During the winter months, colder weather often leads to children staying indoors for long periods of time. This can make it hard to keep kids occupied, and can result in parents and children on the spectrum to feel agitated and lose concentration. If playing outside in the cold isn’t for you, there are plenty of options for indoor fun! We asked parents for suggestions on their favorite things to do in winter, and here are the results:

• AMC Dine-In Theatre in Menlo Park is a wonderful option for families looking to enjoy dinner and a movie!

• Brooklyn Children’s Museum provides a number of educational, hands-on exhibits. The museum also features a sensory room created for children with autism that helps engage multiple senses like visual, auditory, and gross motor skills. Geoff DeBery, Director of the Diagnostic Center, served on the advisory committee that designed the room.

• Rab’s Country Lanes offers Cosmic Bowling, touch screen computers, and children’s parties.

• Rebounderz is an excellent 42,000 square foot indoor trampoline park located in Edison, NJ. The park features an elevated two-lane foam pit,  a high-flying Basketball Slam Jumper, Wi-Fi lounge and café.

• SI Children’s Museum is packed with over 40,000 square feet of interactive exhibits on topics like insects and art.

• With locations on Long Island and Staten Island, Fun Station offers kid friendly arcade games and much more, including lazer tag, virtual reality simulators, and bumper cars.

• The YMCA and Staten Island JCC feature heated indoor pools and offer swimming lessons! Check out websites for details.

• For those looking to take a vacation or just get away for a day, Coco Key in Mt. Laurel, NJ is an indoor water park featuring slides, heated pools, an arcade facility, and dining.

• Want to learn to ski? Smuggler’s Notch offers an excellent Adaptive Program (sometimes referred to as SNAP, or Special Needs Adaptive Program) which allows ski/snowboard  instructors to work with children with special needs one on one. Due to the specialized care each individual receives, reservations must be made in advance, and peak season spots fill up quickly.

• YESTERcades is a pay by the hour arcade filled with classic games like Donkey Kong, Pacman, and Super Mario Bros.

• If you are unable to travel, making paper snowflakes is a fun way to pass the time. Use construction paper, coffee filters and glitter to make your own creations. Hang them up around your windows to create a winter wonderland! Alternatively, you can make your own virtual snowflakes with “Make-A-Flake”!