🍁 Sensory-Friendly October Bucket List: Fall Fun for All Ages

By Marigold Speech & Co.

Fall is here — crisp air, cozy sweaters, and pumpkin spice everything! 🎃

But for many families, especially those with sensory differences, the excitement of the season can sometimes feel overwhelming. Crowded festivals, loud noises, and unpredictable environments can make it hard to enjoy fall traditions.

That’s why we’ve created a Sensory-Friendly October Bucket List — designed to bring calm, connection, and joy to your autumn. 🌼✨

It’s full of fun, flexible ideas that are easy to adapt for your family’s unique needs.

🧡 Have fun. Spend time together. Make memories — your way.

🌼 Our October Bucket List

Use this as a guide to plan sensory-friendly fun throughout the month!

Here are a few favorites from the list:

• 🎃 Visit a pumpkin patch during quiet hours

• 🧺 Go on a hayride with fewer crowds

• 🎨 Paint (instead of carve) pumpkins

• 🍂 Jump in leaves or collect them for a sensory bin

• 🍎 Go apple picking or enjoy warm apple cider

• 📖 Read cozy fall books at home

• 🎬 Have a Halloween movie night with dim lights and snacks

• 🧡 Make crafts together or bake cookies

• 🧙 Dress up in comfortable costumes

• 🌳 Take a nature walk or do a fall scavenger hunt

Each activity is easy to scale up or down depending on your child’s comfort and energy.

You don’t have to do them all — pick what feels good and skip what doesn’t!

💬 Communication Opportunities

Fall fun is full of language-building moments!

You can model AAC or spoken words like:

🍁 “soft,” “crunchy,” “cold,” “smells good,” “too loud,” “fun!”

Use photos or AAC to talk about your favorite activities:

💬 “I like pumpkins.”

💬 “More leaves.”

💬 “All done.”

Communication is everywhere — and it’s most powerful when it’s connected to joy. 🌼

🧘‍♀️ Slow Down & Savor the Season

Fall doesn’t have to be fast or full.

Enjoy small, meaningful moments:

✨ A warm drink

✨ Cozy storytime

✨ A quiet walk

✨ Coloring together

Every calm moment is a chance to connect. 💛

We’ve turned our October Bucket List into a colorful, family-friendly handout you can print and check off as you go!

👉 Print the Sensory-Friendly October Bucket List

Hang it on the fridge, use it in therapy sessions, or bring it to school to share ideas with teachers and caregivers.

🍂 Have fun, stay cozy, and enjoy every moment this fall.

From all of us at Marigold Speech & Co., happy October! 🌼

#AACAwarenessMonth #SensoryFriendlyFall #FamilyFun #MarigoldSpeech #SpeechTherapyJourney #InclusivePlay