Harvest time is a fun season to celebrate with your child. Take this opportunity to talk about where food comes from. If you can, consider a trip to a local commercial farm. Many have programs for children where they can pick their own pumpkins, taste fresh apple cider, or participate in other activities.

1. Apple Prints

   Activity for an individual child
   Age group: 18–40 months
   Duration of activity: 10 minutes

   Celebrate harvest time with a bounty of fresh apples. This activity will help your child have fun with this popular fruit.

   What You'll Need

   • 1 apple
   • Knife
   • Paper towel
   • Tempera paint
   • Shallow pie tin
   • Light-colored construction paper

   1. Cut the apple in half crosswise. Dry off the inside with a paper towel.

   2. Pour a small amount of paint into the pie tin.

   3. Show your toddler how to grasp the apple to dip it into the paint. Have him press the painted apple on the paper to create a print. The effect will look a little like a star.

2. Cornucopia

   Activity for an individual child
   Age group: 30–40 months
   Duration of activity: 20 minutes

   What is a more popular symbol of harvest than the cornucopia (horn of plenty)? Here is an easy way to make one. While you are working on this project, take the time to discuss with your child where different foods come from.

   What You'll Need

   • 1 sheet brown construction paper
   • Masking tape
   • Magazines
   • Scissors

   1. Roll the sheet of brown paper to create a horn shape. Secure the edges with tape.

   2. Go through the magazines with your child to find appropriate items to add to the cornucopia. Explain that the cornucopia holds food from a harvest: fruits and vegetables that have been picked.

   3. Assist your child in cutting out the magazine pictures or have him tear out the pictures. Let him tape the food into the cornucopia.

3. Corn Rolling

   Activity for an individual child
   Age group: 18–40 months
   Duration of activity: 15 minutes

   This simple painting activity produces a unique effect. You may also wish to have your toddler try painting and printing with other vegetables, such as potatoes, cauliflower, and green peppers.

   What You'll Need

   • 1 dried ear of corn
   • Tempera paint
   • Shallow pie tin
   • Light-colored construction paper

   1. Have your child roll the corncob in the paint in the same way that you would a paint roller.

   2. Your child can then roll out different patterns and designs on the paper.

4. Harvest Bowling

   Activity for an individual child or a group
   Age group: 30–40 months
   Duration of activity: 20 minutes

   Help develop your child's motor skills while exposing him to some fall vegetables. Your child will enjoy exploring the different colors and interesting textures. Look for gourds that are shaped like bottles, with a wide base and thin neck.

   What You'll Need

   • 5 small dried gourds
   • Masking tape
   • 1 or 2 small round pumpkins

   1. Set the gourds up like bowling pins.

   2. Stick a strip of masking tape to the floor to make a start line. This should be quite close to the gourds, as the pumpkins will not roll very far.

   3. Show your child how to roll the pumpkins to knock down the gourds. Don't worry about keeping score.