Your guide to activities and fun things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in Washington, DC

It is that time of year when the days are short, weather is cold, kids are sick, and we find ourselves spending more time inside than weâ??d like.  When we start to go stir crazy indoors I find that a good activity puts everyone in a better mood. 

Luckily the Savvy Source Activity Finder is full of great ideas for the cold winter months.  Browse the section called Around the House and find lots of ideas for Indoor Fun or poke around the site to find something that strikes your fancy.

A quick trip around the site helped me find a bunch of new ideas that I thought Iâ??d highlight.  Here are some of my favorites:

Indoor Boat Ride- Everyone has a bed in their house!  Hop on and take a ride to find marine life and look for land or turn it into a submarine, pirate ship, or sailboatâ?¦This is the kind of activity that is only limited by your imagination.

Make a Pull Train- Clean those closets on a cold day and use your extra shoeboxes to create a train.  Click on the post to read how.

Indoor Snowball Fight- We are waiting for snow here in the DC Metro Area and have had to make due with indoor snowball fights.  Somehow ours always occur when folding laundry since the only materials you need are rolled up socks.

Mixed Up People- This great family art activity results in some pretty hilarious pictures.  

Go Fish for Toys- Fishing for toys using a broom, string, and my husband at the end of the line provides endless amusement due to the surprise factor of what my kids will catch.

Paper Plate Clock- Teach your child to tell time with a homemade version of a clock.  Click on the title for directions.

Pack-n-Play: Packing for an Adventure- Even if you arenâ??t traveling this holiday season, pretend that you are!  Pack a bag and talk about what you need and where you are going.  

Cleaning Old Coins- While it may seem silly to clean old coins, everyone has coins and soap.  Since kids generally likes water play, this is a wonderful activity to keep them occupied while you sneak in a lesson about money.

Magazine Flashcards- Use those old magazines or glut of catalogs that are filling your mailbox to build your childâ??s vocabulary by gluing pictures on to construction paper or index cards to help them identify new words.

Coffee Filter Flowers- Sometimes you just need a little bit of spring on a cold dreary day so make some flowers with coffee filters.  Visit the post for the how-tos.