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Good to Go: Family activities to cure cabin fever

By WTOP Staff

Do I need to remind anyone of 2010’s Snowmageddon? Well, I remember as I spent most of the season inside with my then 2-year-old daughter, who had lots of energy to exert. I then researched and created some indoor jungle gym options for kids.

If your space allows, here are some ideas for things to do during days too cold to go outside:

  • Design an indoor jungle gym: IKEA sells affordable and sturdy indoor climbing pieces. The online website One Step Ahead has an Energy Busters section for kids offering indoor seesaws, hop-scotch and trampolines. The Playaway Toy Company Inc. offers Rainy Day Combo kits in which an indoor swing, trapeze bar or ladder can be added to a sturdy doorframe.
  • Create an obstacle course or build a fort: Design an indoor course using tunnels, ladders, hula hoops or whatever safe materials you have around the house. Pillows, sofa cushions and blankets are great basics for building a fort.
  • Get up and move on game night: Choose a night of games which require everyone to get up and move like Twister. Turn your pillow cases into an indoor potato sack race. Toy stores sell indoor versions of miniature golf, bowling and horseshoe sets as options.
  • Take a tumble: An indoor tumbling mat might be worth the investment as kids can somersault away on the padded surface. Most mats can be easily stored and placed out of sight until you need one during bad weather.

How cold is too cold?

The Montgomery County, public schools in Maryland and Fairfax County public schools in Virginia have set parameters for schools in their counties for determining if and when it is too cold to play outside for recess.

Generally, both counties take wind chill into account and temperatures dipping into the 20s or teens as an indicator of when it is going to be an indoor recess day. But the consensus seems to be if there is sun and the temperature is above the 20s, you and the kids are generally safe to play outside for at least a half hour.

Take advantage of a Winter Wonderland

The Let’s Move! campaign for kids says, “It’s tempting to hibernate during the winter, but cooler months are a great time to get out and try new activities with your family.”

In the event the D.C. area does get a snowstorm, Letsmove.gov offers these activities:

  • Sledding down a slope is a fun winter tradition, and the return hike uphill promotes a great workout.
  • Ice skating is a great way to exercise the lower body and engage the core, or abdominal or back muscles.
  • Sand castles don’t have to be just for the beach. Make the summer pastime a fun winter experience and build a snow castle.
  • Create winter outdoor versions of games such as scavenger hunts, tag and red light, green light.
  • Hit the slopes as January is National Ski and Snowboard Month.

Hot cocoa on a stick

I have learned that kids seem to love hot chocolate on a cold winter day — and things on a stick. The King Arthur Flour Company offers this recipe for hot cocoa on a stick:

Ingredients:

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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