Fun For the Fall

by Brenda Dedmon

Fall is a beautiful time of the year with all the colors of the trees. There is a verse in the Bible that reminds us of why it is so beautiful. “God has made everything beautiful for its time” (Ecclesiastes 3:11). The fall weather is cooler, it is great to be outside, and it is a great time to do fun activities with your family.

Perhaps, you could ask your parents for a family meeting to talk about some fun things to do together. As you meet, ask each family member to name one thing they would like to do for the fall. The list could include: • Go to a football game and enjoy popcorn for a snack • Visit an apple farm and pick apples • Visit a corn maze • Visit a pumpkin farm and pick out a pumpkin to carve as a family • Have a picnic in the park or your backyard • Rake leaves and then jump in the leaves. You could make “leaf angels” as you would snow angels • Go for a bike ride or hike • Make a pinecone bird feeder

This time of the year reminds us of all the things we should be thankful for, which includes family and friends. Fall gives us the opportunity to show our appreciation to others by doing things for them. The following are ideas you could do as a family: • Bake an Apple Pie • Make Pumpkin Bread • Make Hot Chocolate Packets • Make Caramel Apples • Make Apple Cider Packets • Make Apple Muffins • Make a Trail Mix and include Candy Corn

A Family Scavenger Hunt is a fun way to spend time together. As a family plan to do five Saturday Hunts where you do one category each Saturday! It will be fun finding places you can discover these things to do. Even though there are some of the same scents in each category, find different places for each category. Make a list and check each one off as you do the activity. 1. LOOK for leaves of the following colors: Orange, Yellow, Red, for a squirrel and spider web 2. TOUCH Acorns, Pinecones, Moss, Feathers, Leaves, Pumpkin Seeds 3. LISTEN for Birds Singing, Woodpeckers, Crickets, Crunching Leaves 4. TASTE Pumpkin, Fresh Apples, Apple Cider, Hot Chocolate, Apple Jelly 5. SMELL Pumpkin Spices, Cinnamon, Apple Cider, Pine Needles, Hay, Corn

It is important to document these family times, so take pictures of all the activities you do. For the activities you do for someone else, be sure to get a picture of you making the item and of you and the person when you share it with them. At the end of the month, have your parents print the pictures. You can organize all the pictures in a photo album and then write funny captions of the activities.

You need to make sure you are helping your family in planning, preparing for, and participating in a fun time for the Fall Family Fun! “U” are an important part of the F “U” N!

About The Author Rev. Brenda Dedmon is the retired director of the Children’s Learning Center, First Baptist of Dalton and an avid Roll Tide fan.