5 Fall Activities With Your Kids and Pets

Just because summer is coming to an end and school is starting back up doesn’t mean that your family fun has to stop. Fall is a great time to enjoy the cooler weather with not only your kids, but with your pet too. Here are five fall activities for your whole family to enjoy.

Family Walks

Family walks are a great way to spend time with your kids and your pet in the fall. With your kids being at school all day and with parents working, spending 15-30 minutes a night regularly, will allow you and your kids to reconnect and talk about what happened throughout the busy day. For example, your kids can tell you about what they are learning in their classes, about subjects they find challenging, new friends they are making, etc. At the same time, your furry friend will be getting the exercise they need to stay happy and healthy. Fall is the best time to go on family walks because the temperature is cooler than in summer, and gives a great opportunity for bonding.

Visiting State Parks

Finding a local state park to visit is another great fall activity. With your kids being back in school during the weekdays, the weekends are a perfect time to plan a family picnic and hike at a local state park. This will allow everyone to sit down together for lunch or dinner. Oftentimes, your kids might have extra curricular activities throughout the week, which can prevent your family from having dinner together regularly. You want to pack easy to make meals that aren’t messy, and that your whole family likes. Furthermore, you want to make sure to not exclude your dog, so you should pack some dog food, water, toys, and treats for them too.

After catching up with a nice family picnic and playing with your dog, going on a hike is a great activity to do. It allows your children and pet to get exercise, while at the same time having fun. You also get to observe the beautiful scenery of the state park, as well as the changing of colors on trees.

Beforehand, make sure you know how difficult the hike will be for everyone. You want to make sure you keep your eyes on your children and pet at all times, so they don’t get lost or hurt. Likewise, you want to make sure you have a first aid kit in your car for your children, in case they do get hurt. If your dog has a history of injuries or is older in age, then you should really consider researching pet insurance beforehand. Take the time and consider your circumstances and the risks involved with your hike and ask, is pet insurance worth having? As a starting point, it can save you money and stress in the long run. It will allow you to keep getting the best protection for your pet possible, without having to bear the high cost of vet and animal hospital visits. The last thing you want on a fun family outing is to have your children or dog get injured.

Playing in a Pile of Leaves

It wouldn’t be fall without the falling leaves. Playing in leaf piles is a great way for you, your kids, and your dog to get together to have some fun. However, you may wish to make playing in the leaves a reward for helping you rake. This way you can have family fun, while instilling some discipline in your kids.

Pumpkin Picking and Apple Picking

A lot of families go pumpkin and apple picking every year, but they never think to include their furry friends. However, there are many pumpkin patches and apple orchards that are pet friendly. Going pumpkin and apple picking is a great family bonding activity and will allow your family to create beautiful new memories. Your kids will be entertained by trying to pick the biggest and best pumpkins and apples, and your dog will be happy as can be, roaming free and smelling all the new scents. However, make sure your dog is well trained before including them in your family pumpkin and apple picking activities. The last thing you want is for them to be peeing on and eating everything.

If you wish to extend the family fun, then you might wish to ask your kids to help you make a delicious apple or pumpkin pie. This will be a nice way to try to get them into baking, and for them to learn useful life skills. Of course, a pumpkin painting or carving contest is also fun for your kids. However, make sure to feed your dog plenty of treats throughout this, so they don’t feel neglected.

Matching Halloween Costumes

One final fall activity is getting your kids and pet cute matching Halloween costumes. Allowing your kids to pick out what matching costume they want is a great way for them to bond with your pet. Wearing the same costume will help them feel a stronger connection between them and your pet because they are both wearing something your kids find interesting. It also will create a fun memory to look back on in years to come.

Fall is a great time for your family to spend more quality time together. Time flies and your kids and pets will only stay young for so long, so you want to make the most of the time you have together. Luckily, More Time Moms has a lot of family fun ideas to help you make wonderful memories!