The weather and our schedules are changing as the season changes to fall. To me, that means a few different things: comfy sweaters, hot chocolate, hearty soup recipes, and fall crafts. This Fall 3D Papercraft is one of my favorites, and I wanted to share it with you!

I can still remember making yarn & glue Easter baskets as a child.  This craft uses the same concept for a pumpkin.  This is one we can’t wait to try!  These can get semi-complicated, so you may need to be available for help on this one.

I can’t believe that I’m even putting this one on here.  My tween LOVES slime, but I will admit I don’t love the mess.  Anyway, if you are feeling brave this site has 31 DIY slime recipes.  Be sure to have some glitter and fall confetti on hand.

Another fun idea is pumpkin decorating.  If you really want it to be exciting hold a family contest to see who can come up with the coolest pumpkin.  Check out some cool no-carve ideas here.

One of my tween’s favorite pastimes right now is guided drawings.  We love Art for Kids Hub and they have great seasonal drawings here!

Nothing says fall like a trip to the pumpkin patch.  Why not let your tween make one at home? This recipe is super cute!  To make it easier sub a snack pack of pudding and these will be ready in no time.

To us, fall equals scarecrows and this scarecrow dip platter from Sprinkle the Fun is super cute!

How about some cool fall snack mix?  This one from The Resourceful Mama even includes a free printable.  This could even be a Thanksgiving present for friends.

Typically this is a preschool activity, but if you make it elaborate enough it will appeal to the older crowd as well.  Don’t forget edible glitter, sprinkles, and plenty of icing.  You can see an example here.

I’m really more of a summer girl, but there are things I adore about fall. I love to watch the leaves turn, to bundle up in a comfy sweater on a cool autumn night, to sit around an open fire with friends. One of the things I love most though, is spiced apple cider!

Everyone knows that fall is the season of pumpkin.  Pillsbury has an easy 5 ingredient recipe here. This is a fairly simple recipe so the kids may be able to tackle most of it on their own.

Nothing says fall like caramel apples….Yum!  Pinterest is loaded with awesome caramel apple recipes.  I really like this one because it gives easy to follow steps.  I would definitely help on this entire recipe.  Hot caramel doesn’t seem safe, even for my kitchen savvy kiddo.

I can’t help it…I absolutely love Loaded Baked Potato Soup. It’s so creamy and hearty, and the flavors blend together in the best way. And with my Instant Pot, this soup is super easy to make! (Stove top instructions are included too!)

This is a family favorite at our house.  It’s easy and a great use for those leftover seeds.

Oh how I love apple butter, especially with fresh apples!  Now you may be thinking of standing outside, stirring a hot kettle over an open fire.  However, that’s not your only option. You can also make apple butter in the slow cooker.  Shocking, I know!

(Like for real this time)  Why not let the kids hit the yard and build a teepee out of whatever materials they can find?  Younger siblings can even help on this one.  Providing some fabric would be a great help, and if you want to add some excitement let them decorate it with fabric paint. Here are some great ideas!

Boats, water, & a challenge.  What’s not for a tween to love?  Check out this cool challenge here.

Check out these neat pumpkin catapults from Playdough Plato.  Why not make it a competition for the whole family?  Watch out for the flying pumpkins!

Okay, if you love the potato clock, wait until you try the pumpkin one.

You'll find some great fall-themed STEM challenges, like a pumpkin elevator and pumpkin launchers!

Need a quieter game?  Try this Thanskgiving Bingo on for size.  Make sure you use candy for game pieces.  That's the fun part.

A Thanksgiving version of a family favorite.  Check out some topic ideas here.

Need more ideas?  Check out these 12 minutes to win it type games that have Thanksgiving themes.