Invite Children to catch and count fall leaves as they fall to the ground during the autumn months for a fun outdoor gross motor movement and math activity!
My daughter and I created a fun fall leaves counting game—catching and counting autumn leaves as they dance to the ground on a windy day. My daughter loves playing this game, as do her father and I, so I thought I’d share it with you! It’s a great way to connect with nature and stay active outdoors. The challenge is to catch as many leaves as you can before they touch the ground. The wind is swirling, the leaves are tumbling in every direction, and it’s up to you to stay quick, focused, and sharp-eyed.
If you spot a nearby leaf falling, race to catch it to get a point! When you are finished chasing after leaves for the day, count up the number of points (the number of times you caught a leaf) before it touches the ground. The person with the most points wins! Ready to chase after those leaves and count the number you can successfully catch? Scroll down to learn how to play this simple leaf-catching and counting game. You may also enjoy these other Outside Fall Leaf Activities.
Related: Fall Leaf Lacing Beginning Sewing Project for Kids
Fall Leaf Counting Games for Kids:
Invite children to get outside to catch and count falling leaves as they tumble and dance to the ground. It’s a straightforward yet fun outdoor gross motor activity and counting game that my daughter loves to play. There are many ways to play, depending on your child’s age and counting ability. You can even make up your own way to play.
Catching falling leaves is a fantastic activity for gross motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and sensory input of all kinds. Go ahead, invite the kids to try fall leaves counting games, and see what happens. As the leaves come falling down, catch them dancing to the ground.
How to Play Fall Leaf Counting Game:
Playing this fall leaf-catching and counting game is a delightful way to get active outdoors in the autumn. The goal is simple: catch as many leaves as you can before they land on the ground. The second step is much easier than the first. Count the number you can successfully grab. You don’t need any special equipment, just a breezy fall day, some open space with trees, such as a park, and your hands ready to reach for and grab those fluttering leaves as they drift down from the trees above.
Start by finding a safe area with plenty of trees and space to move freely. A park, a backyard, or a school playground is an excellent choice. The best time to play is on a windy day when the leaves are swirling and dancing through the air. The gusts will keep leaves moving unpredictably, making the leaf-counting game more challenging and exciting.
Before starting play, set some basic ground rules:
- Decide how long each round will last.
- Determine how many leaves count as a win.
- Will you play solo or in teams?
- Decide if there are any other rules or gameplay involved.
- Discuss ways to stay safe during play:
- Know where the trees and other obstacles are to avoid running into them.
- Watch your footing, especially if the ground is covered in slippery leaves.
- Be aware of other players or people not playing the game.
Playing the Game:
Once you’re ready, watch the branches closely and get ready to move! When leaves begin to fall, run, jump, and reach to catch them before they touch the ground. Use your hands, a small net, or even a hat to help you catch them if you like. Each leaf you catch earns you a point. Keep track of your score, or play for fun to see who can catch the most leaves before time runs out.
Leaf Catching Game Variations:
To make things even more interesting, you can add variations to the game. For example, you can give different point values to different leaf colors, challenge players to catch leaves of a specific shape or type, or see who can catch the most leaves on a single gust of wind. Which is actually a lot more challenging than you might think.
Alternatively, turn it into a cooperative game where everyone works together to reach a shared goal. Or a competitive game where teams compete against each other to see who can catch the most leaves to win. You can even incorporate a basket, a goal, or something similar if you want to combine gameplay with another sport, such as basketball.
If your child isn’t ready to count or doesn’t want to play fall leaf counting games, don’t force it. Learning can happen naturally when children are allowed to play and engage with what interests them. Catching fall leaves is an environment ripe with opportunities to learn on its own, whether or not counting games are used. When the game ends, take a moment to enjoy the crisp autumn air and admire the colorful leaves you’ve collected. Afterwards, take some home to preserve or make fall nature crafts with.
Related: Fall Autumnal Equinox Celebration Ideas
Outdoor Leaf Counting Activities for Kids:
One of the best things about the fall is the breezy days when the leaves rain down upon the Earth. It’s such a magical time of year filled with warm colors and the soft light of autumn.
My daughter and I started playing fall leaf-counting games when I invited her to try to catch leaves in our backyard one day as they fell to the ground. Before I knew it, half an hour had passed in a hundred and one blissful squeals.
When she was finished, she asked me how many leaves she had caught. “How many leaves did I catch, Mommy?” She asked excitedly. I had absolutely NO idea… I stole a few moments while she was happily engaged in this nature-based play. It was lovely!
She was not at all happy about this. Mommy should have known the answer to how many fall leaves she caught before they hit the ground, and I did not–whoops! The next time she wanted to play fall leaves counting games, I was ready for the “how many leaves” question.
Before she started, I asked her to run over to make a mark on our outdoor chalkboard each time she caught an autumn leaf before it fell to the ground. Making a mark after catching each leaf made the game even more exciting for my daughter.
Running to the chalkboard to draw another line became a reward for her because she did not catch very many. Believe it or not, catching leaves as they fall to the ground is actually quite challenging. When she was done catching falling leaves, she could look at how many marks she had made and count them to know how many leaves she caught.
How many autumn leaves can you catch before they fall to the ground?
Related: Marbled Clay Gratitude Leaves
Fall Leaf Counting Outdoor Gross Motor Activities and Math Games for Kids
If you have more than one child, they can choose to make it a competition or come up with their own way to play. Allow children to work out their own rules. This will add a social-emotional component to this gross motor activity and math game for kids.
On a day when the leaves are falling, invite your children to try to catch and count the falling leaves!
Related: Fall Leaf Art Project for Kids and Teens
Autumn Leaves Counting Activity for Children
Fall leaves counting games are fun for children of all ages. Children can learn through play with these fun gross motor movement and math activities. Learning can happen naturally when children are allowed to play, catch, and count leaves. Follow your children’s lead, and you can’t go wrong.
This fall leaves counting activity is a fun way to get outside and move in the fresh air. After chasing, catching, and counting, you’ve sharpened your focus, timing, and observation skills in addition to getting much-needed exercise. You might also enjoy these other fun ways to play with fall leaves outside!
Related: The Best Fall Art Projects for Kids
Outdoor Fall Leaves Activities for Kids:
For more fun fall outdoor leaf activities, pop over to have a look at 10 Fun Ways to Play with Fall Leaves Outside!
Fun Ideas for Playing and Creating with Real Fall Leaves:
- Fall Leaf Lacing
- Watercolor and Fall Leaves Art
- Heart Leaf Lanterns
- Turkey Leaf Lanterns
- How to Make a Thankful Tree with Real Leaves
- Leaf Baby Craft
- Best Fall Nature Crafts (Includes leaf crafts that use real fall leaves)
Outside Nature Activities for Kids and Families:
You may also enjoy this collection of outside learning ideas and nature activities for kids.
Learn more about Nell Regan Kartychok, author, photographer, and creator of this outdoor fall leaf activity HERE, and Rhythms of Play HERE!
Please visit these fall activities, along with a printable Fall Bucket List, for more fun autumn activities and crafts.
We moved into our first house this past spring, so this is our first fall here and I am in love with it! We have a huge elm tree and a few pecan trees and they are just “raining” leaves. You would think they would be bare by now, but nope not even close lol….I can’t wait to watch my little one catch the falling leaves! Great idea! 🙂
I’m so glad that you have the opportunity to enjoy autumn leaves raining to the ground in your own backyard. I hope your little one enjoyed catching and counting fall leaves!
Playing with leaves is one of our favorite parts of fall, and I love all the learning potential! Thanks for sharing, Nell.
Ours too! There are so many fun ways to play and learn with leaves.