Let’s be real—fall looks different through dad goggles. While the rest of the world is sipping pumpkin spice and Instagramming hayrides, you’re the one loading everyone in the car, bribing your kid to wear a jacket, and Googling “how long do corn mazes last.”
Now add a tween into the mix. Suddenly, nothing’s cool unless their friends are there, it’s on TikTok, or it involves snacks. But despite the eye-rolls and dramatic sighs, autumn can still be a blast for the 9–12 crowd (and manageable for you).
Here’s how I survived—and even slightly enjoyed—fall as a tired dad.
1. Embrace the Outdoors (and Short Walks)
You could go on a five-mile foliage hike. But unless you want to hear “My legs are gonna fall off!” every ten minutes, aim smaller. A local trail with a scavenger hunt or mini-photo challenge works wonders. Bonus: it tires them out.
2. Get Hands-On (But Keep It Simple)
Tweens love crafts… if they’re secretly also messy science experiments. Think slime made with fall scents, pumpkin volcanos, or DIY haunted houses from cereal boxes. Keep expectations low, and remember: the mess is temporary. The memories? Eh, hopefully permanent.
3. Fire Pits = Fall Dad Gold
Hot cocoa, marshmallows, and ghost stories that somehow morph into SpongeBob references—fire pits are tween magnets. No pit? A backyard candle and dramatic flashlight storytelling does the trick. You don’t need ambiance, just imagination and sugar.
4. Let Them Be Leaders (Even If They Plan Chaos)
Tweens are in that weird zone between “little kid” and “junior attorney.” So hand them the reins. Let them plan a backyard Olympics, create a fall-themed obstacle course, or lead a haunted house tour. Is it chaotic? Always. But they love the responsibility, and you can sneak in a lawn chair break.
5. Steal Ideas from People Who’ve Thought This Through
I’ll admit it—I borrowed most of my good ideas. One of the best resources I found for tween-specific fall fun was this gem:
👉 Fun and Engaging Autumn Activities for Tweens (Ages 9–12)
Trust me, it’ll make you look like you know what you’re doing. Or at least buy you 30 minutes of peace.
Parenting tweens in the fall is kind of like raking leaves—you do it every year, it’s never quite finished, and there’s always one more pile waiting for you. But when you pause to laugh, roast a marshmallow, or watch your kid beam after building a crooked scarecrow? Totally worth it.
So here’s to the tired dads. May your coffee be hot, your fall photos be unblurred, and your leaf piles never conceal a LEGO.
