We love welcoming the Autumn season. Crops that have been planted in the Spring are finally ready to harvest and there is something wonderful about the changing colours as the land around us, as well as birds and animals, prepare for the cold winter that likely lies ahead.
With harvest comes pumpkin picking. A pastime favoured in the USA for many years and we are definitely seeing a growth in popularity in the UK too. Even if you don’t celebrate Halloween, it is a great opportunity to get outside with the little ones and then come home and make a wonderful soup from the fruits of your labour. Could there be anything more comforting than warm soup in a thick, knitted jumper with the candles lit and the fire roaring? We think not.
This time of year also means longer, darker nights. Which also means it is the perfect time for some star gazing. The moon in November is known as the Beaver Moon and is apparently so called due to beavers using the light from this moon to see as they build their dams in preparation for winter.
Another wonderful thing to do with children when the nights are clear is to track the International Space Station in the sky as it flies over. You can check its location by heading to this website and inputting your town https://spotthestation.nasa.gov There is something a little magical about seeing it sweep through the sky at night.
Finally, there are also apparently psychological reasons we love Autumn. It brings with it a fresh start, possibly associated with the start of a new academic year in schools. It also enables us to come back to the routines we thrive on, after a summer spent holidaying, with children staying up late and lazier starts to the mornings.
This is the perfect time of year to spend more time outside, in nature and reap all the benefits that brings.