1. Get scrunching at the National Arboretum at Westonbirt in the Cotswolds, full of colour from late September to November. The Japanese maples in particular astound, with their multicoloured patchwork of colour. From October 25–29 you can discover

time by the sun   Before you head to the park, make your own sundial to keep track of time. Visit www.sundials.co.uk for instructions (note, stick to the easier ones).10. Collect colours  Parks are bursting with colour so encourage your child to collect

collect fallen leaves in a host of different colours – golds, reds and browns – as well as interesting looking twigs, mosses and ferns. Then, once you return home, get the glue out. Create your own autumnal landscape from all of the items your child has

or the largest shell on the beach as well as who can find the smoothest shell, the most brightly coloured shell, the heaviest shell6. Play sand bullseye Draw a large circle in the sand and mark a ‘throw line’, then take turns tossing shells or small stones to hit

their post-prandial sleep. Then they're guaranteed an hour of marble-run fun without a 15·month-old's 'help'.• Split up. Get one adult to play games with a couple of children; another to do colouring and another to sit and have a cuddle.• Go out. Cooped up

for the knowing...9. Decorate your bike  Using at least three different colours of crêpe-paper streamers, fluffy wools, coloured straws (for your wheel spikes), bells and toys, create your new super fun bicycle. (Now do that Tour de France – in your garden.)10. Do

puppet show  If you don’t have puppets to hand, then retrieve those fuzzy winter socks from the charity bag and turn them into colourful sock characters. You can do the same with paper bags and even those floppy yellow washing-up gloves. Cut out a large

with paper towels. Tell your child to sit each clean coin in front of its glass so they can judge the winning solution.2. Make slime  Pour half a cup of glue into a bowl. Add half a cup of liquid starch and two drops of green food colouring. Stir until

autumnal coloured costumes. Children will love the frantic outbursts from cheeky Puck who dances and jumps around, weaving in and out of the audience. They also encouraged to get involved in the play firsthand with an invitation for the bravest volunteers

taste and texture, whether they are sweet, salty, sour, spicy, bitter.6. Make craft dough  Mix two cups of flour with one cup of salt and 2/3 of a cup of water. Knead the mixture until it is doughy. Add food colouring or glitter. Make shapes