Now that the presents are unwrapped and the threat of no gifts for bad children is dulled until next Christmas, another holiday tradition begins -- the infamous "I'm bored" whine.

As a sanity saving service, the Independent Record put its investigative tools to use to try to find ways to help children and parents have a good time while not breaking the bank. The list is not all-inclusive, but with a week between Christmas and the time school starts up on Jan. 5, we figured that anything would be helpful.

Sneak in a little learning with trips to Montana museums. Topping the list locally is the Montana Historical Society Museum, which boasts 11,000 years of history in its hallowed halls. Let their imaginations run wild, boosted by exhibits of mountain man Jim Bridger's rifle and binoculars, or the "People and Environment" display, which shows how Montanans worked, played and raised families in days of yore

Of particular interest to youths is the museum's Big Medicine display, which includes a mount of a white buffalo born in Montana in 1933. The extremely rare white buffalo is a sacred symbol to many American Indian nations across the country.

In addition, the Historical Society is showcasing artwork from Montana's school children, where they recreated episodes from the Lewis and Clark expedition.

The museum is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. next week, except on Monday and New Year's Day.

Admission is $3 for adults and $1 for children ages 5-18.

The ice may be a little thin in spots, but the skating is safe at Memorial Park and the warming house is open. The cost is only $1 for adults and 50 cents for children, and skate rentals are free. Special pushable stands help novice skaters retain a bit of decorum, and under the floodlights at night, with the music blaring from speakers, it's easy to imagine the next Michelle Kwan or Apollo Ohno in the making.

Hours this week are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. today through Jan. 3; and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Jan. 4. Regular winter hours are 5-8 p.m. Fridays and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekends. Call 449-4761 to verify whether the warming house is open.

For those non-skating types, the new playground at Memorial Park -- right next to the skating rink -- can provide hours of outdoor fun. Don't forget to pop into the warming house for a cup of hot cocoa.

The indoor version of skating is alive and well at the retro Hot Wheels roller rink behind K-mart in Helena, although it's only open weekends. The cost is $4 per person for two-hour skating sessions, plus another 50 cents for skate rental. Sessions start at 6, 7 and 8 p.m. on Fridays; Saturday and Sunday sessions begin at 1, 2 and 3 p.m. Two-hour evening sessions on Saturday also are available, beginning at 6 and 7 p.m. For more information, call the roller rink at 449-6550.

What's winter without skiing? This weekend's storm dumped anywhere from 2 inches to 2 feet of snow at Montana resorts.

Great Divide Ski Area northwest of Helena is open all week, with its ongoing special deal for the "never-evers" -- those who want to ski but haven't tried it yet.

The area offers free introductory ski and snowboard lessons every day at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., and rides up the tow rope, which services the beginners' hill, are always free too. Equipment rentals are $15 for children ($10 after noon) and $20 for adults ($15 after noon).

They also have three-lesson packages that for $59 include one hour of instruction, and a full day lift ticket plus rental equipment.

Regular all-day lift tickets are $14 for elementary students, $19 for middle schoolers and $24 for high school and college students. For those who aren't sure if they want to hit the slopes all day, Great Divide offers one-hour lift tickets for $6 n perfect for parents who want to hang out on the ski area deck but still want to make a few runs with the kids.

Cooks who have been confined to kitchens during the past few days may not want to re-enter them anytime soon. But it's still the holiday season, and goodies are always needed for unannounced guests.

For a quick, fun treat for young chefs, whip up a batch of sugar cookies, divide it in half and tint one bunch with red vegetable dye. Roll out long logs, twist the two halves together and voila n it's candy cane-orama.

Make creating even easier by buying a gingerbread house making kit, many of which are on sale at local retailers. Just don't bother sweeping the floor prior to the bake off.

In with the new, out with the old. Make room for new toys by packing up those that haven't been played with for awhile. Many of Helena's needy children will delight in lightly used, clean toys or clothes. Two organizations that focus on children include the Florence Crittenton Home and the Friendship Center.

Fill up a slow afternoon by shooting some hoops or swimming at the YMCA. Both the pool and gymnasium are open to the public from 2-4:30 p.m., although the facility is closing at 2 p.m. on New Year's Eve and won't reopen until Jan. 2. The gym closes at 3 p.m. on Fridays.

The cost is $12 for the entire family, or $8 for adults, $4 for those 7-14 and kids younger than 7 are free.