Autumn Around Ames: 5 Tuneful Fall Activities for Families with Young Children
- wendynutini
- Sep 17
- 4 min read
Fall in central Iowa is full of fun family events and opportunities to be intentional with your time together. It’s the season to enjoy the crunchy leaves, crisp autumn air, and all the pumpkin-flavored everything! Whether you’re out and about or singing together during Kindermusik class, this season offers beautiful opportunities to create memories with your little ones.
Here are five simple, music-and-movement inspired ways to enjoy the season with your family (and how each one supports your child’s growth):
1. Visit Reiman Gardens in Ames, IA & Try a Fall Sound Hunt
Take a mindful walk through the gardens and listen closely. Can you hear the rustling leaves, the birds, a water fountain, or footsteps on gravel? What other sounds do you hear? Bring a notebook and crayons to create a fall sound log to help you remember all sounds at home!
Bonus idea: Gather leaves to make DIY leaf wreaths!
Add a little music: Make a family playlist for the car ride - upbeat on the way there, calming on the way home. Try using the Relaxation album in the free Kindermusik App after your adventure!
Why it’s great for kids: Sound hunts sharpen listening skills and attention span, two key building blocks for both music and language development.
2. Apple Fun at Storybook Orchard in Story City, IA
Pick apples together, then head home for a kitchen jam session! Make your favorite applesauce recipe or even this apple pie playdough (adding applesauce + cinnamon for scent)! Stir, clap, and stir again to the beat. Tap some measuring spoons to add a little percussion!
Bonus idea: Start a “kitchen band” with pots, pans, and wooden spoons.
Add a little music: Singing while you stir helps little ones keep a steady beat. Try using the Food album in your Kindermusik App - Go Into the Kitchen is one of our favorites!
Why it’s great for kids: Cooking and making music build fine motor skills, sequencing, and math readiness. Plus, the sensory experience (smell, touch, sound) is perfect for toddlers’ whole-brain development.
3. Explore Nature at Ledges State Park in Madrid, IA
Hike the trails, toss leaves, and splash in the creek. Bring along a ribbon wand or scarf to wave like “fast wind”, let it float like “slow leaves,” or use it to swat leaves as they fall from the trees!
Bonus idea: Pretend to be different animals you might see in the woods - deer bounding, birds flying, or squirrels collecting acorns!
Add a little music: Play “fast vs. slow” movement games, matching your speed to the tempo of the music.
Why it’s great for kids: Outdoor play supports gross motor development and sensory regulation. Pairing it with music concepts like tempo helps children connect physical movement with rhythm, laying an early foundation for both dance and learning instruments.
4. Attend Local Festivals in Downtown Ames, IA
Downtown Ames is lively in the fall with family-friendly events hosted by Ames Main Street Cultural District and Octagon Center for the Arts. Three highlights this season are:
Thursday, September 18, 2025, from 5–8 p.m. Stroll through Main Street as musicians perform outside storefronts, creating a festive, music-filled evening.
Sunday, September 28, 2025, from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Celebrate creativity with artist booths, hands-on projects, and live performances that make downtown Ames an art-filled playground.
Every Saturday morning through October 12, families can shop fresh produce, crafts, and treats while enjoying street music and kid-friendly activities.
Bonus idea: Keep your child engaged between stops with clapping games, silly pumpkin songs, or a shaker you bring from home.
Add a little music: Encourage your child to listen for the rhythms all around them - the footsteps, the laughter, the live music - and try imitating them back. Ask them which sounds or instruments are their favorite!
Why it’s great for kids: Local Main Street events let children experience live music, art, and community all in one place. They help build patience, spark creativity, and strengthen kids’ sense of belonging to the Ames community.
5. Create Your Own Fall Feelings Song at Home
Sit together and make up verses about what fall feels like: “Fall feels cozy… fall feels windy… fall feels crunchy...” (to the tune of Are You Sleeping). Add claps, stomps, or hugs as you sing to the beat. Encourage your child to add their own verses with movement.
Bonus idea: Add a prop like scarves or blankets for a fall feelings dance while you sing!
Why it’s great for kids: Making up songs about feelings helps children process emotions, build vocabulary, and boost self-expression. It gives them safe, playful ways to share what’s on their mind.
Make Memories With Us
Fall isn’t just about falling leaves or back-to-school. It’s a season of change - a time for new routines, fresh experiences, and meaningful moments with your family. At Tuneful Journey, we love being part of those memories with you. From babies to age 7, our music-and-movement classes are full of laughter, bonding, and growth.
Join us in class!
Our new semester is now open for enrollments, and we'd love to welcome you! View the class schedule below, or request a FREE preview class by clicking here!
(515) 451-7787
