Mike Smith:
This year, what about taking a new approach to an academic area that you don’t normally focus on—visual arts, for instance—and tying it to the season.

Go to an art gallery, or check out a book on art from your library. Find paintings depicting autumn landscapes. Select your favorite two or three painters, and then study them. In what period did they paint? What techniques did they use? Did they paint in one primary region? Get some books on basic art technique and work on imitating your favorite painting.

Don’t overlook the beauty of nature. Encourage your children to hone their photography skills. Start with a study of the changing colors of a single tree over the course of time. Or take pictures of the same object in different lights and from various angles. Focus on the beauty of autumn—with art.

Another way to cultivate creative productivity this fall is to take a seasonal chore—like yard work or house maintenance—and turn it into an opportunity for your older children to cultivate life skills. Give your children ownership of your fall yard work. Have them purchase the necessary equipment to get the job done, with the budget your family has established for that task. Make seasonal activities a chance for your children to develop responsibility.

And until next time, I’m Mike Smith.