5 Fall Family Activities Close-to-Home

Shorter days don’t mean you’ll be short on opportunities for family fun! Our list of safe fall activities at home will help you embrace the best of the season with your loved ones - all while saving money and staying close to home. 

No matter the size of your family, or the age of your kids, you can make new and lasting memories this fall. And keep these electrical safety tips at the ready to keep your family safe as you play.
 

1. Go on a nature hike. Even if you live in the city, create a route around your neighborhood or a local park or nature area that will ensure your family enjoys some outdoor time! Enlist the help of your grade school-aged kids to create a nature bingo sheet for the hike. Make spaces with things like acorns, colored leaves, ravens, and squirrels. Whoever gets a bingo first gets to choose the post-hike snack! 

Safety tip: While you’re out, help your kids identify power lines in your neighborhood and talk about how to keep a safe, 10-foot distance from electrical lines. 

2. Tailgate from home. If your family enjoys watching games together each weekend, you can create a game-day atmosphere without leaving home! Create the feeling of a tailgate party on your back deck, in your driveway, or even in your living room. Lay out cozy blankets, paper goods, and spirit wear. Cook up your favorite game-day snacks, too, for the ultimate fall activity at home!

If you plan to tailgate outside, double-check your outdoor lights and extension cords before you gather for game day. Extension cords are made specifically for indoor or outdoor use, so make sure your outdoor cords are made to withstand the elements. Inspect sockets plugs for frayed or broken pieces. Learn more here about electrical safety checks to do around your home.

3. Carve, decorate and light up those pumpkins! Challenge each member of your family to create a custom pumpkin design. Carving, painting, collage – any method is allowed! Give supportive feedback on each family member’s creation. And once your family of pumpkins is complete, enlist everyone’s help to create a pumpkin display in your front room or porch, enhanced with holiday-themed decorative lights.  

While you’re plugging in holiday lights: Check the cords of your decorative lights, as well as your indoor and outdoor appliances and plugs throughout your house. Make sure none of your cords are damaged or sitting out in high-traffic areas. If your kids are learning at home, make sure their laptops and cords aren’t sitting in a place where they could be tripped on. 

4. Make your own fall candles - and get some gifts ready for the holidays! Follow an easy DIY recipe for at-home candle-making, selecting autumnal flavors such as cinnamon, clove, pumpkin, and vanilla. Then, display them throughout your house! Burning candles is a way to add a cozy feeling to your home without using additional electricity. Make some extra candles to give to family members as holiday gifts!  

Use your candles safely! Candles can be used safely at home as long as you set family rules and expectations. Never leave candles unattended, and ensure lit candles are put in places that avoid plants, paper, drapes, and other flammable materials.

Looking for other small ways to save energy this season? Check out this post for  simple ways to reduce your home’s energy consumption and save money on your electric bill. 

5. Add new plants and trees to your yard before winter. Recruit your family to help choose some new bushes, flowers or trees from your community garden center to add to your yard. Create a game or contest to determine who gets to choose where your new plants will be placed! Then bring the family together to plant them before the weather gets cold. 

Plant smart! Some plant varieties can have an insulating effect on your home and help you save on your energy bills this winter, such as wind-blocking bushes and trees. Tip: Do not plant tall vegetation on the south side of your home. This will prevent the sun from entering and warming your house in colder months.

Plant safely! Trees should not be planted within 25 feet of a power line. All trees and bushes should also avoid areas around electric meters, transformers, or other equipment. Before digging, visit Call Before You Dig, and call the local underground utility locator service at 811 to mark the location of underground utilities, so you don’t accidentally come into contact with a power line.

Here’s to a fun-filled fall season with your family! Need more ideas? Check out: creative ways your family can save energy and have fun while staying at home.

Have questions about your electricity as you prepare for the winter months? Please contact the experts at your local electric cooperative or public power district to learn more. 

This video explains how renewable energy resources and innovative technology solutions are leading to lower rates and more sustainable power for members of local electric cooperatives. Learn how these new advancements will benefit you and your electric bill!

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Tri-State is a not-for-profit cooperative of 44 members, including 41 member utility electric distribution cooperatives and public power districts in four states, that together deliver reliable, affordable, and responsible power to more than a million electricity consumers across nearly 200,000 square miles of the West.