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It’s Fall Y’all: 30 Things to Do with Kids in Portland Now

by Allison Sutcliffe

Our great big list of fall activities for kids will keep them (and you) busy all season long

Fall has arrived in all its splendor. Crisp, golden mornings and changing leaves mean a whole new kind of fun for Portland families who don’t slow down when the weather turns. So grab your calendar and get ready to pencil in exciting fall activities that’ll keep your crew busy until winter arrives (hint: they’re not all area Halloween events either). From pumpkin picking to weekend getaways to seasonal experiences and more, we’ve rounded up a slew of fall activities for kids and families in Portland you won’t want to miss.

a mother and kids surrounded by pumpkins in a local pumpkin patch with corn stalks in the background
iStock

1. If you haven't already, now's the time to head to a local pumpkin patch to pick out your future jack-o'-lantern. These pumpkin patches offer a whole lot more than a U-pick pumpkin experience. We're talking pony rides, challenging corn mazes, and a chance to take home your own dirt baby.

2. Apple season is in full swing, but that doesn't mean it's too late to go apple picking. It's just one of the many activities you'll find at local farms offering fall festivities.

3. Sit for a spell and watch the sunset during fall's longer nights.

4. Score some awesome winter wearables for every kid in your family at one of these beloved consignment stores where you are sure to find the best deals around. Hint: they're also great spots to score a new-to-you Halloween costume for that one time wear.

5. Plan an island escape that only takes an afternoon. Soak up the last vestiges of sunshine and warm weather with sand, frogs on pond trails, and nature adventures in the city.

6. Bundle up your baby and head out with the stroller. We've got the best trails for joggers and walkers mapped out so you can use them any time of year.

7. School is in, so mid-week getaways can be challenging. Upgrade your fall adventures when you strike out on a fantastic day trip for a change of scenery.

Related: Portland's Best Free (& Cheap) Family Events in October

a young boy airplanes while his father spins him around in the fall sunshine
iStock

8. Who says dining al fresco is a summer-only activity? These heated patios mean you and the kids can eat outside even during the rainy months.

9. Free and discounted museum days? Count us in!

10. There are breweries all over Portland that welcome kids. Some even have kids' areas so you relax, sit back, and enjoy that brew or game on the big screen. Go Ducks!

11. Check out the fall colors at these stunning spots you won't want to miss.

12. Cast a line at a new or favorite fishing spot.

13. Eat at a rad restaurant that's been a First U.S. National Bank, a barber shop, and a post office.

14. Water fun doesn't end with summer. Strap on your hiking boots and hunt for the splashiest waterfall on some of these great hikes. 

Asian kids looking out window of car on family road trip
iStock

15.  Make your way to OMSI. Why? Because it's packed full of Marvel superheroes kids (and parents) love right now. 

16. Roll through the season with an old-school activity that anyone can play. Strikes, spares, and splits are the name of the game.

17. Save some cash when you dine at these spots, where kids eat for free (or under $5).

18. Goonies never say die! Head to Astoria in the off-season when you need to get away over the weekend. We've got plenty of off-the-beaten-path destinations that are worth checking out and don't draw crowds.

19. Sure you've got your favorite neighborhood park you frequent. But Portland is packed with destination playgrounds, you've likely never heard of. Discover awesome new playgrounds for your kids today. Don't forget to bring a towel to dry off slides and swings! 

20. Are your kids getting bored with inside time during the rainy season? Try one of our favorite places to play outside—no plan necessary.

21. You don't want to miss the opportunity to see all of Oregon in its seasonal beauty. So, hit the road with the kids in search of new adventures.

Related: No School, No Problem! 9 Places to Play on a Day Off

iStock

22. Head to one of these cozy cabins for a fantastic family getaway. Stay warm by the fireplace after a day out exploring the PNW autumnal beauty. 

23. Find a hauntingly good Halloween celebration your kids will love. There are so many to choose from around the city.

24. Make a break for the Columbia River Gorge with a totally unplugged family getaway. White water raft, explore ice caves, and hike through some of the most beautiful scenery when you do.

25. Make s'mores over an epic bonfire when you camp at one of these seasonal camping spots. That's right, it's not too late in the season to pitch a tent (or hang in a yurt) We promise.

26. Make a plan to sleep in the trees with the kids. Our tip? Book one of these spots while you can; they go fast.

27. Need a plan for days when the kids don't have school (we're looking at you fall teacher conferences)? We've got you.

28. Go on a dizzying adventure when you check out one of these corn mazes. After you are done, you may even find a friendly animal to play with or a treat for the hungry tummies in you crew.

29. Seek out one of the city's little known spots with the kids when you need a new adventure.

30. Zip through the falling leaves at these adrenalin dumping zipline location.

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Why Are So Many Kids Quitting Sports By Age 11?

by Erica Loop

The cost might have a lot to do with when kids quit sports

A national survey from the Aspen Institute with the Utah State University Families in Sports Lab found that the average kid quits playing sports by age 11. For most kiddos, that’s only three years of athletic activity before “retirement.” Between the focus on competition (over fun) and the high participation cost, children are spending less time in organized athletics.

The Aspen Institute’s survey found that children report experiencing a high level of enjoyment from sports. But even though they’re reportedly having fun, kids also experience moderate levels of stress. According to the parent’s reports (in the survey), the most stress-inducing sports are hockey and lacrosse. Children had the least stress when participating in skiing/snowboarding, track, and field, soccer, and skateboarding.

Then there’s the money factor. When it comes down to finances, hockey is the most expensive—with parents spending an average of $2,583 per year. The least expensive sport was track and field, with a price tag of $191. Of all expenses, the parents reported travel as the biggest cost.

Related: The Only 2 Things to Say to Your Kid after a Game

Dr. Travis Dorsch, Utah State associate professor and founding director of the Families in Sport Lab, said in a press statement, “We need to figure out why they discontinue, not just that they do. For kids, two years in a sport may seem like forever, while we as adults think they should continue for much longer. We need to frame it through the interpretive lens of adolescence,” Dorsch added.

So what can you do if your child decides to retire from their sporting career early? First, respect their decision and don’t push something your kid doesn’t seem that interested in. You can also visit the Aspen Institute Project Play site here to find resources and other information on children, sports, and the power of play!

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It’s Alive! Gross (But Cool) Science Experiments for Kids

by Melissa Heckscher

Does your kiddo like things on the yucky side? Take advantage of the gross factor and make your at-home science lessons a little extra icky with the following science experiments for kids. Whether it’s making goo, growing mold or learning about germs, these fun and simple science experiments will have your little lab rat saying, “Ewww!” Click through the slideshow to get the goop.

Make a Non-Newtonian Fluid

Melissa Heckscher

Is it a solid or a liquid? Your little chemists will love playing around with this delightfully yucky ooze, which is a perfect example of a "non-Newtonian fluid" (a substance with both solid and liquid properties). Head over to Scientific American.

 

Let Germs Grow

Melissa Heckscher

Ready to show instead of tell how germs really lurk? Try this easy germ-growing experiment, which will help kids understand how even the cleanest-looking surfaces (and hands) can be filled with germs. Get the fun and yucky instructions at Kidsactivitiesblog.com.

Spread Some Germs

If growing germs didn't convince them, here's another way to teach your kids the importance of hand washing. This super-quick experiment shows how soap repels germs. All you need is a bowl of water, some pepper and a little dish soap to make the magic happen. Head over to Youtube to see the experiment in action.

Make Poop on Your Counter

Rhonda at Albomadventures.com

It doesn't get much grosser than this. Give your kids a visual lesson on how food travels from mouth-to-tush with this icky experiment that will have even the bravest of grossologists grossed out. Of course, they'll love every minute. Get the instructions at hubpages.com.

Have a Gooey Peep War

This one is a little more gooey than gross, but we think it makes for great afternoon science. Grab some ghost peeps to get in the spirit of the season or use those leftover birds and bunnies you never actually tossed. Arm your Peeps with toothpicks, then pop them in the microwave to see who wins the joust. If your kids don't know what happens when marshmallows get microwaved, have them write their hypotheses beforehand (and/or bet on the winner!) Need inspiration? Watch a full-blown Peep jousting tournament here.

Go Viral

See how icky stuff like bacteria and virus travel in this easy experiment that uses glitter on little hands. Your kids will (hopefully) be washing their hands eagerly by the time they're done. Warning: you may find glitter hiding in places around the house after this one, so if it's nice out do this one in the outdoors. Find out more here.

In Praise of Spit

C'mon, spit's got a bad rap. Do your kids know they wouldn't be able to taste things without saliva to dissolve food particles? Learn the importance of spit (and enjoy a snack) in this taste-testing experiment, courtesy of Kidshealth.org.

Play a Smelly Game of Sniff-and-Seek

What smells? Our noses do! Teach kids the importance smell with this activity that asks them to use only their noses to identify objects. Can they sniff out the fish oil over the garlic cloves? The lemon juice over the orange oil? Homeschooling blogger Ana has the instructions at Babble Dabble Do.

 

—Melissa Heckscher

 

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Three Moms Share How They’re Using Google’s Newest Tool for Family Fun This Summer

by Kenzie Kramer
Partner Content

You bought a new slip ‘n slide, you stocked up on craft supplies and you have a shelf full of books to keep your kids entertained this summer—or so you’d hope. No matter how prepared we are for summer, at some point every parent hears those dreaded two words: I’m bored. Luckily, the internet has an endless supply of entertainment and Families.Google has made it easier than ever for families to find the stuff that’s both enriching and fun. Keep reading to see how three moms are using Google’s Digital Fun resources this summer:

Natasha D’Anna

Natasha’s twins love being creative together, whether it’s doing nail art, reading the same books or exploring crafts on YouTube. Google’s Digital Fun resources make it easy to find ways to be creative as a family, including virtual tours of museums, I Spy games and online coloring books.

 

Chelsi Eiselstein

Yes, summer just started, but we all know how back to school sneaks up on us. Chelsi is helping her soon-to-be Kindergartener get in the learning mindset this summer with STEM activities from Families.Google, including math tips from Sesame Street and videos about science and space.

 

Vera Sweeney

Families.Google has digital fun for kids of all ages, which is perfect for Vera—who is always on the lookout for things that her eight year old and thirteen year old can enjoy together. As a fun family bonding activity, Vera’s kids can learn music through Chrome Music Lab or solve a virtual puzzle together!

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New Research Sheds Light on Bilingual Baby Talk

by Erica Loop

Is your baby bilingual? Whether they learn one language or two, new research shows babies prefer infant-direct speech (a.k.a. baby talk) over mature adult communications.

Research from UCLA’s Language Acquisition Lab and 16 other global speech labs looked at infants’ interest levels when they were exposed to two different languages. The study, published in the journal Advances in Methods and Practices in Psychological Science, took place across four continents and included 333 bilingual and 384 monolingual babies ages six to nine months and 12 to 15 months.

photo: Filipe Leme via Pexels

Megha Sundara, a UCLA linguistics professor and director of the Language Acquisition Lab said, “Crucially for parents, we found that development of learning and attention is similar in infants, whether they’re learning one or two languages.” Sundara added, “And, of course, learning a language earlier helps you learn it better, so bilingualism is a win-win.”

The researchers asked the parent participants to hold their babies as infant-direct speech (baby talk) or adult-directed speech was played from speakers coming from either the right or left direction. To assess interest, the researchers measured the length of time the infant looked toward the direction of the sound. As it turns out, both bilingual and monolingual babies prefer baby talk to parent-speech.

Victoria Mateu, a UCLA assistant professor of Spanish and Portuguese, said of the results, “The longer they looked, the stronger their preference.” Mateu continued, “Babies tend to pay more attention to the exaggerated sounds of infant-directed speech.”

If you’re wondering why both bilingual and monolingual infants might prefer baby talk, Mateu said, “Baby talk has a slower rate of speech across all languages, with more variable pitch, and it’s more animated and happy.”

—Erica Loop

 

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Here’s What Science Has to Say about Exercise, Pregnancy & Your Kiddo’s Health

by Erica Loop

As it turns out, the zillion walks you’ve taken over the pandemic period are good for more than just you. New research from the University of Virginia Health System found that maternal exercise during pregnancy may reduce the child’s risk of developing metabolic disease later in life.

The study, which was published in the Journal of Applied Physiology, looked at the effects of exercise on pregnant lab mice. The results showed an increase in exercise in obese pregnant mice could prevent the transmission of some metabolic diseases.

photo: Freestocks.org via Pexels

While this study didn’t include human mothers or their children, the researchers believe the exercise-related reduction in metabolic diseases (such as diabetes) in lab mice may extend to people. Zhen Yan, PhD, a top exercise expert at the University of Virginia School of Medicine and study researcher said, “Most of the chronic diseases that we talk about today are known to have a fetal origin. This is to say that the parents’ poor health conditions prior to and during pregnancy have negative consequences to the child, potentially through chemical modification of the genes.”

Yan continued, “We were inspired by our previous mouse research implicating that regular aerobic exercise for an obese mother before and during pregnancy can protect the child from early onset of diabetes. In this study, we asked the questions, what if an obese mother exercises only during pregnancy, and what if the father is obese?”

The researchers fed some of the mice (both mothers and fathers) in their study a high-fat/high-calorie diet prior to mating. The rest of the mice were fed more nutritious mouse fare. Some of the high-fat/high-calorie diet pregnant mother mice had access to a running wheel—and some didn’t.

Children born to the obese sedentary mother and father mice were more likely to develop high blood sugar or other metabolic issues as adults. Of the results, Yan said, “The take-home message is that it is not too late to start to exercise if a mother finds herself pregnant. Regular exercise will not only benefit the pregnancy and labor but also the health of the baby for the long run.”

The researcher continued, “This is more exciting evidence that regular exercise is probably the most promising intervention that will help us deter the pandemic of chronic diseases in the aging world, as it can disrupt the vicious cycle of parents-to-child transmission of diseases.”

—Erica Loop

 

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Got a Crying Baby? This Book May Help

by Erica Loop

One of Japan’s top baby books is coming to America! Author and scientist Dr. Kazuo Hiraki created a colorful book that will grab your kiddo’s attention and may even settle your crying baby!

Moimoi features bold designs that are scientifically proven to hold baby’s attention nearly twice as long other other shapes. The University of Tokyo Baby Lab studied infant eye motions and brain activity. The result was a colorful children’s board book, featuring shapes, sounds, and more.

photo courtesy of The Experiment

What is moimoi? Moi, pronounced like koi, is a nonsense word that will quickly become one of your baby’s fave sounds. Not only will the bullseye-like colorful shapes completely engage your child’s attention, Moimoi may soothe them too.

This high-contrast children’s book has already sold over 500,000 copies in Japan. Moimoi—Look at Me! (written by Kazuo Hiraki and illustrated by Jun Ichihara) makes its American debut Mar. 30, 2021. The board book for babies retails for $7.95. Visit The Experiment Publishing for more information on the Moimoi series and pre-orders or visit Amazon.

If your littles enjoy Moimoi—Look at Me!, Moimoi, Where Are You? will make its grand debut Spring of 2022.

—Erica Loop

 

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Join Bill Nye in His Virtual Reality Science Lab

by Jennifer Swartvagher

Your kids can explore the scientific world with Bill Nye the Science Guy! Nye brings cutting-edge scientific lessons in a new cutting-edge kit, featuring virtual reality and 30 curated science projects. Best of all every lesson was hand-picked by the legend himself. 

Bill Nye’s VR Science Kit

Nye literally pops out of each detailed workbook page to lead interactive scientific lessons in augmented reality, while guiding step-by-step instructions turn to live demo videos right before your eyes. Kids then teleport through breakthrough VR (with the included goggles) to Bill Nye’s lab, bringing the experiments to life in 360° viewpoints and imparting immersive learning experiences about important scientific concepts.

The 50-piece set comes complete with VR goggles, experimental tools and a detailed workbook that kids will want to play over and over again.

Bill Nye’s VR Science Kit is available at Amazon and Walmart ($59.99) as well as in Canada exclusively at Costco.

—Jennifer Swartvagher

Featured photo: Abacus Brands

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