top of page

October Guide for Parents: Events, Recipes, and Activities for Children Under 5

Child autumn

Welcome to our October guide!


This is an all you need to know guide filled with seasonal activity ideas, ways to develop learning at home, storybooks to share and so much more.

 

Let’s jump straight into our October Guide for Parents.

 

About October

 

October is the 10th month of the year!


It’s when autumn is in full swing in the Northern Hemisphere but when the Southern experiences spring.


It has 31 days and some amazing events offering wonderful learning opportunities for your little one, which we explore below.

 

Fun facts about October

 

  • October actually kept its name from the old calendar, when it was the 8th month of the year – ‘octo’ meaning 8 comes from Latin & Greek.


  • The flower for October is the Pot Marigold.

     

  • The Anglo-Saxons called October ‘Winterflylleth’, referring to the first full moon of the month as the start of winter.


  • In the UK October marks Black History Month. The first Black History Month in the UK took place in 1987.


    It was arranged by Akyaaba Addai-Sebo, who came to the UK from Ghana as a refugee in 1984.


    October was chosen partly because it's traditionally a time when African leaders gather to talk about important issues, and partly because it was at the start of the school year.

 

  • Halloween, which takes place on October 31st has roots in the Celtic festival of Samhain. A Pagan celebration when people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off ghosts.

 

Events

 

October events

Black History Month

Click here for more info.

 

Harvest Festival

Click here for more info.

 

The Big Draw Festival

Click here for more info.

 

2nd - 4th – Rosh Hashanah

Click here for more info.

 

4th – World Animal Day

Click here for more info.

 

4th – World Smile Day

Click here for more info.

 

4th – 10th – World Space Week

Click here for more info.

 

5th – World Teachers’ Day

Click here for more info.

 

6th – Grandparents Day

Click here for more info.

 

6th – National Badger Day

Click here for more info.

 

10th – World Mental Health Day

Click here for more info.

 

11th – 12th – Yom Kippur

Click here for more info.

 

14th – 20th – Recycle Week

Click here for more info.

 

15th - Shwmae Su'mae Day

Click here for more info.

 

16th – World Food Day

Click here for more info.

 

16th – 23rd – Sukkot

Click here for more info.

 

19th – World Singing Day

Click here for more info.

 

21st – Apple Day

Click here for more info.

 

27th – Clocks go back

Click here for more info.

 

29th – 3rd Nov – Diwali

Click here for more info.

 

31st – Halloween

Click here for activity inspiration.

Click here for trick or treating safety tips.

 

31st – Day of the Dead

Click here for more info.

 

Recipes to try this month


Jamaican Rice and Peas

Pumpkin Bacon Soup

 

Jollof Rice 

Healthy Stuffed Peppers

 

Spooky Spider Pizzas

Ackee and Saltfish

Halloween Brownies

Puff Puff

Pumpkin Spiced Spooky Cake

 

Fun Activities



Celebrate Garrett Morgan with traffic light crafts

Celebrate Lewis Howard Latimer with these lightbulb crafts

Celebrate Alma Thomas with this art project

Halloween Sensory Trays

Chalk Ghosts

Yarn Mummy Craft

Puffy Ghost Craft

Handprint Spiders

 

Paper Plate Pumpkins

 

Children's Books


Black History: Discover Amazing People by Campbell Books & Jayri G

Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History by Vashti Harrison

 

Little Leaders: Exceptional Men in Black History by Vashti Harrison

We All Belong by Nathalie Goss, Alex Goss & Goss Castle

Funnybones by Allan Ahlberg & Janet Ahlberg

The Dinosaur that Pooped Halloween! by Tom Fletcher, Dougie Poynter & Garry Parsons

 

Room on the Broom Halloween Special by Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler

The Very Hungry Caterpillar's Halloween Trick or Treat by Eric Carle

Fox's Favourite Autumn by Fiona Barker & Christine Pym

 

Additional Resources

 

 


Commentaires


bottom of page