Now that our 2026 Fall Gift Guide has officially begun, it is time for our first activity—and we’re starting with something the whole family can have fun making. We’re making a Fall Treat Jar.

This isn’t just a jar for candy. We’re going to use it throughout our Fall Gift Guide for little treats, activities, surprises and memories. And the best part? You may already have everything you need.

Before you buy anything, look around your house. You might have an empty Mason jar, a clean food jar, a plastic container with a lid, or another container that would work. It doesn’t have to be fancy.

This is a family activity, so let the kids help decide what their jar should look like. You could decorate it with fall stickers, ribbon, leaves, little pumpkins, paper, markers or anything else you already have.

When creating the treat jar make sure and put the date on the bottom with the initials of who made it because once the challenge is over there is no, need to throw it away. You can use it as a Fall decoration next year.

Remember our goal here isn’t to purchase things but to use what you have. Have a glue gun? Great. Have duct tape? That works, too. Have a craft drawer full of things you forgot you had? Go shopping in your own house first!

We’ve included a Fall Treat Jar Supply Checklist to help you look through your supplies before spending any money. The get everyone into the kitchen to make the Fall snack to serve when making the Treat Jars.

Remember there isn’t one right way to make a Fall Treat Jar. Maybe your jar will be colorful. Maybe it will be covered with leaves. Maybe it will have a big fall bow. Maybe your kids will turn it into something completely different.

That’s exactly what we want. The Fall Gift Guide isn’t about making everything look the same. It’s about doing things together and making memories. While having fun with your friends and family.

Once your jar is decorated, we’re going to put our first Fall Gift Guide Ticket inside. This is a small ticket that you can print, cut out and place right inside your jar. We’re making it small on purpose because this is going to become part of the fun.

As we continue through the fall, we’ll have activities, challenges and little surprises that you can add to your family’s Fall Gift Guide experience. Keep your jar somewhere you can see it. You never know what we’re going to add next.

Here’s another way to make the jar interactive. Take some little pieces of paper and write down fall activities your family would enjoy. You could write: Take a fall walk. Make hot chocolate. Have a bonfire.

Find five different fall leaves. Make a fall craft. Bake something together. Visit a harvest festival. Have a family movie night. Go look at fall decorations. Do something kind for someone else.

Fold the papers and put them in your jar. Then, when your family needs something fun to do, pull one out. You don’t have to spend money. You don’t have to go anywhere. Sometimes the best activities are the simple ones.

Once you finish your Treat Jar grab a book and sit down and read for 30 minutes for our 3 Minute Reading Challenge and you will be able to collect another ticket towards your prize at the end of the challenge.

Now Let’s Make Something to Eat! Because what’s a treat jar without a treat? We’re ending our first activity with a Fall Harvest Chex Mix. This can be created at the same time you make your Halloween Snack if your participating in that challenge.

Just like we did with our Halloween Chex Mix, this is something you can make your own. You can use what you already have in your pantry instead of buying every ingredient. It is kid-friendly as well and could be used in #Homeschool.

Fall Harvest Chex Mix

Ingredients

• 3 cups Chex cereal
• 2 cups pretzels
• 2 cups popcorn
• 1 cup candy corn or another seasonal candy
• 1 cup fall-colored chocolate candies or chocolate chips
• 1 cup another crunchy cereal or snack
• ½ cup dried cranberries, optional
• ½ cup peanuts, optional
• Directions

Pour the cereal, pretzels, popcorn and other crunchy ingredients into a large bowl.

Gently mix everything together.

Add your candy and chocolate last and stir carefully so you don’t crush everything.

That’s it!

Put some into individual snack bags for the family, serve it in a bowl for movie night, or use a food-safe container to keep some for your Fall Treat Jar.

Just remember to keep food separate from decorations and craft supplies.

I like how this snack can become a Make It Your Own Snack. If you don’t have candy corn or you don’t like it? Leave it out. Have raisins instead of cranberries? Use them. If you don’t like them leave them out.

Have a different cereal? Add it. Have extra popcorn? Perfect. This is supposed to be an easy fall snack, not another reason to make a trip to the store. Check your pantry first. Then ask your friends and family to bring there favorite snack food to add to the Mix.

Your First Fall Gift Guide Challenge

Today, your family has four things to do: Make your Fall Treat Jar. Decorate it using things you already have. Print and put your first Fall Gift Guide Ticket inside. Remember if you read for 30 minutes you have 2 tickets.

Make your Fall Harvest Chex Mix. Then sit down together and decide what you want to put on your first few fall activity slips. That’s it. You have officially started your 2026 Fall Gift Guide adventure. And remember, this guide isn’t just about buying gifts.

It’s about fall food, sweater weather, bonfires, harvest festivals, family activities, local events, crafts, treats and the little moments that make this season special. While spending time with those we love.

Halloween is still getting its own gift guide. This one is for all of fall. So grab your jar, check your cabinets, gather the family, call your friends and let’s see what we can create together.

Grateful, Thankful, and Blessed.

Thank you,

Glenda, Charlie and David Cates