BY AMANDA CIANI PHOTO BY KLEINPETER PHOTOGRAPHY 2025–26 COVER KIDS AVA R. AND MAZI G. a crooked-toothed Jack-o’-lantern; and, oh, the flavors! Those pervasive warm hints of cinnamon, the earthy flavors of pumpkin, and that first fragrant pot of gumbo. Yes, fall flavors are peak—they’re picked during harvest time, after all. And even merely imagining fall brings out all of the good feelings! Kathy Wu, PhD, author of The Self Regulation Handbook , notes that, “Most people ordering a pumpkin spice latte are, presumably, having a decent day, which sets the stage for lots of positive nostalgia points,” and it goes even deeper than that! She continues, “A pumpkin spice latte is like a shortcut to a feeling: a little sensory reminder that fall is here, and all the memories and rituals that come with it are here, too.”
A season that bids adieu to long days of sweltering heat is a season worthy of adoration. With the temps dropping, and the fall fun popping, it is a unanimous decision: Autumn is amazing. So much more than just one of the four seasons, fall is an annual source of joy for many people, and for a multitude of reasons.
go hand in hand. Little ones are in the thick of creating their lasting core memories with harvest time happenings, and many adults may find themselves relating through their “When I was your age…” tales. Because while many things in life have changed over the years, some of life’s simple joys have stayed the same, being passed down generation after generation with new little twists introduced here and there. Traditions include visiting pumpkin patches, baking fall treats, carving pumpkins on the porch, trick-or-treating with neighborhood friends, and more. Wu elaborates, “Rituals become vehicles for connecting the past and present: they allow parents to recreate beloved experiences, create new positive memories with their children, and establish traditions that may one day become nostalgic memories for
AUTUMN’S AURA The warm, rich, golden glow of fall
encompasses all of the senses with the burning ferocity of a Louisiana sunset. Just saying the word “fall” brings up a mental vision board of all of the ways fall finds its way into our cores, taking root and leaving its mark on us. Close your eyes. Imagine leaves crunching underfoot; the smell of crisp apples, eek!; the feel of stringy, gooey pumpkin guts while cleaning out and carving
YESTERYEAR NOSTALGIA Sensory experiences and memories certainly
28 OCTOBER 2026 | BRPARENTS.COM
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