Inside fun for those cold winter days at Osan!

Brrrrrr, no one wants to go to the playground, right? But the kids are driving you nuts, and you're watching too much television again; sound familiar? Here are some ideas for inside fun that aren't TOO messy and only a little bit dangerous:

Sack races! Give them each a pillowcase or a reusable commissary bag and have races up and down the halls.

Paper skating! Paper (wax paper is extra good but regular paper works fine) slides really well on smooth Korean floors; give each kid a piece for each foot and have them practice for the Olympics.

Have a backwards day! Eat spaghetti or pb&j for breakfast and pancakes for dinner; wear your pj's all day; have a bubble bath in the morning.

Read a chapter book! Even little kids can enjoy 'Ramona the Pest', 'Charlotte's Web', 'The Mouse and the Motorcycle' or 'The Littles'. Here are some more recommendations for early chapter books.

Make your own movie! Have the kids do their best tricks for the video camera: sing, dance, dress-up, whatever they want to do. Then for quiet time, put it on the TV and pop some popcorn.

Make a pinata! Okay, this one is a little messy, and it's a two-day project. On the first day, put them in the tub with a bowl of liquid paste made out of flour and water (in approximately equal amounts; it should be more liquid-y than paste-y) and an inflated balloon. Cut strips of scrap paper and put them in a separate bowl. Dip the paper strips into the paste mixture and cover the entire balloon with several layers, leaving only a small uncovered area where the balloon is tied. Put the balloon into the laundry room to dry and hose the tub and kids off. Have them scrub it down while they're at it. The next day, when the pinata is dry, pop the balloon and pull it out. They can paint it or put stickers on it. Put some treats in it, tie it up in an open door and let them whack it to their hearts' content. If you live in the towers, there is probably a bar at the top of your laundry room door, or use the rod in a closet or the bathtub.

Cook! Even small kids like to mix and stir, and there are tons of things they can easily make. Click here to see just a few.

Clean! Give them each a small spray bottle filled with vinegar water and a cloth and let them spray and wipe the bathtub, the balcony door, the refrigerator door or the cabinets. Many little ones will happily do this for a long time.

Have a picnic! Lay a blanket out on the living room floor and have a picnic lunch: lemonade, sandwiches or other picnic fare.

Play Little House on the Prairie! Read one of the 'My First Little House' books, turn all the lights out, and pretending you're living in the little house with the Ingalls. Do a sewing project; even a three year old can handle a big needle and stitch two pieces of fabric together.

Do an internet search for more ideas, or check out one of the many kids' activities books available in the OPN parenting library in the front room of the community center. Share your own winter fun ideas in the comments!