Celebrating Mabon with Toddlers

AUTUMN IS IN THE AIR!! As I write this, it's a chilly September morning. The sun is shining golden through my office window; my fingers + toes are cold; + the breeze is scented with apples + spice.

I am in my element!

You've probably guessed by now that Mabon, or the Autumn Equinox, is one of my favourite turns on the Wheel of the Year. This is a celebration based on gratitude for the harvest, + preparing for the Winter. Whether you give this celebration a religious significance or not, I think it's one that deserves to be marked, as the abundance of Summer fades to the delights of Autumn. And of course, I want to pass my love of nature + the seasons on to my Preschooler, so here's how I'm planning to involve him in our celebrations.

Nature walk

Of course, we'll begin our day with a nature walk in our local woodlands. Autumn is my favourite time of year, + one where nature shows us there is beauty in letting go. It's also a season that is abundant with treasures; from conkers to leaves, acorns to berries, what will your little one find to collect?

Simmer pots

Back at home after our walk, we set the mood for full cosiness. I love seasonal simmer pots, + my minibeast loves helping me makes these 'potions' too! For Mabon, I'll be using cinnamon sticks, apple slices, star anise, orange, cloves, + vanilla.

Baking Food is my love language, + nothing makes me happier than marking an occasion with a special meal. For Mabon, I'll be bringing all of the cosiness with homemade bread + soup (the bread recipe in this month's newsletter is my go to!); but we'll also celebrate the harvest of the season with a sweet treat. We're lucky to have an abundance of apples from our trees, so we'll harvest those. Some will be sauteed down with butter, sugar, + spice to make fillings for future crumbles, but the rest of them will go into these delicious apple crumble bars - the perfect treat to make with a toddler.

Decorating

Yes, I am THAT person. I love to invite cosiness into our lives + switch out some home decor to mark the equinoxes. In our home, that's velvety, pumpkin-coloured cushions; my favourite scented candles; setting up a table with ceramic pumpkins, + switching up my decorative bedroom shelves to celebrate the new season.

Gratitude

The idea of being thankful is tricky for children, so we talk about things that make us happy instead. We'll cosy down + share a hot chocolate or mulled apple juice, + talk about all the things that feel special or made us smile. I often include non-tangible things, like health, successes or progress, to model that feelings can also bring us joy.

Depending on your child's interest/mood, you could also get them to draw or write a list of special things. You can then keep the list somewhere special + reflect on it again at another celebration - I love the idea of making a book you return to at every celebration, to see how you + your family have grown!

Autumnal Reads

THIS IS MY JAM. Autumnal books are the cosiest, most atmospheric things ever. We love snuggling up to read Autumn Feast; Sweep; + The Secret Forest.

For older children, my favourite book EVER is October, October by Katya Balen. And for Mammas, you can't go wrong with The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches (or a return to Hogwarts...)

Journaling I like to journal to mark the shift in energy + mood as the seasons turn. Of course, my little one is pre-writing, but I can still involve him in this reflective practice by chatting through some prompts. As we gather for dinner, I'll ask my toddler his thoughts on any of the prompts above, taking time to listen to his answers. In this way, I'll be able to support his own self-identified needs. You could also make a seasonal vision board together, tearing out photos from magazines to help you plan your goals + adventures for the rest of the year!

Do you celebrate seasonal shifts with your little one? What are your family traditions?