Fall is here, and it’s the perfect time to get cozy with the family! The days are getting cooler, and before long, we’ll all be trading flip-flops for fuzzy socks. Whether you’re still enjoying some warm weather or already diving into pumpkin spice everything, it’s time to start thinking about how to make those fall evenings at home extra special.
If you’re looking for fun, family-friendly ways to enjoy those chilly nights with the kids, you’ve come to the right place! I’ve got all the tips and ideas to keep your family cozy and entertained this season.
Host a Family Halloween party
Halloween is the biggest event of the fall that your kids are looking forward to celebrating. It’s a night for spooky fun, but what do you do when the kids are too little to spend all night trick or treating? Simple, have your own family Halloween party at home! Get everyone to dress up in fun halloween costumes, decorate the house, and host a Halloween-inspired feast.
A Halloween themed dinner doesn’t have to be outrageous – something easy like crescent wrapped hot dogs or “ghost pizzas” topped with white sauce will set the mood.
And make sure you practice those Halloween jokes St. Louis kids need to when before they go trick or treating.
Take Time for Fun Fall Crafts
Fall crafts are an excellent way to enjoy a cozy night at home. Get creative and spend time with your family – what you make doesn’t matter as much as having fun and making memories with the kids.
Create autumn wreaths to hang around the house, paint plastic pumpkins and fill them full of flowers, or make paper pumpkins for the table.
Bake Cookies with the Kids
Cookies are excellent to make with the family to enjoy when the weather gets cooler, and you need cozy indoor fun. You could make fall-inspired cookies with pumpkin spice, or decorate sugar cookies with orange icing and sprinkles. Personally? I love a nice batch of St. Louis Gooey Butter Cookies!
Baking cookies with the kids isn’t just fun — it’s a great way to spend quality time together and sneak in a little learning. Measuring ingredients helps with math skills, and mixing the dough gives little hands something to do! Plus, it’s a chance to pass on family recipes and create traditions that your kids will remember for years to come. And let’s be honest, nothing beats the smell of fresh-baked cookies filling the house on a chilly fall day!
Decorate the House with the Kids
If you want your home to feel as cozy as possible this fall, decorating with the family is a must! Get the kids involved by adding pumpkins around the house, stringing up some twinkling fairy lights, and tossing in a few fall-inspired touches like cozy blankets and leaf garlands. Not only does it make the house feel warm and inviting, but it’s also a fun family activity! When the weather gets chilly and the evenings grow darker, you’ll all love snuggling up in a space that’s decked out for fall.
Enjoy Family Movie Night
There is nothing better than a cozy movie night when the weather gets colder. You can wrap up warm with cozy blankets and fall snacks to enjoy the start of the fall season.
Here are five kid-friendly Halloween movies perfect for a spooky (but not too scary) movie night:
- Hocus Pocus (1993) – A fun, witchy classic with plenty of laughs and just the right amount of spooky magic.
- The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) – A Tim Burton favorite that blends Halloween and Christmas for a unique, family-friendly adventure.
- Hotel Transylvania (2012) – A goofy, animated film featuring a monster hotel and lots of light-hearted laughs for all ages.
- Casper (1995) – A heartwarming tale about a friendly ghost and his new friends, with just enough spooky charm.
- The Addams Family (2019) – This animated reboot of the creepy, kooky family is perfect for younger kids, with plenty of laughs and spooky fun.
Mom Needs a Cozy Evening Routine too!
Having a cozy fall evening routine is a great way to relax and unwind this fall. When you get home from work or a long day, take a warm bath, do your hydrating skincare, and get into snuggly pajamas before settling down to watch movies with the family.
Sticking to this cozy routine will help you indulge in the season and make the most of the coziness inside your home.
Have a Family Game Night
Another way to spend the evening together with the family is a classic game night. Choose a card or board game that is fun for all ages. Don’t forget to break out the hot cocoa and popcorn!
Bring Fall Inside
Utilize natural items to decorate your home and bring the beauty of fall inside. Arrange pumpkins, pine cones, and a potted mum to create a centerpiece. Skip the fall leaves though – they’ll just get messy as they dry and crumble. Instead, make some faux fall leaves from paper or cut up magazines. Bring those natural element indoors to help to promote relaxation, which is ideal for the fall season when you spend more time at home.