September play ideas: Easy, creative activities your kids will love
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September is that in-between month: summer isn’t quite over, but routines start shifting, and suddenly, the days feel a little fuller.
Between school schedules, busy mornings, and earlier bedtimes, it’s easy for play to get squeezed out.
But here’s the thing: play is how kids process change.
It’s how they unwind after a long day, how they connect with us when words don’t come easily, and how they fill up their little cups before heading back into the world.
That’s why I put together this list of simple, low-prep September play ideas – nothing complicated, just easy ways to bring a little extra joy into your days.
And to make it even easier, I created a printable poster so you always have fresh inspiration at your fingertips.
September play ideas: Easy activities to try with your kids this month
Each month, you’ll get four easy ideas:
- one for independent play (because sometimes we just need five minutes of quiet)
- one for connecting with your kids
- one for creative fun
- one for quality family time.
Think of it as a little toolkit for bringing more joy and connection into your days, without adding extra work.
These aren’t just activities; they’re simple, playful moments you can easily try throughout the month, no matter how busy life gets.
PLAY: Rainbow building prompts
This rainbow-building activity is such a fun and easy way to spark your child’s imagination!
With just some building bricks and a few playful prompts, they’ll be excited to create all sorts of colorful designs.
Materials
- building bricks
- markers (or paint sticks)
Instructions
- To prepare this activity, you will need some building bricks and (optional) a base plate.
- Draw a simple rainbow using markers (or paint sticks). Add building prompts on each color of the rainbow and invite the kids to try one prompt for each color (or come up with their own ideas).
- Here are the prompts we used: barn, crab, fire truck, watermelon, red boat (for red), fox, orange house, tiger, pumpkin, carrot (for orange), giraffe, school bus, sun, star, dessert (for yellow), dinosaur, tree, turtle, leaf (for green), octopus, cloud, blue race car (for blue), grapes, purple castle, gift (for purple), flamingo, pig, pink cake (for pink).
CONNECT: Zentangle whale
This roll-and-color art activity adds a playful twist to drawing time and it’s a great way to connect and have fun together!
Materials
- paper
- dice
- sharpie marker
- colored pencils (in 6 different colors)
Instructions
- To prepare this activity, draw 6 different patterns on a small piece of paper and number them from 1 to 6. Then, add 6 different colors and number them as well. (See the picture for an example.)
- Use a sharpie marker to draw a big whale like the one in the pictures. Add intersecting lines within the drawing to create several small spaces for different patterns.
- For each space in your drawing, roll the dice two times to discover how to fill it in. The first roll will determine the pattern, and the second roll will determine the color (based on the patterns and colors you added to your small piece of paper).
- Continue rolling the dice until you fill in all the spaces and enjoy your colorful piece of zentangle art!
CREATE: Ice cream craft
This ice cream craft is such a fun and simple way to get creative!
With just a few supplies, your kids can design their own colorful ice cream cones and even use them for pretend play afterward.
Materials
- (watercolor) paper
- watercolor paint
- crayons
- pom poms
- brown paper (or cardboard)
- glue
Instructions
- To prepare this activity, cut a few scoop shapes out of (watercolor) paper and a few cone shapes out of brown paper (or cardboard).
- Set up all the materials on the table and invite the kids to create fun, colorful ice cream cones.
- Use crayons for the pattern on the cone and paint for the scoops.
- Once the paint is dry, glue the painted scoops on top of the cone and add a pom pom on top.
Bonus idea: The kids can use the ice cream cones to create a pretend ice cream shop.
Bonus:
Ready to bring more joy and calm to your September? The Playful Moments Together guide is filled with ideas you’ll love! Grab it here.
FAMILY FUN: A whole day of creativity
Turn a regular day into a creative adventure!
Set up a big table with a variety of art and craft supplies in the morning (paper, paints, markers, stickers, whatever you have on hand) and let the whole family create at their own pace throughout the day.
Whether it’s painting, collaging, or inventing something new, this open-ended setup makes it easy for everyone to join in whenever inspiration strikes.
No rules, no pressure- just a fun way to spend time together and see where creativity takes you!
More ways to bring joy to your September
Want even more ideas? Here are two fantastic resources to help you create happy moments with your kids — without extra stress.
- 25 Days of Play and Connection [poster]
Looking for quick, easy ideas to make your days more playful?
- 25 simple activities that spark creativity & connection
- Perfect for busy days when you need an instant idea
⭐ Download your free poster here and keep it handy for when you need fresh ideas.
- The Playful Moments Together guide
Want to take the guesswork out of connecting with your kids?
The Playful Moments Together Guide gives you 25 engaging activities to help you spark creativity, encourage connection, and bring more joy to your days.
Includes printable activity cards — so you can build a go-to collection of fun ideas your kids will love!
⭐ Get the Playful Moments Together guide and make the most of this month together.
Bring more joy and connection to your month with playful moments your kids will love.
With easy, creative ideas, Playful Moments Together will help you make the days with your little ones a little easier and a lot more fun.
Both resources are here to help you enjoy meaningful moments with your kids without adding extra stress to your day.
I’d love to hear which activities you try and how they bring joy to your home!
