Autumn
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Children's Stories Perfect For Autumn

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Disclosure - Some of the books in this post have been previously gifted. This post contains affiliate links. 

Last week we updated little J's book shelf with lots of stories perfect for Autumn. Each night he picks one for us to read before bed. Little J has a huge collection of books and I love that we are able to keep updating and rotating his books for all seasons and collections.  These are some of our favourite children's stories for Autumn.

Autumn Books on a book shelf

Alfie Outdoors Book
Alfie gets out and about in the garden with Dad, in this glorious book about growing, playing and sharing.

Seeds are planted; the carrots are going to be a gift for a special friend of Alfie's. But there are suprises in store...

Shirley Hughes is the creator of the bestselling, best-loved, Dogger.

You're Too Small Book
Tad is a little mouse living on a farm. He wants to help other animals with their chores, but they all told him that he's too small. But when he returns to the barn to sleep, he finds his friends are all locked out. Being small is not so bad after all.

A little bit worried book
When Weasel is caught in a big, angry storm, he builds a fortress to hide in. But then he meets Mole, who loves to play in the wind and splash in the rain. Can Weasel learn to overcome his fears and find joy, whatever the weather?

A perfect story for worriers big and small.

Kiss Good Night Sam
It was a dark and stormy night on Plum Street. In the little white house, Mrs. Bear was putting Sam to bed.

Outside, the wind blows and the rain comes down. Inside, it is Sam's bedtime. Mrs. Bear reads him a story, tucks him in, and brings him warm milk. "Are you ready now, Sam?" she asks. "I'm waiting," he says. What else does Sam need before he'll go to sleep? Could Mrs. Bear have forgotten a kiss?
 
The Nutty Nut Chase
When a shiny brown nut pops out of the ground, it looks so delicious that everybody wants to eat it. Badger decided that there will be a race ans the winner will get the nut. But the race soon turns into a nutty nut chase!

Moon Book
Have you ever wondered why the moon shines in the night-time sky? As the moon waxes and wanes above, the world below is full of busy night-time creatures; from turtles laying their eggs on white sandy beaches, to migrating birds using the moon to navigate their way to sunnier climes. Turn the peek-through pages to see the moon change shape as it goes through the lunar cycle. 

Animal Homes
Welcome to the wonderful world of animal homes, incredible habitats where creatures rest high above our heads, and where burrowing beasts dig deep into the earth below our feet. Lift the flaps in this beautifully illustrated book to uncover some astonishing homes and the animals that live within.

You and Me Little Bear
While Big Bear works, Little Bear patiently plays his bear games all by himself. What he really wants, though, is for Big Bear to play with him. Will his wish ever come true?

Tom Rabbit
Tom Rabbit is Sammy's soft-toy rabbit. He is happy with Sammy. But one evening Sammy takes Tom Rabbit out to the back field to see the real rabbits - and leaves him on the wall. The sun sets and the moon rises, and dozens of wild rabbits appear. But just as Tom Rabbit thinks he's been abandoned for the night, Sammy appears and carries Tom Rabbit back home to bed.

Harris Finds His Feet
Harris was a very small hare with very big feet. 'Why do I have such enormous feet, Grandad?' Harris sighed. So Grandad shows Harris how to hop high into the sky, to climb to the tops of the mountains, and to run very fast. Harris not only learns about the world around him but also the importance of finding his own feet.

We're Going On A Bear Hunt
Follow and join in the family's excitement as they wade through the grass, splash through the river and squelch through the mud in search of a bear. What a surprise awaits them in the cave on the other side of the dark forest!

Tales of the Forest
The forest is full of life. As the seasons change, climb trees with Bear Cub, explore the night skies with Firefly, stay cozy underground with Mole and discover snowflakes with Fox!

Guess how much I love you in Autumn
“I’m a box monster!” shouted the box. Little Nutbrown Hare loves chasing the leaves in the autumn wind – especially when a big surprise blows his way. Seasonally themed and beautifully illustrated throughout, little ones will enjoy the light-hearted ruse that Little Nutbrown Hare plays on Big Nutbrown Hare, and seeing that two can play that game! This is one of a four-part series featuring the seasons – collect them all!

I love seeing all the Autumn stories and colours on his bookshelf. It won't be long before I need to update it to Halloween but for now we are going to enjoy this seasons stories.

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Our Autumn Netflix Binge Watch List

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This post contains affiliate links - purchasing an item through an affiliate link adds no extra cost to you but might earn me a few pennies. 

Netflix Binge List
John and I have been browsing Netflix recently looking for new programmes to watch but also looking forward to the return of some new seasons of series that we have watched over the last few years. Check out our Netflix binge list for what we will watching this Autumn.

This Is Us

We started watching This Is Us last year and we binge watched the first two seasons but we then had to wait to watch the third season, which we did just recently. Luckily season four has already started so in a couple of weeks we will continue to watch.

If you’ve not seen This Is Us before it’s a really easy watching show that follows the lives of the Pearson family. Mainly we follow the lives of three siblings Kevin, Kate and Randall known as the big three. The show mainly takes place in the present however they use flashbacks to show the families past and most recently they’ve now started to show flash forwards of what their lives look like in the future.

At times it can be a little bit confusing as you are watching three timelines and sometimes more but you will soon get into it and we were hooked. Really looking forward to the fourth season which premiered on September 24.


The Affair

We stumbled across The Affair whilst browsing Netflix a few years ago. It follows the relationship between two main characters Noah Salaway and Alison Lockhart who meet and have an affair.

We then see the impact their affair has on their partners, family and friends. I am a huge fan of Joshua Jackson and have been since his Dawsons Creek days and he is great in The Affair, playing Alisons husband Cole. The first two seasons were fantastic however the third season lost it a little for me and I really struggled to keep up, it wasn’t my favourite season however it pulled it back in season four.  The fifth and final season is available to watch now I’m really looking forward to seeing how the show ends and what happens to the main characters.


Unbelievable

Unbelievable is a Netflix Original series and we are really looking forward to watching it, after reading some amazing reviews.

 Unbelievable is a miniseries drama about a series of rapes in Washington and Colorado. The series is  actually based on a true story. It’s not our usual choice of programme but with just eight episodes I would really like to give this a try. If you have managed to watch this please do leave us a comment and let us know your thoughts.


You

Last but not least I am really hoping that the rumours are true and that You series 2 will be available to watch in October. Again this was something we just stumbled upon and it’s not usual for us to watch a psychological thriller series. After watching the first episode we had to carry on and watch all 10 episodes to find out what happened to Joe a big store manager at Moonies who stalks and then begins to date a young girl called Beck. Although there is no official date of season 2  I’m hoping that  we will be able to watch it this Autumn.


Grey’s Anatomy

So this isn't a Netflix show however I had to include it on our list. I’m sure even if you’ve never watched a single episode of Grey’s Anatomy you will most probably know of the show and what it’s about. Grey’s Anatomy is a medical drama that follows the lives of interns, residents and doctors at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital. We mainly follow the life of Meredith Grey the daughter of an esteemed general surgeon named Alice Gray. The show began in 2005 and is now up to series 16 which premiered on September 26.

Grey’s Anatomy is probably one of the best and worst things I’ve ever watched in my entire life. I have laughed but I have also cried a lot watching it so if you haven’t seen it and you’re beginning your Grey’s Anatomy journey then please have a box of tissues to hand.



So these are our top five binge watching programmes that we will be watching this Autumn. If you have any different series please do let us know as we are always looking for new recommendations.

Michelle
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It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Autumn

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I can’t believe it’s October. I know Autumn officially started last week but for me October is the beginning of Autumn. I Love Autumn and Winter, it is my favourite time of year. We always have so much to look forward to once October arrives. We probably do more between October and December than we do all year round as we have lots of traditions and already lots of events and days out planned and I’m looking forward to sharing them with you all.

boy walking along a log


October half term is always a highlight for us, we try to cram in as many Halloween type events as we can as little J just loves Halloween. October half term usually means us taking a trip up to Blackpool to see the Blackpool lights, it's something we’ve done for over 15 years. It never gets old or boring, it’s just a lovely evening out.

Lots of Pumpkins
Pumpkin picking is a new tradition for us, we only started it two years ago. Pumpkin Picking was something we’ve never considered before but after speaking to a friend she told me how much she enjoyed it with her children so we decided to pop along to Kenyon Hall Farm to pick a pumpkin. It was such a fun time little J enjoyed pushing the wheelbarrow around looking for the perfect pumpkin to pick. Last year I wrote a post listing the best pumpkin patches around the UK with the help from other bloggers. I think this year we will be heading back to Kenyon Hall Farm as we know it always has the perfect pumpkins to pick.

Halloween is something we are really looking forward to this year little J loves dressing up and trick or treating. I am going to have for Halloween soon including letting little J pick his scary costume, buying  lots of house decorations and lots of treats for the kids. I will be shortly posting our Halloween gift guide which will give you lots of gift ideas for Halloween, room decorations, costumes and treats for all the kids.

Autumn usually means the start of new seasons on Netflix. It's the perfect time to snuggle under the blanket and binge watch your favourite TV programmes. 

Another highlight for us is heading to the shops to update our wardrobe and give it a more Autumn and Winter feel. Although I’ll be sad to ditch all my summer clothes I am looking forward to lots of browns, yellows and oranges in my wardrobe. I also can't wait to put on my favourite boots and wellies.

Scarefest sign
Once October has passed its time to think about bonfire night which is another special time for us as we like to try and head to Alton Towers for Scarefest or Fireworks events.  Then with a blink of an eye it will be almost Christmas, my favourite time of year

So there’s lots of things to look forward to this autumn I can’t wait to get started and sharing with you or what we get up to so watch this race.

Michelle
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Preparing Your Garden For Autumn

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Disclosure - This is a paid collaboration.

Last week little J and I went out in to the garden and he said to me that it smelt like Halloween. At first I had no idea what he meant but as I felt the cold wind hit me I knew exactly what he meant, the seasons are changing and there is a definite Autumn feel in the air. I love Autumn but I don't feel like we have had much Summer this year compared to last and we have just started putting all of little J's garden toys into large storage containers as I don't think we will need the swimming pool and water toys again this year.  We've also made a start on a general clean up of the garden too preparing for the colder months. Here are a few tips on how to get your garden ready for Autumn. 

autumn leaves
Cleaning Up and Storing
Clean all your garden tools before storing them for the winter. Get the mud off, and wipe moving parts and joints of metal tools with an oily rag for a bit of rust protection. As we have artificial grass we don't use many garden tools so this job was an easy one but its very important. We have had to throw tools away in the past because they rusted over the colder and wetter months. 

We have washed all of little J's outdoor toys making sure that we gave them a good rinse and then let them dry fully before storing. It's important to make sure all toys and water toys have no traces of water before you store otherwise they will go mouldy.

If you have a big garage or other outbuildings, make sure they’re damp-free and secure, then put everything inside. We have a shed and also a little one that I call a bike shed. It is always nice and dry in there no matter what the weather outside so it's the perfect place to store little J's toys. If you don’t have much space to spare, a bit of creative thinking is needed.

Can you put up more shelves in the garage or shed, or hang hooks on the walls to hold tools so you leave the floor free for the car?

A handy option, and one that’s growing in popularity, is renting a self storage unit. You’ll find most are easy to get to in town locations, and you’re allowed to install freestanding shelves to keep stuff organised. When you’re storing things in tubs, label the sides so you can find everything easily.

Make It Cosy
You can still enjoy your garden in the colder months by making the seating area or patio cosy. Put up some twinkling lights, get an outdoor heater and have nice blankets to hand so you can wrap up. I actually love sitting in the garden no matter what the weather. I have actually sat on the patio in the rain before now under the umbrella and it was so peaceful.

Plants and Boarders
If you’ve been to a garden centre this year, you’ll know how expensive plants are. The more you can save or take seeds from, the more lush your garden can be next year, for a whole lot less money. 

You can save the seeds from vegetables and flowering plants and this is something children can help with. Good ones are peas, French beans and tomatoes.

Scoop tomato seeds out and lay them on paper towels to dry

Wait until the bean pods are brown and papery then pick them and let them dry too. When they are dry, get the seeds out of the pods and save them. 

A cool dark place is good, so the fridge is handy. Wrap them in paper packets and they should be good for planting next year.

Other autumn jobs to schedule are lifting up delicate plants like dahlias, and deciding where to plant bulbs for spring flowering. Routinely pick up fallen leaves, especially getting them out of a pond if you have one. Keep the grass short — it gets a lot harder to mow as the weather gets wetter.

Garden shed


Seasonal Sorting
Many people these days find they have more possessions than house space, so use self storage units as a cost-effective, virtual home extension. For example, you could rotate garden equipment into and out of self storage depending on the season. 

During the winter, your storage room can house all your garden equipment and furnishings, barbecues, paddling pools and trampolines. During the summer, it’s a secure place for winter sports gear. Not just expensive, sports equipment is often bulky or awkwardly shaped, making it hard to keep out of the way at home.

You’ll get so much more out of the garden through winter when summer gear isn’t claiming all the space. Not only is there more room for playing in the snow (if we’re lucky enough to have some), but it’s uplifting to have a view of a clear garden through the windows.

Preparing your garden for Autumn may not seem necessary but spending time on these little jobs can really help you make the most out your garden.

Michelle
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Pumpkin Picking at Kenyon Hall Farm

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We did our first ever Pumpkin pick last year and at first we had no idea which pumpkin patch to choose as there are quite a few local to us, however we heard lots of good recommendations for Kenyon Hall Farm so we chose to visit there. We loved it and chose to go again this year too.

pumpkin in pumpkin patch
What To Expect At Kenyon Hall Farm, Warrington WA3 7ED
Kenyon Hall Farm has been growing pumpkins for over 30 years and has become one of the most popular and biggest pumpkin patches in England. 

As well as the Pumpkin Patch you can also enjoy a bite to eat or drink at the cafe, visit the shop or let the little ones explore the play area.

Boy in pumpkin patch

Boy in pumpkin patch
Pumpkin picking begins on the 1st of October and lasts right through till Halloween. (31st October).

Pumpkins can last up to 3-4 when un-carved so you can visit earlier on in the month however there is no guarantees it will last till Halloween. The only bonus about visiting early is the Pumpkin Patches will look prettier earlier on as they can become very muddy. 

pumpkin patch

pumpkin patch



pumpkins
If you don't manage to find a pumpkin in the patch you can head indoors where you will find lots of pumpkins to choose from which have already been picked and put on display.

Pre Booking your ticket is essential when visiting Kenyon Hall Farm. 

Tickets cost £2 each for adults and children. Children under 18months go free.

The play area is free to enjoy and was fully revamped in 2019. 

If you would like to visit the cafe, no booking is required. Turn up and order your food and collect from the hatch. There are picnic benches around the farm however indoor seating options will be reviewed during the colder months. 

Kenyon Hall Farm is open every day 9-5pm.

I am always so grateful for any support I receive on my blog and social channels. If you did find this post useful there are a few ways that you could say thanks and support Playdays and Runways.

Leave us a comment below and let us know what you thought. 

Like us on FacebookTwitter and Instagram


Share This Post With Friends Who May Also Find It Useful. 


Michelle
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5 Reasons Why I Love Autumn

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Autumn is one of my favourite times of the year. I usually start preparing for Autumn once the kids go back to school. I love to pack up my Summer wardrobe and swap it for knitted jumpers, leggings and boots. I also like to change the furnishings around the home to match the season and give it a more cosy feel. I'll introduce lots of browns and oranges and choose a candle that smells just like Autumn.

a pathway through trees



I could honestly think of so many reasons why I love Autumn but I've listed my top five. 

boy looking in to a clowns mouth


1. We have so many traditions that happen in the last few months of the year including our trips to Alton Towers for their Scarefest and Fireworks celebrations. We have been visiting every year for the last 20 so it's something we look forward to all year.

2. Binge watching TV Boxsets. This is mine and John's time to chill in the evenings and catch up on all the TV we missed over the Summer. We don't tend to watch a lot of TV during the warmer months as we are usually out and about or chilling in the garden in the evenings. This year we are looking forward to a new series for us, Manifest. Also we need to finish the Marvel movies then get stuck in to The Falcon and The Winter Soldier and then Loki.

3. Cooler nights means we can get out our cosy blankets and put the central heating on. It only ever feels like true Autumn when you can hear the central heating system making its little noises. We also get the candles out to give us a warm effect in the house too.

boy and woman walking

4. Autumn walks are a must. We would much rather prefer to go for walks this time of year as the colder weather starts to creep in and the leaves begin to fall. Since we joined National Trust we have found so many properties to explore and cannot wait to find more this year. 

5. The countdown to Christmas begins. I always feel that once September comes, Christmas is here before you know it. I know some people don't like hearing Christmas songs in the shops especially when it's only September but I love it. I love seeing all the decorations going up and visiting Blackpool for the illuminations is another sign for us that Christmas will soon be here.

Do you love Autumn? What is your favourite thing about the Season?

Michelle
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Pumpkin Picking At Kenyon Hall Farm

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We did our first ever Pumpkin pick a few years ago and at first we had no idea which pumpkin patch to choose as there are quite a few local to us, however we heard lots of good recommendations for Kenyon Hall Farm so we chose to visit there. We loved it and chose to go again this year too.

pumpkin in pumpkin patch
What To Expect At Kenyon Hall Farm, Warrington WA3 7ED
Kenyon Hall Farm has been growing pumpkins for over 30 years and has become one of the most popular and biggest pumpkin patches in England. 

As well as the Pumpkin Patch you can also enjoy a bite to eat or drink at the cafe, visit the shop or let the little ones explore the play area.

Boy in pumpkin patch

Boy in pumpkin patch
Pumpkin picking begins on the 1st of October and lasts right through till Halloween. (31st October).

Pumpkins can last up to 3-4 when un-carved so you can visit earlier on in the month however there is no guarantees it will last till Halloween. The only bonus about visiting early is the Pumpkin Patches will look prettier earlier on as they can become very muddy. 

pumpkin patch

pumpkin patch



pumpkins
If you don't manage to find a pumpkin in the patch you can head indoors where you will find lots of pumpkins to choose from which have already been picked and put on display.

Pre Booking your ticket is essential when visiting Kenyon Hall Farm. 

Tickets cost £2 each for adults and children. Children under 18months go free.

The play area is free to enjoy and was fully revamped in 2019. 

If you would like to visit the cafe, no booking is required. Turn up and order your food and collect from the hatch. There are picnic benches around the farm however indoor seating options will be reviewed during the colder months. 

Kenyon Hall Farm is open every day 9-5pm.

woman picking a pumpkin


I am always so grateful for any support I receive on my blog and social channels. If you did find this post useful there are a few ways that you could say thanks and support Playdays and Runways.

Leave us a comment below and let us know what you thought. 

Like us on FacebookTwitter and Instagram


Share This Post With Friends Who May Also Find It Useful. 


Michelle
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Our Sainsbury's Halloween Goodies

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Sainsbury's Halloween Goodies

What do you get if you pop into Sainsbury’s for bread and milk with a 4 year old? A trolley full of Halloween goodies!! Last week was the first time I have seen little J be so excited for Halloween. As we walked through the door of our local Sainsbury’s we were stopped in our tracks by a huge display of Halloween decorations. Little J instantly ran over and started pressing try me buttons on light up lanterns and dancing pumpkins. At one point he had three dancing characters on the floor watching them as they spun around. I do usually buy one or two new decorations each year to add to our collection so I had a silly idea of asking little J to choose two new items . . . he wanted everything. 

We always have a Halloween house party each year but as big J is too old now and little J wasn't old enough we haven't had one for a few years, just a little tea party for the 4 of us. However this year I am looking forward to hosting a Halloween party for some friends. 

Sainsbury's Halloween Goodies
Whilst little J was playing with the Halloween toys I popped in the trolley some partyware. I know that we will have tons in the loft as I buy lots of it every year and never end up using it all but I had to buy a new table cloth, plates, cups and napkins. There were 3 variations but I went for the ghosts design They say Woo and Boo and the tablecloth has lots of eyes on it and is wipe clean. They were priced at £2.50 each for packs of 10 for the cups and plates, napkins are a pack of 20 and the tablecloth is single and cost £3.50. I also bought Halloween crackers which are cute and cost £4 for 8.

Sainsbury's Halloween Goodies
Little J wanted to get some spiders and spider webs which I think are great fun and look so realistic. We have had some similar before and they are very creepy but the web gets everywhere. It comes in a ball with the plastic spiders attached and the idea is you pull the web and the more you pull the more it looks like spooky cobwebs. We always put it over the lights, around the fireplace and up the stairs. These were great value for money and priced at £3 including lots of web and 6 spiders,

Sticking with spiders I bought some door decorations. They hang over your door frame and have glittery webs and hanging spiders. These were priced at £6 each so I bought two as we have two main doors downstairs however now thinking about it I should have bought 4 as I am guessing they will only cover one side of the door. 

Sainsbury's Halloween Goodies
This was my favourite buy and I just fell in love with them when I saw them. Halloween Ghost Bottle String Lights, They are sound activated however there is a try me on them and once I pressed them I knew I had to buy them They play the Alton Towers music. For those that know us will know we are huge fans of Alton Towers so this was a must buy. They were priced at £12 for 10 lights. 

Last but not least little J decided to choose a dancing pumpkin which when pressed spins round and dances to The Monster Mash song. There were others to choose from, including a witch and a skeleton. It was priced at £12 and is really cute. 

So that is just a few of our new additions to our Halloween decorations this year. We still haven't been to Costco yet which we usually do every year and will normally find something to buy so watch this space. 

Have you bought any decorations for Halloween yet?

Michelle 
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Autumn Days Out With The Kids

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The summer holidays have now come to an end. Trying to keep the kids entertained for six weeks can be challenging but we found some days out that were not too expensive but we had lots of fun. For some help in finding a day out you can always visit my Family Days Out page or I have listed a few of our Autumn Days Out With The Kids.

woods

1. Cinema 
Going to the cinema can be very expensive when you have more than one child to take. Big J sometimes goes with his friends now and we don't get much change from £20 after he has paid for his ticket, drink and snack. Little J was never to keen on the cinema so we didn't want to pay full price for a ticket so we took advantage of the Last Chance or Kids Screening as these are a lot cheaper than a normal ticket. Showcase Cinemas offer Last Chance and Odeon Kids Club is just £2.50 and you can see films every Saturday or Sunday morning and every day during school holidays. Perfect for a wet day.

boy at the farm

2. Farm
We recently took little J the farm and he really enjoyed it. It cost £2.50 per adult and £1.50 per child to enter. There was an option to feed the goats or chickens by buying a bag of food at 50p each. We chose Goat food as they are so funny and always hungry. Little J thought it was hilarious when they were eating the food out of our hands. There was a woodland walk which was a little muddy but as long as you have suitable clothing for the kids such as children's waterproof over trousers, wellies and a rain jacket they can have lots of muddy fun. We finished off the morning with lunch in the cafe. This made the visit more expensive as it was approx £4 per person for a sandwich and drink. There were plenty of people eating picnics outside on the grass and picnic benches so if you want to cut the cost take a packed lunch

3. Swimming
Swimming is perfect for a wet day. Sometimes on weekends or school holidays our local pool bring out lots of inflatables and the slide is usually open too. We have a lifestyles pool close by which is free for big and little J. John usually takes them on a Saturday morning and it is reasonably quiet. They start in the little pool and then they all go in the big pool for a play and swim.

boy on the swing


4. Park
We love going to the park and could happily spend a day there. Depending on your park you can usually spend quite some time on the play areas, exploring the woods and visiting the cafe for a pit stop drink. 

Beach


5. The Beach
Most kids love visiting the beach and if you choose the right one you can have a really good time. We have a few within driving reach and its perfect for a lovely Autumn walk. Take along a bucket and spade and you can have so much fun, even if its cold and windy. We have some water shoes and flip flops always with us in the car just in case we decide to visit a beach. We then have a little paddle in the sea and have a look for crabs and starfish.

Do you have a favourite Autumn day out?

I am always so grateful for any support I receive on my blog and social channels. If you did find this post useful there are a few ways that you could say thanks and support Playdays and Runways.

Leave us a comment below and let us know what you thought. 

Like us on FacebookTwitter and Instagram


Share This Post With Friends Who May Also Find It Useful. 

Michelle
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