During the winter months, short, cold and/or rainy days and long, dark nights can see the bestintentioned families resorting to staying home. Rather than giving up on your good intentions you can prevent the kids from going stir-crazy with a little imagination.

Admittedly, a lot of these suggestions require some spare cash but it’s a better health investment than another DVD rental or computer game, and you can also be inventive and come up with ideas that cost next to nothing if you put your thinking cap on:

- Fitness and leisure centres: Book a court for badminton or indoor tennis and play doubles. Why not sign up for a class in an activity that none of you has ever tried before and give it go – it might be something that you all enjoy. Most local leisure centres have a selection of classes ranging from table tennis and volleyball to martial arts and wall climbing.

- Go swimming: This doesn’t have to be an activity solely reserved for warm weather.

- Ice skating: If the weather is bad, you might as well wrap up and get on the ice. Indoor rinks are open all year round and many cities now have outdoor rinks set up around the festive season, which are great family fun.

- Museums: Here is an activity that is not only good fun but also free and available in nearly every town in the country. Factual quizzes and trails can offer added interest value and keep your child on the move.

- Aquariums and indoor nature centres: Our local library has an aquarium in the basement that is free and my children still love it, despite having visited on numerous occasions.

- Exercise classes and dance studios: Everything from ballet to line dancing, yoga to hip hop is available – take your pick.

- Indoor play areas: Good fun for younger kids. They can kick off their shoes, launch themselves into the ball-pit and burn off some excess energy.