Planning on sitting around over winter break? Here are some fun ideas to get you off the couch.

Have a gingerbread house building competition with you and your friends.

Everyone loves building good old fashioned gingerbread houses, and even more so the yummy nibbling of building materials. Get creative with it- come up with award titles for the contestants such as “Most Likely to Withstand a Tornado” or “Barbie’s Ultimate Dream House.”

Or, go skiing or snowboarding.

“Over break i’ll probably head over to Whitetail and go snowboarding,” junior James Stassinos said. “Hitting the slopes is a great way to relax and have some fun with either your friends or family.”

The slopes are also a great way to work off some of those Christmas cookies.

And, there’s no age limit to visiting Santa.

“Seeing Santa was always my favorite thing to do over the holidays as a kid,” freshman Olivia Rose said. “Even though we’re not little kids anymore, I still think it would be fun to grab some friends and see Santa.”

While you’re at it, make a trip out of it and hit the mall, and don’t forget to take pictures.

Plus, this time of year is the perfect excuse to get in the holiday spirit and dress for the season.

“Over winter break, I recommend having an ugly sweater party with some close friends,” sophomore Kristina Woodward said. “Its so fun to dress up in a group with tacky sweaters and Santa hats.”

And, of course, don’t forget the silly photo shoot that goes along with it.

For the outdoorsy and artsy, there are plenty of snow activities to have fun with.

Fill up water guns with food coloring and water and go outside and make a colorful mural in the snow that will be sure to grab a neighbor’s attention.

But, what’s winter without building a snowman?

Spice things up a bit and give it an original look. Maybe a summer themed snowman? Or one doing a handstand- build it upside down with the smallest snowball first. The possibilities are endless.

Make sure your whole family participates too, its a great way to get the whole family out into the fresh air.

To try and fit in some fun exercise, there’s always ice skating at the Reston Town Center. It’s a close and  convenient excuse to get out of the house for a few hours.

“I love going to the rink because it gives me a chance to skate around, catch up with friends and burn a few extra calories,” freshman Jarius Johnson said.

Afterwards, you can warm up with some hot chocolate and s’mores at Cozi’s in the Reston Town Center.

And, for those who prefer to stay inside, have a movie marathon.

Who doesn’t like movies?  Watch some classic movies with friends or family, maybe a Harry Potter marathon, or a Disney showcase?

So, after you go have some fun outside, snuggle up in some cozy pajamas, grab your hot cocoa, hop on that couch and enjoy the nice, relaxing time with your friends and family.

Whatever your plans are, you can find a way to make this extra-long break fun and exciting.