Try this bucket list of fall family fun

The cooler temperatures and beautiful colors make fall the perfect time to make plans for your family.

Life is so busy we often forget it’s the little moments that bring families closer — that these are the times and traditions children will remember. Many of these activities are free or low cost.

Beautiful fall days are meant to be spent outside. Visit a pumpkin patch and pick pumpkins. Have a jack-o’-lantern carving party and vote on the best design. The winner gets to pick what movie the family will watch together. Movie nights are always a great family time. Pile sleeping bags in the living room while everyone wears pajamas and shares snacks.

Visit a corn maze or pick apples from a local orchard. Take a walk around a park and give everyone a scavenger hunt list to find. You could look for things like a yellow flower, a red leaf, a pretty rock, an acorn and so many other things. Or hike in a state park and just enjoy the pretty leaves.

Fall is a great time for local festivals and fairs. Many local organizations also have trunk-or-treat activities or Halloween parades.

When the day is too cold to go out, it’s time to craft. Bring in some leaves and create leaf rubbings by putting a leaf between two pieces of paper and rubbing over the top sheet with a crayon. Make fall decorations from construction paper and hang them around your house or, better yet, visit a local nursing home and give the residents decorations to hang in their rooms.

Bake fall treats and pass them out. Gather friends and have a wiener roast with s’mores. Or host a chili cook-off with friends and family. Make caramel apples.

Create a gratitude jar. Every night everyone writes down something they are grateful for, and the notes can be read on Thanksgiving or used to decorate that day. It’s a wonderful way to remind each other just how much they have to be thankful for each day.

Plan a family fun night and play games. You can either choose board games or enjoy fall-themed games that can be easily played in the house. Play Put the Hat on the Scarecrow or toss rolled up socks through hoops.

Decorate the outside of your home with scarecrows that each family member can design. Dump a pile of old clothes on the porch and let your kids’ imaginations go wild as they create their scarecrow.

Your imagination is the only limit on what fall fun your family can have. Create these lasting, special times with your kids. You can even make a scrapbook of pictures from each activity to enjoy for years to come.

For a list of local fall events, visit www.visitcoshocton.com/events.