All children love frolicking in the snow. But there comes a time when the temperature makes such excursions unpleasant – even dangerous.

"Staying inside on brutal winter days is not only advisable but necessary," says Trish Kuffner, author of "The Preschooler's Busy Book: 365 Creative Games and Activities to Keep Your 3- to 6-Year-Old Busy" (Meadowbrook Press).

"But you don't have to feel trapped at home with your preschooler," Kuffner says. "By using a little creativity, you can make the time inside more than just tolerable. It can be fun."

From her book, Kuffner offers these unique games for adults to play with their preschoolers on those bitterly frigid days.

Indoor Sandbox

It may be a blizzard outside, but your preschooler will think that it's a day at the beach. Create an indoor sandbox by filling a cardboard box or plastic baby bath with puffed wheat or rice cereal. Uncooked rice can be inexpensive when bought in bulk, and it makes an interesting road surface for wheeled toys. Use buckets, shovels, measuring cups, spoons or bowls for toys.

Living Room Picnic

Brighten the day by making it summer inside. Spread a tablecloth on the floor of your living room. Use paper plates to serve your preschooler a picnic lunch. Dress in shorts or bathing suits. And don't forget your sunglasses.

Super Suds

Put a few drops of liquid detergent into a bowl and fill it halfway with water. Use an eggbeater to whip up some suds in the soapy water, or use a straw to blow some really big bubbles.

This also works well at the kitchen sink. Fill the sink with soapy water and pull up a chair for your child to stand on as he plays.

As a variation, fill the sink with warm soapy water. Give your child spoons, a whisk and plastic dishes. Let her have fun with the water.

Memory

This game not only entertains your preschooler, it will sharpen her memory. Create two identical sets of index cards with letters, colors, shapes or numbers. Start out with only a few cards. Place all the cards facedown on the table. Have your child turn over one card, then put it back facedown on the table. Then have your child pick the corresponding matching card. At first, your child may only guess, but it won't take long for her to get the idea. Add more cards as your child gets better. You can also determine the number of tries allowed. Or make a game of this between two or more children.

These and many other games are described in Kuffner's book "The Preschooler's Busy Book: 365 Creative Games and Activities to Keep Your 3- to 6-Year-Old Busy." Pick up a copy today to keep your preschooler entertained year-round.

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