts and even pretend taste-harvesting play, we’re introducing October-only activities that stimulate children’s five senses.
As autumn deepens, look for ideas for fun activities that nurture children’s curiosity.
Please use this as a reference to enjoy seasonally rich play and spend time filled with children’s smiles.
- [Childcare] Perfect for October! Autumn crafts to enjoy with 5-year-olds
- [Autumn] Seasonal play ideas to incorporate into childcare: Let’s connect with nature both outdoors and indoors
- [Early Childhood Education] Enjoy Autumn! Play and Activity Ideas Inspired by Sweet Potatoes
- [Childcare] For 5-year-olds! Autumn craft ideas
- [October] Craft ideas for fall you can use in childcare
- Fun activities with newspaper! Recreation games kids will love
- Collection of indoor play ideas for September! Autumn recreational activities that will captivate children
- [Autumn Activities] Nature Play and Craft Ideas for Fall to Incorporate into Childcare!
- [Childcare] Ideas inspired by October events: Activities you can use in everyday childcare
- Get kids excited for September! A collection of ideas to enjoy autumn events and activities
- Get kids excited in November! A collection of play and craft ideas using autumn’s natural treasures
- [Childcare] Perfect for 3-year-olds! October craft ideas
- [Childcare] Fun for October! Craft ideas recommended for 4-year-olds
In October childcare, kids will be captivated! A collection of play ideas to enjoy autumn (41–50)
Six types of autumn origami
These are cute origami ideas with autumn motifs—such as chestnuts, mushrooms, acorns, and Pacific saury—that kids can enjoy making.
For the chestnut, fold it into a triangle and open it once.
Then fold the top down toward the center, fold down the top right and top left as well to gather the shape, flip it over and fold again, and adjust the shape to finish.
For the acorn, adding googly-eye stickers instantly makes it adorable.
Also try kid-favorite ghosts and familiar items for fall field trips, like hats.
Give them a go!
Catching autumn insects
We tend to associate insect collecting with summer, but autumn bug-hunting is great too! Crickets, grasshoppers, dragonflies—there are lots of insects kids love in the fall as well.
Quietly observe places where bugs are likely to be, such as between grasses or near rice fields.
As you search, you’ll gradually get better at finding them.
All you need is a net and a cage to enjoy it easily.
After you’ve had fun catching bugs, either set up an environment at the kindergarten to keep them or return them to nature.
Hopefully it becomes a chance to learn that insects are living creatures, too.
paper cup ghost
We’re going to make a ghost toy that’s perfect for autumn when Halloween is coming! First, use an awl to make a hole in a paper cup and insert a straw at an angle.
Next, prepare a plastic bag in your favorite color and, with the sealed end at the top, draw a ghost face on it.
Then firmly attach the opening of the plastic bag to the straw so there are no gaps.
Finally, pull the straw out a bit and tuck the plastic bag into the paper cup—now you’re ready.
When you blow through the straw, the ghost will puff out and pop up!
Potato-finding Game
In autumn, you see more trucks selling stone-baked sweet potatoes.
These days, sweet potatoes are fairly easy to get year-round, but they’re definitely tastiest in season.
Let’s enjoy autumn with a game called “Sweet Potato Hunt”! First, use yellow and brown paper to make something that looks like a baked sweet potato.
It’s more fun when it looks realistic, so observe pictures or photos carefully before making it.
Fill 3 to 5 cardboard boxes with lots of shredded newspaper, and hide the baked sweet potato you made in one of them.
Whoever finds the sweet potato wins.
It’d be fun to play on a day when sweet potatoes are on the school lunch menu!
Fallen leaves mask
The “fallen-leaf mask” is a game you often see in autumn that uses the fallen leaves all around.
How to play: poke holes for the eyes and mouth in a leaf—that’s it.
Since you tear the holes by hand, each mask ends up with a different expression.
If you can find a big leaf, you can tear it to match the position of your own eyes and mouth, and it could make a mask you can use for Halloween.
It’s simple but a lot of fun, so give it a try! If you wear your finished mask and explore the park, you might enjoy it in a slightly different way than usual.