Fall Into Fun: Seasonal Children’s Activities Our PTs Love

Children Activities, Physical Therapy

Your Backyard Is a Pretty Great Gym

October is National Physical Therapy Month, so we asked our PTs for their favorite ways to get kids moving this fall. Their answers were refreshingly simple. You don’t need special equipment or a big plan. A rake, a pumpkin, and a free afternoon will do it. If you’re ever wondering whether your child could benefit from PT, our guide to signs parents often miss is a good place to start.

Here are our top picks:

• Jumping into a pile of leaves: balance, coordination, and big body input
• Carrying or rolling a pumpkin: strength and coordination
• Hay bale obstacle course: climbing, crawling, and balance
• Walking and yard work: upper body and core strength

Jumping in Leaves

Raking up a big pile of leaves and jumping in is a fall classic, and it’s good for growing bodies too. All that jumping gives your child great input for balance and coordination, and the raking is a nice bit of strengthening before the fun starts¹. Want to make it a little harder? Have them jump over the pile forward, backward, or sideways. Older kids can try hopping over it on one foot.

Pumpkin Play: Carrying, Rolling, and Racing

That pumpkin on your porch is secretly great therapy equipment. Carrying one (pick a size your child can handle) builds strength and teaches both hands to work together. Rolling a bigger one across the yard or down a gentle hill gives their body deep, grounding input while working on coordination and core control². A trip to the pumpkin patch is even better, since walking over bumpy ground challenges balance in a way a flat sidewalk can’t.

Want to turn it into a game? Lean a board against a step to make a ramp and let your kids race small pumpkins down it. Your child gets a lot out of this without realizing it. Building the ramp takes some planning. Watching the pumpkins roll down works on eye tracking. Chasing them down works on running and quick stops, and taking turns gives everyone a little practice waiting. Try having your child guess which pumpkin will win before each race, or tilt the ramp higher and see what changes.

A couple of quick safety tips. Pick a flat, grassy spot, and keep little toes away from the “finish line” zone, since pumpkins can pick up speed.

If your kids love this one, you’re in luck. The Turning Pointe Autism Foundation is hosting a free Pumpkin Race at Rotary Hill Park in Naperville on October 24. We’ve got the details in our latest Sensory-Friendly & Inclusive Events blog post.

A Hay Bale Obstacle Course

If you can get your hands on a few hay bales from a fall festival, a farm stand, or your own yard, you’ve got the start of a great obstacle course. Have your kids climb over, crawl under, or balance along the top. They’ll work on core strength, planning out the sequence, and staying steady, all at once³. No hay bales? Couch cushions, boxes, and blankets work just as well for an indoor version.

Wheelbarrow Walking and Yard Work as Play

Wheelbarrow walking is a great way to build upper body and core strength. That’s the classic version, where you hold your child’s legs while they walk on their hands. Holding them at the hips makes the activity a little easier. Pushing a real wheelbarrow works, too⁴. Even regular fall yard work counts. Raking, pushing a wheelbarrow, and helping plant bulbs all build strength, develop coordination, and build motor skills. Best of all, your child gets to practice these skills while having fun and feeling like they are helping out!

Frequently Asked Questions

Do these fall activities actually build real physical therapy skills?

They do. Jumping, carrying, and climbing all work on balance, coordination, strength, and motor planning. It just happens to look like play.

What if I don’t have access to hay bales for an obstacle course?

No problem. Couch cushions, boxes, or blankets make a great indoor course with the same climbing, crawling, and balancing.

Is wheelbarrow walking safe for younger children?

Yes, if you go at your child’s pace. Start with just a few steps and build up slowly. Holding the child at their hips, rather than their feet, can make it easier and help keep their core engaged. 

Can yard work really count as meaningful physical activity for kids?

It does. Raking and pushing a wheelbarrow build real strength, even though it feels like helping out.

Are these activities appropriate for a child already receiving physical therapy?

Usually, yes. Check with your child’s PT first, though, in case any activities need to be changed for their plan.

Real Skill-Building, Disguised as Fall Fun

You don’t need a special setup to help your child get stronger and more confident. A good fall afternoon outside does a lot of the work for you.

If you have questions about your child’s motor development, our physical therapy team is glad to help. Call us at 815-783-2544 or submit a contact form.

Know a family looking for fun, easy fall activities that double as real skill-building? Share this with them. It might be exactly what they needed today.

Clinically verified by Brittany Thompson, Director of Physical Therapy, PT, DPT, Westside Children’s Therapy

Where to Go Next

• How Do You Adapt a Halloween Costume for a Wheelchair, Walker, or Braces? Easy Ideas for Kids

• Physical Therapy at Westside Children’s Therapy

• Contact Westside Children’s Therapy

1. 10 Fall Gross Motor Activities for Kids with Sensory Needs. Ability Innovations.
2. Fun Fall Activities to Boost Motor Skills in Kids. Arbor Therapy.
3. Fall Crafts and Activities for Occupational Therapy at Home. Tip of the Tongue Rehab.
4. Gross Motor Activities: Perfect for Autumn. Circle Creek Therapy.

Authored By

Brittany Thompson

Director of Physical Therapy, PT, DPT

Brittany Thompson, PT, DPT, earned her Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Midwestern University after completing her Bachelor of Science at Bradley University. She has spent her entire physical therapy career at Westside, beginning as a physical therapist at the Frankfort location and now serving as Director of Physical Therapy for nearly five years, primarily supporting the Northern and Western suburb locations.

Brittany brings a warm, friendly, and team-focused approach to care and leadership, drawing on her years of experience working with families across multiple clinic settings. She values creating a welcoming environment where children and caregivers feel supported throughout the therapy process.

Outside of work, Brittany met her husband in physical therapy school and is now a mom of three (two boys and one girl). On weekends, her family enjoys exploring new parks and restaurants and spending time with friends, family, and neighbors.