Looking for a fun activity for your kids to do when you’re raking the leaves? Make a leaf maze or a leaf labyrinth for them to play in! It’s so simple to make but it provides hours of outdoor fun for toddlers and preschoolers.
This is one of our backyard activities in the fall here in my daycare. A leaf maze is such a fun way for toddlers and preschoolers to play in the leaves. It actually makes raking the leaves fun too, and it’s not too often you can get excited about that.
Fun fall leaf maze and labyrinth:
Obviously I don’t need to provide you with detailed instructions.
You just rake your leaves into lines, leaving little openings here and there for your kids to navigate through.
It’s easiest if you start in the center as you’re raking and continue to work outwards, making your maze as large as you want.
Isn’t this fun?
Kids will develop problem-solving and critical-thinking skills as they encounter road-blocks and dead-ends. Staying between the lines helps them develop spacial sense, and they’ll learn to look and think ahead, and plan their steps as they navigate the maze from start to finish. 
Don’t worry about it if your child accidentally walks through a “wall”. That’s a part of the learning process as well, and as they get older, that will happen less. Just keep the rake handy for quick repairs if it happens. What’s most important thing here is that you and your child are enjoying some exercise in the fresh, Fall air.
Don’t think the maze has to be made up of straight lines and corners; here’s a shot of the fall leaf labyrinth I made for the hooligans a few years ago.
Again I started in the center, and worked outwards, raking larger and larger circles of leaves as I went along.
Looking for more fun ways to play in the leaves in your yard this Autumn?
Check out these 10 terrific backyard activities for fall!
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Jackie is a mom, wife, home daycare provider, and the creative spirit behind Happy Hooligans. She specializes in kids’ crafts and activities, easy recipes, and parenting. She began blogging in 2011, and today, Happy Hooligans inspires more than 2 million parents, caregivers and Early Years Professionals all over the globe.
Renee
That is an awesome idea!!! I will definately be making mazes for the kids this weekend! Thanks for the great activities!!
happyhooligans
Have fun Renee! It’s such a simple way to have fun outdoors with the kiddos!
Allison
LOVE! We don’t have many fallen leaves, or I would try this for sure. Awesome. Your kiddos much have had a blast.
Amanda @ Dirt and Boogers
What a fantastic, fun idea! So going to steal this!
happyhooligans
Thanks Amanda! You go right ahead and steal it. 🙂 Have fun!
Deborah
This is such a great idea!!
happyhooligans
Thanks, Deborah! I love doing this kind of thing! It’s as much fun for me as it is for the hooligans. 🙂
Being Inspired
What a cute idea!! I love this! 🙂 Pinning for later!
pegges
i so love this idea!
pegges
awe…thank you! … I’m a person that want’s to be always very well prepared for EVERYTHING. Even though I know you can never be completely prepared for the life with a new baby/child/family member, but It just makes me feel somewhat on the safer side and eases my fears a little bit. Why wait until you hit the time where you don’t know what to do or how to do. I think it’s a better idea of collecting all the information you can get NOW, while you got the time..rather than when you truly need it or it’s too late or something. 🙂
kellyholmes
We have SO MANY leaves in our yard every fall. This would be perfect for the kids! Pinning this now 🙂
Christine Hume
We shared this lovely idea on our FB page yesterday. If you enter #creativityonthelabyrinth in search on FB you will find it! Thanks so much. (Carleton Place Community Labyrinth keeper – Chris)
happyhooligans
Thank you, Christine! Just checked out your page. There’s so much inspiration there! Keep up the sharing. 🙂
TheBoyandMe
I hate to be predictable, but you are a-maze-ing! I’d never have the patience to do that!
Nipping over from the Outdoor Play Party.
happyhooligans
Har Har Har!
kitchencounterchronicles
I love how simple and fun playing with leaves can be. Thanks for sharing at the Outdoor Play Party.
Mudpie Mama
This is an amazing idea! And so simple. Fab!
Katie
Wow, this is super impressive!! Did you make the maze with the kiddos out there, or did you have it set up beforehand? I love this and will definitely be trying these out!! Well the spiral one at least. I ‘m not sure that I’m talented enough to try the other one, haha.
happyhooligans
I raked it while the children were playing in the yard, Katie. It actually comes together quite quickly, and the other maze isn’t as tricky as it looks. 🙂 Go for it!
Alifyah
Mazes with autumn leaves!! Looks wonderful!