Winter has officially arrived and while we're all looking forward to the holidays, it can also mean long, cold days trapped inside. Gone are the days of summer, where kids can entertain themselves by playing in the garden. When the weather is good, there are so many things you can do as a family that cost very little, but as soon as that December chill sets in you're suddenly looking at expensive trips to the cinema, or other pricey indoor activities - but there are things you can do together to beat the winter blues. Here are a few ideas to keep you from going stir crazy.

Build a cardboard playhouse. Most of us have a lot of cardboard around this time of year, thanks to the constant deliveries from online retailers in the lead up to Christmas. Rather than recycling them straight away, get crafty by getting your kids to make a playhouse. Tape one end shut and cut out windows and doors for the little ones. If you don't have any large boxes, then make little houses for their action figures or dolls. Large stores often have some boxes to spare if you don't mind going a little out of your way.

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Homemade play dough. Making dough is so easy and can bring the whole family together. You could even make some Christmas decorations using this salt dough recipe. Once they've been fired in the oven they make the perfect paintable creations that your kids will be proud of. Who said you had to buy storebought stuff?

Make marshmallow structures. Making marshmallow structures sounds complicated, but all you need is some dried spaghetti and, you guessed it, marshmallows. It's amazing what you can make with a little imagination and some practice.

Indoor scavenger hunts. Kids like going on the hunt for pretty much anything, so why not set up a little scavenger hunt for them? It won't take much of your time and can keep them occupied while simultaneously using up some of that pent-up energy. Make the prize something little like renting a movie with a bowl of popcorn, or a sweet treat.

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