7 reasons to love autumn!

Autumn is a fun time for kids. Nature offers lots of materials for crafts, wind lets the kites fly high in the sky and rainy days create with lots of puddles to jump through. Of course, not all of us are delighted that autumn has arrived as it is also the prelude to winter. Here are 7 reasons to love autumn:

1. It’s the perfect time to take out your favorite sweaters and boots.

I love those crazy sweaters people wear around the Christmas season. But even though it’s too early to wear those, I am starting to dig out those warm, soft sweaters which are just lovely to wear because they feel so smooth on my skin.

Did you know that the shoes you wear have something to say about your personality? I just read an article which I can summarize as follows:

• Cowboy Boots: No matter what’s planned, your happy to go along with it. Be it a music festival or dancing the night away in a fancy club, your boots are made for walking 😉 .
• Sneakers: You’re always up for an adventure and you’re wearing the shoes so that you can keep up with anything.
• Kitten-Heels: You are full of contradictions. Outgoing and shy, you believe in traditional values but are free from the limitations social conventions impose on us.
• High-heeled boots: you’re aggressive, at least according to those studies.
• High Heels: up up up and away! Your plans in life aren’t ordinary and you liked to be noticed. This said, you’re relaxed and thoughtful.

Recognize yourself? No matter which shoes you pick, make sure your feet are dry so you don’t catch a cold!

2. When it’s cold and rainy outside, grab a cuddly blanket, some hot chocolate and your favorite book and start reading.

We have started to fire up our fireplace, which gives the living room a warm, cozy feeling. I love the warmth of a natural fire as compared to traditional heaters. Sitting in front of the fire place, reading a good book, is incredibly relaxing and lifts my mood. Even better, these days my daughter reads to me, which means I can share this special moment with her while simultaneously completing her homework!

3. When the sun does come out, make sure to admire the colors of autumn.

Vitamin D is incredibly important for all functions in your body and the sun provides most of what we need. Especially your arms should be exposed to the sun, as your body can absorb the most Vitamin D there. 15 minutes of exposure a day are enough. Vitamin D also helps to lift your mood, so make sure to catch those rays when they do come out.

Have you noticed the lovely colors? Even though I am not exactly a fan of “orange”, I do love the hues of autumn.

4. Go out and collect chestnuts, leaves and acorns for fun crafts.

There are lots of fun crafts you can do with what nature has to offer at this time of year. Going for a walk to collect chestnuts, leaves, acorns, sticks and more is going to keep kids busy for a while. It is also a great opportunity to mention the names of the different trees and studying the way the leaves vary from one tree to another. You can make a scavenger hunt out of your walk. Here is a great resource to give you some ideas: https://www.123homeschool4me.com/fall-leaf-scavenger-hunt_1

Show off how much you know by quizzing the kids about why leaves fall off trees. Curious to know the answer yourself? Find out more here: http://theconversation.com/curious-kids-why-do-leaves-fall-off-trees-111914

Once your back home, you can start making fun objects with the things you found outside. Need some inspiration? Pinterest is a great resource for all types of craft projects.

5. Stay healthy

Everyone is already sneezing and coughing and most of us catch a cold sooner or later. Do your best to avoid getting ill by eating lots of healthy and yummy seasonal foods like pumpkins, apples, bell peppers, Brussels sprouts, sweet potatoes and pears.

Pumpkins are absolutely amazing veggies! They are low in calories and high in vitamins and minerals. Antioxidants, which can be found in pumpkins in relatively high concentration, are supposed to reduce the risk of cancer. The nutrients in pumpkins can boost your immune system, keeping those nasty bacteria at bay and protect against heart diseases. And the best thing about them? You can make nearly any dish with pumpkins 🙂 Be it cookies, pies, soups or pasta, you will find that the world wide web is full of easy recipes for any taste.

6. Start planning for Christmas

You know that Christmas is approaching quickly, so get your Christmas shopping done early, or at least draw up a list of who gets what. Make sure to save a little cash for all those extra expenses around the Christmas season.

7. Dance and sing

“I think music in itself is healing. It’s an explosive expression of humanity. It’s something we are all touched by. No matter what culture we’re from.”

– Billy Joel

Nothing will lift your mood like upbeat music so turn the music on and start dancing away. When you listen to music your brain releases dopamine which lifts your mood. Simple and easy! It also decreases the level of cortisol in your blood, the stress hormone, which helps you relax and enjoy the moment. Singing along to the music trains your memory and if you listen to music in a foreign language, it even helps you learn new words.