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10 indoor activities to keep your kids busy this winter

Rachel Nania | rnania@wtop.com

January 22, 2018, 1:00 AM

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Winter activities for kids in the DC area (草莓传媒's Rachel Nania)

WASHINGTON 鈥� Whether it鈥檚 snowing, raining or registering single-digit weather, one thing is for sure: keeping the kids entertained during the winter months is a challenge.

If you鈥檝e exhausted all of your usual indoor spots and are looking for new activities, travel and parenting writer Guiomar Ochoa has a few ideas:

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 18: Children play in a 11 metre long swimming pool to celebrate the Australian premiere of The Pool exhibition at the National Gallery of Victoria International on August 18, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. The exquisitely designed pool is complete with wooden decking and bespoke pool lounge chairs, with visitors invited to dangle their feet in the water and sit poolside to reflect on one of Australia's greatest cultural icons - the pool. The Pool debuted at the 2016 Venice Architecture Biennale, where it received more than 100,000 visitors. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)
Hit the pool Sure, it鈥檚 freezing outside, but at the region鈥檚 collection of indoor pools, it鈥檚 a balmy 80 degrees (at least once you鈥檙e in the water). 鈥淎 lot of people concentrate on swimming in the summertime, but this is a great opportunity to have [the kids] practice before summertime hits,鈥� Ochoa said. In D.C., Ochoa recommends in Tenleytown. The pool has plenty of laps for serious swimmers, plus diving boards, a whirlpool and a leisure pool with splash features. in Boyds, Maryland, has a water slide, as does the in Sterling, Virginia. Best of all, the cost for local residents is minimal at these locations, and swimming is guaranteed to tire out the kids. 鈥淚t also gives you that sense of being in a warm place,鈥� Ochoa said. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)
Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images
Baby girl in ball pool
Indoor play spaces Visiting an indoor play space isn鈥檛 the cheapest of activities, but it鈥檚 a fun way to shake up an otherwise blah weekend. For smaller kids, in Falls Church, Virginia, and Chevy Chase, Maryland, offers soft play surfaces and interactive moving toys. , in Rockville, Maryland, evokes the feeling of being outdoors, plus Ochoa said there鈥檚 a cafe for parents. And older kids can rock climb and jump on trampolines at in Sterling, Virginia, and Rockville, Maryland. For lower-cost options, check your local recreation center. Many offer open gym hours and playrooms for toddlers. (Thinkstock)
Thinkstock
In this April 7, 2017, photo, children's librarian Chere Brown reads to toddlers during a story time at the main Josephine County library branch in Grants Pass, Ore. The library system in Josephine County has been operating as a nonprofit on donations and volunteer hours since it lost public funding, but a measure on the May 16, 2017, ballot could restore limited tax dollars by creating a special library tax district. (AP Photo/Gillian Flaccus)
Don鈥檛 forget the library Public libraries in the region have story time for kids of all different ages, beginning with newborns. Beyond books, many offer other activities including arts and crafts classes, movie nights, chess lessons and more. Best of all, it鈥檚 free. (AP Photo/Gillian Flaccus)
AP Photo/Gillian Flaccus
Make the most of the movies聽 Kids and movies don鈥檛 always go together, but Ochoa said there are plenty of family-friendly movie options in the D.C. area. The Avalon Theater in Chevy Chase, D.C., hosts weekend . Sometimes, it鈥檚 a live musical performance by a local children鈥檚 artist, other times, it鈥檚 a movie. The Angelika Film Center encourages parents to bring their young children to its weekly 鈥�,鈥� held at both the D.C. location and at the in Fairfax, Virginia. And 鈥�鈥� at the AFI in Silver Spring, Maryland, welcomes parents and caregivers to watch current films for a discounted rate. (There鈥檚 even stroller parking in the lobby.) 聽 If your little one makes more than a peep, there鈥檚 no need to panic. 鈥淵ou鈥檙e in a safe environment where everybody鈥檚 in the same boat,鈥� Ochoa said. (Getty Images)
Getty Images
Vistors walk through the rotunda of the National Museum of Natural History of the Smithsonian Institution, Tuesday, June 15, 2004 in Washington. The Museum marked its 100th anniversary, and is one of the most popular attractions in Washington, featuring a massive elephant called Henry in the rotunda. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
Not the typical museums Washingtonians are fortunate to have so many museums in the area that are free, educational and entertaining. But sometimes, they can get a little old, a little crowded and a little overwhelming for a Saturday morning activity. Branch out from the typical museums with the following: (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais
The Norfolk & Western Class J No. 611 steam locomotive crosses a bridge over the Yadkin River after leaving the North Carolina Transportation Museum in Spencer, N.C., Saturday, May 30, 2015. The train, which has undergone a year-long restoration, is returning to the Virginia Museum of Transportation in Roanoke, Virginia. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
Not the typical museums: The B&O Railroad Museum If you have a train-lover in your family, don鈥檛 miss the in Baltimore. Ochoa said kids can board the trains and touch everything, plus there鈥檚 a dedicated kids鈥� zone. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
AP Photo/Chuck Burton
A stilted Uncle Sam, portrayed by Brian McNelis, stands in front of blow ups of proposed 1996 U.S. Postage Stamps during a news conference at the U.S. Postal Museum in Washington Tuesday Nov. 7, 1995 where the new designs were announced. (AP Photo/Charles Tasnadi)
Not the typical museums: The National Postal Museum is part of the Smithsonian collection, meaning it鈥檚 free for visitors. Ochoa loves it for kids because they鈥檙e encouraged to touch everything, 鈥渁nd to climb into things and to throw things.鈥� Catch a craft workshop or just browse the extensive stamp collection. (AP Photo/Charles Tasnadi)
AP Photo/Charles Tasnadi
A tent set up at a door of the the National Building Museum in Washington, Friday, Nov. 14, 2008, in preparation for the Summit on Financial Markets. (AP Photo/Lauren Victoria Burke)
Not the typical museums: The National Building Museum Ochoa said聽 is her favorite local museum for children. The atrium is open and perfect for kids who like to run, plus there are kid-specific rooms and exhibits where they can build and construct different structures. Parking is difficult, but the museum is right near the Judiciary Square Metro station. (AP Photo/Lauren Victoria Burke)
AP Photo/Lauren Victoria Burke
Two youngsters enjoy riding around in a toy plane as they ride in front of a Cessna T-50 "Bobcat" transport trainer plane, from 1939-1949, at the Commemorative Air Force Aviation Museum Thursday, Aug. 2, 2012, in Mesa, Ariz.(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Not the typical museums: The College Park Aviation Museum 鈥淵ou may not have heard of it, but this is a great museum for kids that love airplanes,鈥� Ochoa said. At the , there are planes that kids can crawl into and cockpits they can explore. Plus, the price is right at $5 for adults and $2 for children. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin
Close up of dummy cow, learning to milk
Not the typical museums: The Loudoun Heritage Farm Museum At the , visitors can experiment with authentic farming artifacts, play produce and plastic animals. There鈥檚 also a puppet theater and library of farm books. The price is right at $5 for adults and $3 for kids. 鈥淭his is really a hidden gem 鈥� and it offers a really unique historic experience,鈥� Ochoa said.   (Thinkstock)
Thinkstock
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MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 18: Children play in a 11 metre long swimming pool to celebrate the Australian premiere of The Pool exhibition at the National Gallery of Victoria International on August 18, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. The exquisitely designed pool is complete with wooden decking and bespoke pool lounge chairs, with visitors invited to dangle their feet in the water and sit poolside to reflect on one of Australia's greatest cultural icons - the pool. The Pool debuted at the 2016 Venice Architecture Biennale, where it received more than 100,000 visitors. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)
Baby girl in ball pool
In this April 7, 2017, photo, children's librarian Chere Brown reads to toddlers during a story time at the main Josephine County library branch in Grants Pass, Ore. The library system in Josephine County has been operating as a nonprofit on donations and volunteer hours since it lost public funding, but a measure on the May 16, 2017, ballot could restore limited tax dollars by creating a special library tax district. (AP Photo/Gillian Flaccus)
Vistors walk through the rotunda of the National Museum of Natural History of the Smithsonian Institution, Tuesday, June 15, 2004 in Washington. The Museum marked its 100th anniversary, and is one of the most popular attractions in Washington, featuring a massive elephant called Henry in the rotunda. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
The Norfolk & Western Class J No. 611 steam locomotive crosses a bridge over the Yadkin River after leaving the North Carolina Transportation Museum in Spencer, N.C., Saturday, May 30, 2015. The train, which has undergone a year-long restoration, is returning to the Virginia Museum of Transportation in Roanoke, Virginia. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
A stilted Uncle Sam, portrayed by Brian McNelis, stands in front of blow ups of proposed 1996 U.S. Postage Stamps during a news conference at the U.S. Postal Museum in Washington Tuesday Nov. 7, 1995 where the new designs were announced. (AP Photo/Charles Tasnadi)
A tent set up at a door of the the National Building Museum in Washington, Friday, Nov. 14, 2008, in preparation for the Summit on Financial Markets. (AP Photo/Lauren Victoria Burke)
Two youngsters enjoy riding around in a toy plane as they ride in front of a Cessna T-50 "Bobcat" transport trainer plane, from 1939-1949, at the Commemorative Air Force Aviation Museum Thursday, Aug. 2, 2012, in Mesa, Ariz.(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Close up of dummy cow, learning to milk

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