Here in the Pacific Northwest, the constant state of drizzle has set in. Gone are the days of afternoons spent at the park, and here are the days of trying to get creative with the abundance of time spent indoors. Sure, it's fun to head out for some puddle jumping, but sometimes you just want to stay warm and dry. And because our kids' energy level doesn't change with the seasons, it's important to build some physical activity into our days. Exercise is not only important for health, but also for moods. Here are some simple ideas for getting lots of exercise while playing inside that require no special equipment.

Dance. Turn on some upbeat music, clear a space on the floor and start wiggling and jiggling! Not only is this great exercise, but you just can't help laughing and having a great time while doing it.

Build an obstacle course. This is always a big hit in our house. We lay out pillows to jump over, move furniture around so there's room for somersaults, and build towers to climb over. The further you place the obstacles from one another, the more running is involved.

Move like animals. This one builds imagination and gets us moving all at the same time! We sing a song as we walk like every animal you can imagine. Even if we're not sure how a particular animal moves, we have fun making it up. Here's the song:

This is the way a ______ moves,

_________moves, ________ moves.

This is the way a ______ moves,

To keep their bodies healthy.

Following directions. I started doing this when I was pregnant and just too tired to move. I give my daughter a list of directions to follow such as, "Run to the front door, jump 3 times, touch the bottom stair, then sit on the couch." It sounds simple, but it keeps her entertained for a very long period of time and helps her get her energy out while learning to follow a series of directions.

Mall walking. Leave the stroller at home and hit the mall for some walking. The change of scenery is fun for everyone, and many malls also have indoor play areas for kids.

Indoor playgrounds. Many community centers have "indoor playgrounds", open gym space with all sorts of things for kids to play with. The one we attend has slides, huge foam blocks for building, tunnels, foot powered cars, and much more! When we need to get out of the house, this is a great option for us.

How about you? What do you do to help you and your kids get exercise while indoors?