11 Unexpected Reasons Why Fall in Champaign-Urbana is the Best Season for Young Children

Many parents in Champaign-Urbana would argue that summer is their favorite time of year since their kids can play outside all day, stay up late, sleep in, and take advantage of the many events, concerts, and festivals throughout the area. What teenager wouldn’t be excited about an Amish broom?! Sounds idyllic, if your kids are old enough to sit on a picnic blanket and enjoy a movie in the park without an obscene amount of shrieking and nudity.

What about those of us with younger children? Our summers are hot, sweaty marathons filled with epic sunscreen battles worthy of greased pigs, blankets strategically draped over car seats because the sun burns toddler-eyes like acid, and lukewarm kiddie pools swarming with babies like hippos in a mud hole. Summer is definitely not the best time of year for parents of young children.

Autumn, on the other hand, offers relief from the sweltering humidity of the Illinois summer and a reprieve from the blistering cold winds of winter. Fall welcomes familiar favorites like colorful leaves, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Black Friday shopping. However, there are some lesser known advantages to the season that parents with young children will appreciate.

So in honor of the beautiful, often-maligned month of November, here are 11 unexpected reasons why fall in C-U is the best season for young children:

1. Light Layers — Toddlers are always too hot, too cold, too wet, or too dry. It may be 103 degrees outside, but if the air conditioner blows too hard on your little princess’ foot you’d better be prepared with sheepskin boots and a wool blanket in August. Plus the little ones are forever having wardrobe malfunctions requiring a new outfit, so this way when somebody explosively poops, pees, vomits, or any combination of the three, just peel down a layer like an onion. Good as new.

2. Boots — Dressing your toddler in boots means no laces or velcro to complicate the process, so even toddlers can step into them unassisted. This satisfies their urgent need to “ME DO IT!” without sacrificing your schedule or your sanity.

3. Leaves — These colorful, renewable, and biodegradable sources of entertainment are literally scattered all over Champaign-Urbana. While they are a nuisance to gardeners and golfers alike, they are manna from Heaven for a toddler. A simple afternoon stroll becomes a dynamic symphonic experience, especially when friendly neighbors selflessly gather piles perfect for burrowing through. You’d be surprised how much fun a 3-year-old can have stuffing leaves into an oversized paper bag. Take advantage while you can!

4. Squirrels — Some might describe these abundant rodents as rats with good public relations, but toddlers know better. Squirrels are nature’s circus performers, waggling their tails and performing acrobatic feats from bird feeder to bird feeder. My toddler will sit by the back door for hours shouting “SQUIRREL!” at full volume every time he spots one of the fuzzy daredevils. Which during the fall is approximately once every 2.7 seconds.

5. Back To School — This is one of the biggest perks of fall in C-U with young children. Suddenly all the best parks, playgrounds, and museums are no longer overrun by 65-pound Mack trucks waiting to flatten your toddler to the pavement. Hallelujah.

6. Temperate Slides — How many summer evenings have you taken your toddler to the playground only to have them refuse to touch any of the equipment because it’s too hot, too sticky, or too infested by bees? Not in fall! Now that the temperatures have descended into double-digits and children are free to wear pants without fear of overheating, their most treasured playground equipment is safe, and extra slippery. Ready or not, here I come!

7. Hats and Scarves — Like most parents with pre-school-aged children, I’m lucky to shower once a week, twice if I’m being decadent. Baby-induced poor hygiene and the sweaty summer months do nothing for my appearance (or odor), but once those leaves start to fall my appeal goes up. I can coil my greasy hair under a hat, cover any peanut butter hand prints on my sweater with a ruffly scarf, and suddenly people are no longer afraid to approach me at the park. You might still want to stand upwind of me though.

8. Daylight Savings — Once the clocks go back young children can be easily duped into early bedtimes when Mommy and Daddy need a little break. Of course I’m sure it’s bedtime, look how dark it is!

9. Mandarin Oranges — Just in time for cold and flu season, these little gems are packed full of Vitamin C. They also happen to be the equivalent of crack to toddlers. My children would literally step on their baby sister to reach a bag of Cuties. Then once they’ve inhaled their body weight in citrus fruit, they will retire to the bathroom with their iPads while you nap among the wreckage of scattered peels. If they’re still in diapers, you might want to limit their fruit intake or at least wait until Daddy gets home from work!

10. Pajamas — Last fall I was pregnant with my third baby and had outgrown most of my jackets, so when the weather turned cold I wrapped myself in a fuzzy bathrobe over my comfiest pajamas and went about my daily routine. I stayed warm, while also saving time and energy on all the laundry I didn’t have to do. It was environmentally friendly too!

11. Game days — Illini football games are some of the biggest fall events in Champaign-Urbana, but even when your children are too young to enjoy the festivities they present an opportunity to explore new establishments. Your toddler can dance on the restaurant tables with glee, howl in movie theaters, and reek havoc almost anywhere in town since pretty much everyone else is otherwise occupied. Just remember to avoid campus like it’s infested with the zombie plague.