Play is an important part of maintaining connection with our kids, but with so much to do every day, it can be difficult to find the time and energy. Here are 31 ideas, one for each day of the month, that don’t take a lot of time or money. Commit to playing a little every day and see what a difference it makes in your home!

1. Make a fall-themed sensory bin and explore it with your child. Check out these 10 fun bin ideas for some inspiration.
2. Grab a few leaves from the yard and do leaf rubbings or do one of these leaf crafts.
3. Make a fun treat together. These ghost cookies are easy and really cute!
4. Rake a pile of leaves together and jump in them.
5. Play a card game. We like Uno the best.
6. Make sculptures with toothpicks and miniature marshmallows.
7. Go pumpkin bowling! Make ghost faces on 6 rolls of toilet paper and stack them up. Drill holes in a pumpkin like a bowling ball and see who can knock down the most ghosts!
8. Start a new read aloud and read for 30 minutes before bed every night. Our favorites are The Chronicles of Narnia books. Here is a great list.
9. Decorate pumpkins. For a fun alternative to carving, try cookie cutters and a rubber mallet to pound shapes into the pumpkin, or pick up a craft kit at your local Dollar Store.
10. Have a drawing contest, or play Win, Lose, or Draw!

Days 11-21 continued on next page!