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It's the time of year when the seasons change, and it is magical to watch kids discovering evidence of summer turning to fall. However, there can be a lot more to nature walks than just strolling along. Here are some ideas to turn even a short autumn nature walk into an interesting and enjoyable outing:

1. Focus in on the five senses--taste, touch, hearing, sight and smell. Touch the rough bark and crunchy leaves. Listen to the birds and other creatures. Smell the rich earthy aroma of damp dirt or freshly picked corn. There are many things to discover on a five senses nature walk. Another variation is to stop every 3 minutes and pick one of the senses. Spend 30 seconds using that sense and have children report what they've detected.
2. Use the autumn nature walk to teach your children about the life cycle of creatures and plants. Watch ants as they collect food. Explain how the ants are storing food for the winter, and how they must make sure their family has enough to eat when there is snow on the ground. Observe other creatures around you, from dogs to squirrels, and discuss what each one does to prepare for winter weather.
3. Gently break off some dead or dying flowers. Have children pull them apart to see the different internal parts of the flower. You can discuss how some plants fall asleep in winter and come back again in the spring and how others don't survive cold weather. For children that understand the plant life cycle, you could point out seed pods and talk about how they are dormant until the warm spring weather.
4. If your child is a budding artist, take along some paper or a notebook and some colored pencils. Choose a peaceful spot and sketch what you see. It's fun to go to the same spot during different seasons to see what changes and grows.
5. Encourage your child to collect small items, such as pine cones, leaves, smooth rocks, funny twigs, etc. Take along a plastic or paper bag to hold the items. Before you go, you could even come up with a short "scavenger hunt" list of items for them to watch for. Make sure they don't pick up any litter or dangerous objects.
6. Conduct an "opposite nature walk" where your child points out any object that isn't a part of nature. Common features could be a fence, a sign, litter, a car, and so forth. This game is fun on a more remote trail.

No matter where you walk and how far you go, there are plenty of ways to make an autumn nature walk with your children an enjoyable activity for all.

Children's Books about Autumn/Fall:

Autumn: An Alphabet Acrostic
When Autumn Falls
When Autumn Comes
I Know It's Autumn

15 Minute Moment
Have your child name 3 kids in their class that he or she likes. Ask what personality traits these peers have that makes others like them. Discuss how to incorporate those positive traits.