articles

Did You Know? 5 Things To Share With Your Kids About Fall

A fall joke, a new word, a puzzle, a fun fact, and a personal discovery

By Sarah Hauge, publisher of Macaroni KID Englewood, Greenwood Village, Centennial, Colo. September 20, 2024

We've stopped running the A/C and have brought out the slow cooker. That can only mean one thing... FALL IS HERE! 

When I think about this end-of-the-year season, a few things come to mind: pumpkins, apples, corn mazes, scarecrows, leaves, Halloween, Thanksgiving, chili cook-offs, and cozy sweaters.

What other things do you associate with fall? How about the name Autumn itself? In more recent years, Autumn surpassed Winter and Summer as the most popular season name and currently ranks #66 in the list of top baby names for girls in 2022.

Below are five more fall-themed things to teach your kids this week.


1. A silly joke.

Hay, hay, hay! See which of your friends will fall for this funny joke. 




Why did the scarecrow win an award? He was outstanding in his field.


2. A new vocabulary word.

Also known as a "horn of plenty," a cornucopia is a symbol of abundance and nourishment, but what it is exactly?




A cornucopia is a horn-shaped container that is overflowing with flowers and produce. Though it is commonly associated with Thanksgiving, the cornucopia has roots in Greek and Roman mythology.

As the story goes, when Zeus was a baby he was hidden in a cave with Amalthea (a goat) to avoid being eaten by his own father, Kronos. One day Zeus accidentally broke off one of Amalthea's horns and the horn had the power to provide infinite nourishment.

It was much, much later that the cornucopia evolved into a symbol of bountiful harvest during Thanksgiving.


3. A word puzzle.

To solve a rebus, consider not just the words but the placement, size, color, and quantity of everything within the box (and sometimes just outside the box!) when trying to decipher the puzzle.





4. A fun fact.

Though today's generation categorizes bobbing for apples as a silly fall-themed party game, the game's history involved a bit more romance...




Originating in England, bobbing for apples was an activity with much higher stakes. Fetch an apple on the first try and the bobber (plus his/her potential partner) would be destined to be soulmates. Two tries and the love would fade over time. Three tries, however, marked a doomed relationship.

Learn more about the evolution of bobbing for apples and give it a try yourself!


5. Teach a personal discovery.

Have you ever wondered which colors would look best on you? A great way to figure that out is to determine your season!




Seasonal color analysis can help you find the most flattering colors and tones for you. The color tones of your eyes, hair, and skin determine which of the four seasons best represents your ideal color palette.


"Autumn leaves don't fall, they fly. They take their time and wander on this, their only chance to soar." – Delia Owens.

Did you learn something new? Now's the time to pass that knowledge on!