As the weather gets cooler and pushes us indoors, you might be looking for fun things to keep your kids busy and having fun during the fall and winter months. We’ve rounded up some things to do around St. Louis and easy activities at home to give you a head start!
Check out a free museum or attraction
St. Louis has so many fun and educational attractions for kids and families. Check out page 3 of the Blueprint4 activity book for some ideas to get you started: St. Louis Art Museum, Missouri History Museum, Contemporary Art Museum, St. Louis Science Center, World Chess Hall of Fame, and the St. Louis Zoo are all free to visit.
Make a visit to your local library
The days of summer reading challenges may be over, but it’s still important to keep kids reading. Visit your local library to participate in events geared toward youth and literacy, check out some new books, or explore the kid-friendly play spaces. Several branches of St. Louis Public Library also offer an Afterschool Meals program in partnership with Operation Food Search to provide free meals to area children.
Check out upcoming programs at the St. Louis Public Library
Explore nature
Hikes and walks are a great way to let kids explore how nature changes through the seasons and get some wiggles out! Some favorite trails in and around St. Louis are:
Shaw Nature Reserve: 14 miles of paved and unpaved hiking trails through glades, prairie, woodlands and forest.
The Nature Institute: Families can explore trails with views of tallgrass prairie, limestone bluffs, streams, and a waterfall. The trails are open any day of the year, from sunrise to sunset.
Gravois Greenway (Grant’s Trail): Follow this flat, paved trail that passes alongside Grant’s Farm and catch a glimpse of the famous Clydesdales.
Dr. Edmund A. Babler Memorial State Park: Follow the 1.75 mile bicycle path for a pleasant walk through the park. Several other trails branch off from this main trail if you’d like to hike even longer.
Arts/crafts or indoor science experiment
When it’s too chilly to explore the outdoors, head inside for an arts and crafts session. Or, get science-y with an at-home experiment! Here’s one from the Blueprint4 activity book:
Invisible Ink Challenge:
Gear up for STEM fun with a Blueprint4 Science Lab in your own home! Follow the step-by-step instructions for a hands-on learning experience. Use caution and plenty of protective clothing as the turmeric will stain!
Materials
- Water – ½ cup
- Baking soda – 1 Tablespoon
- Paper
- Q-Tips to apply invisible ink
- Rubbing alcohol – ½ cup
- Turmeric – 1 teaspoon
- Paper towels to apply color changing solution
Instructions
- Add baking soda to water and stir to make the “invisible ink.”
- Use Q-tips to draw a secret message or picture with the invisible ink on paper.
- To make color-changing solution, add turmeric to rubbing alcohol and stir.
- When paper is dry, use a paper towel to apply the color changing solution to the paper to reveal the secret message or picture!