1. Read together. If the children are having a hard time turning off the television, why not choose books that inspired visual masterpieces such as The Polar Express or The Chronicles of Narnia.

2. Bring back game night. There’s no need to give up the popcorn just because you can’t watch movies.

3. Get physical. Whether it’s a simple game of tag in the backyard or an impromptu dance party inside, you can get off the couch and burn serious calories.

4. Teach a lesson. Why not eat a bedtime snack in candlelight to teach your children about blackouts and electricity, or write postcards to family and friends to bring up life before email.

5. Create and share. Ready-to-bake cookie dough makes for an easy indoor activity in which children of all ages can participate. You can share the finished product with neighbors and friends, helping increase awareness on the role of television in our everyday lives.

When in doubt, bring out an anthology of knock-knock jokes for kids. At the very least, you’ll gain new material for the road – which will come in handy when the portable DVD player breaks on route to the grandparents’ house again.