Fun Activities to do with Your Kids at Home

April is usually Youth Month here at Freedom Federal Credit Union. Once our normal operations resume, we will be rescheduling the promotion. In the meantime, we understand it isn’t easy to be holed up at home with just your family for company. After two days, you may be thinking there isn’t enough coffee or chocolate in this world for a parent who’s stuck home with their kids for weeks at a time. As the parent, though, you have the unique opportunity to fill this time with precious memory-making and family-bonding activities.

Here are some fun activities to keep your kids busy while you wait out the pandemic at home:

Marshmallow Tinker-Toys:

For a fun twist on the classic building toy, take pretzel sticks and mini-marshmallows and let your child build a world of sweetness. Have them create pretzel-marshmallow people, houses and towns. It’s creative, sticky fun, and best of all, when they’re done, they can eat their sweet creations!

Puppet Shows:

All you need for the show of a lifetime is a cardboard box, some Popsicle sticks, old socks (which may have lost their match) and markers for decorating. If you have googly eyes in the house, glue them on for more realistic-looking sock puppets. Have your child entertain you, or be the entertainer — either way works. Let the show begin!

Scrapbook:

Spend some quality time reliving precious memories by digging out the scrapbooking supplies and old photos to create a timeless masterpiece together.

Salt Painting:

Move over, glitter; this new painting technique makes designs that are just as pretty and twice as fun! Lay a piece of cardstock on top of some old newspapers. Have your child draw patterns on the paper using Elmer’s glue. The glue lines should be on the thick side. Next, pour table salt over the wet glue, making sure all the glue is covered in salt. You can speed up this step by tilting your paper after pouring the salt. Shake off all excess salt. Now, using watercolors, let your kids paint the salt! This works best if the paint is a bit watery so the brush doesn’t have to touch the salt too often; it can simply drip onto the paper. When your child is done painting, they’ll be left with a spectacular, super-cool design!

Teach a Household Skill:

Instead of complaining about the endless housework, enlist your child’s help! Even very small children can help sort laundry, load the washing machine and press the buttons to turn it on (with your supervision, of course). Have the older ones help you bake, letting them put their math skills to use by adding fractions in recipes. And, of course, everyone cleans up their own messes when the day is done!

Simon Says, “Draw!”:

Give this old favorite a twist by breaking out the craft supplies. Set up a table with paper, crayons, markers, stamps and any other fun coloring supplies you have in your house. Seat your kids around the table and begin an intense game of Simon Says, only instead of movements, instruct your kids to draw something on their papers. You can have them draw basic shapes in specific colors, or something more complex if they’re a little older. Anyone who messes up is out of the game!

Balloon Ping-Pong:

No need for a bulky ping-pong table! Just tape large popsicle sticks to the backs of paper plates, blow up a balloon and have your preschoolers play ping-pong with their makeshift paddles over your empty kitchen table!

Let it Snow!:

It’s been a snowless winter in Maryland, but that doesn’t mean you can’t bring the blizzard home. Whip up a batch of homemade snow while you’re stuck inside during the COVID-19 outbreak. Let your kids have a blast creating a winter wonderland that’s almost as good as the real thing. In a large pan or bin, mix 3 cups of baking soda with ½ cup hair conditioner. Note: If you don’t have enough baking soda on hand, you can also use shaving cream for your “snow.” Keep on stirring until the mixture turns cold, soft and feels like … snow! Dig out the toy cars, small beach shovels and collections of Little People or Playmobil people and let the fun begin!

Scavenger Hunt:

If your kids are bouncing off the walls from being cooped up at home, have them let off some steam with a good old-fashioned scavenger hunt. Set up hints around the house and have them race from clue to clue searching for the treasure you’ve hidden for them. If your kids are too young to read, this can work with picture clues as well. The “treasure” can be a special treat you have in the house, a new game or art supply you’ve been saving or their favorite stuffed teddy.

No, it isn’t easy to be holed up at home with your kids. But, with some creativity and a positive attitude (and lots of coffee and chocolate), you can fill this challenging time with warm memories your children will treasure for the rest of their lives.

Your Turn: How are you keeping your kids busy during the pandemic? Share your best ideas with us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram! @FreedomFedCU

Should I Buy a House During a Pandemic?

Q: I’ve been planning to buy my first home this spring, and I’ve spent years preparing for this purchase. Now that the coronavirus has had a negative impact on the economy, I’m wondering if I should go through with my plans. Is it a good idea to buy a house during a pandemic?

A: The coronavirus outbreak that has swept through the world while wreaking havoc on the national and global economy has given rise to dozens of financial questions. The uncertainty that characterizes this time is confusing the average American and financial experts alike. No one can say when this pandemic will come to an end, or what kind of lasting impact it will have on the economy. Experts can only look at past economic crises and downturns to try to predict what the short-term and long-term financial future will look like in the United States.

Let’s take a look at the mid-pandemic housing market and explore the wisdom of purchasing a home during a time of economic instability.

What does the current housing market look like?
In a twist of irony, the home sales of February 2020 were the strongest they’ve been in the country since 2007, topping 5 million sales. Factors like falling interest rates and a booming economy contributed to the thriving housing market, but two months later, experts already are seeing a decline in the buying trend.

Lawrence Yun, the chief economist of the National Association of Realtors, says the market has turned sharply, adding, “The coronavirus has undoubtedly slowed buyer traffic and it is difficult to predict what short-term effects the pandemic will have on future sales.”

This downturn has likely been triggered by the economic devastation caused by the outbreak, including widespread job insecurity, thousands of shuttered businesses and millions of employees on leave from work for an indefinite period of time due to statewide and self-imposed quarantines.

The decrease in home sales is also likely due to practical reasons. When people are worried about their health and they’re trying to create a semblance of normal life while essentially being confined to their homes, it’s difficult for them to think about purchasing a new one. Meeting with potential sellers and real estate agents and looking at properties is also complicated when trying to maintain social distancing.

No one knows when the spread of the coronavirus will ease, but when it does, and normal life resumes, the market may see an increase in sales.

Does it make financial sense to buy a house now?

A dwindling housing market does not automatically mean this isn’t a good time to buy a house. In fact, times of financial uncertainty generally lead to falling mortgage rates and the ease of credit qualifications. Mortgage rates have already reached a record low of 3.13 percent in the beginning of March, prompting some buyers to rush into new home purchases. The rate, however, has since jumped back up to 3.65 percent, though it is still relatively low and may fall again.
It takes more than just a favorable mortgage rate to make a home purchase a sensible decision.

Some market experts believe the coronavirus pandemic will cause an eventual spike in home sales as buyers, fearing a recession, will want the stability and control that homeownership brings. A fixed-rate mortgage will not be subject to the peaks and valleys of a volatile national interest rate. It can also help the owner feel secure if job loss and unemployment become the norm.

Before you jump into a home purchase at this time, you may want to take a step back and look at your entire financial picture. Consider the following factors:

How stable is your income? If you have any reason to believe you might be facing a layoff, you may want to hold off on your purchase. Your mortgage will need to be paid each month, regardless of your employment status.
How long do you plan on living in this home? If you anticipate living in your new home until you’ve paid off your mortgage, it can be a great time to buy a house at a low interest rate; however, if you plan on selling within the next few years, you may come out at a loss due to a falling housing market and an unstable economy.
Will you have savings left after going through with the purchase? As the economy heads toward a probable recession, this is not the best time to be without a savings cushion.

The coronavirus outbreak has destroyed all kinds of plans, from vacations to weddings, parties and more. That doesn’t mean you need to put your plans of buying a house on hold. If you can comfortably afford the purchase and your income isn’t threatened by the economic instability, the favorable interest rates and looser qualifications can make this a good time to buy a new home.

Your Turn: Are you on the market for a new home? Tell us about it on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. @FreedomFedCU

Freedom Firsts

Today begins a new era at Freedom Federal Credit Union. I have been honored to be the CEO for many firsts at Freedom. While I would not have chosen this particular first, I am nonetheless proud of our accomplishments. This is new for all of us and no one knows what long term impact this will have on people, businesses the economy, etc. What I do know is this, we will get through this. I know that’s sounds cliché especially since you’re probably hearing people say that all the time these days. The thing is, I’m not saying it this as a hope or a wish, but as an absolute certainty. I’m going to sound like a bit of an old man, but trust me, there’s a point.

My father was a teenager in the great depression. It informed his life in ways I could not imagine. He was in WWII and that too made a mark on him. He went through strikes and layoffs and had to work any possible job he could, some dangerous, to take care of his family. I will never know all the lengths he went to, the things he did, just to ensure we had food and shelter. In his later years when he would become introspective or conversations about the past arose, he would often say, “But we had fun, didn’t we?” I realize now that wasn’t just a statement, but a man looking for a little reassurance that he did right by those he loved.

My mom was the daughter of an unwed mother making them, in some circles, outcasts of the time. She moved often and her mother cleaned houses, sometimes for people of means. Her experiences informed her life and in later years, when times were lean, she would work as needed to ensure family stability. Mom developed health issues and when she was unable to work or do certain activities, we all pitched in to make sure the necessities were met. We were a team, begrudgingly so at times, but a team nevertheless, and we never lost sight of the greater good. Short term sacrifice long term gain was a mantra I passed from them to my own children.

I remember my eldest brother going off to Vietnam. I remember curfews during civil unrest and fires burning down icons of my childhood. As I got older, there was gas rationing where you only got gas on even or odd days depending on the last number of your license plate. I remember breaking down in the middle of nowhere and having to walk miles to find a pay phone to call for help. And who would come out at 3 am in the morning? Dad. Even after working long hours there was never hesitation in his voice or a delay in his arrival. He was there, always. Sure, there was the glare of disbelief when I ran out of gas, but in all fairness, the gauge was broken and I was instructed to fill up after 200 miles; I just added wrong. Probably why I studied math so hard and wound up in this job; probably why I’ve made those same late night run for my kids. See, everything we do, everything we go through, creates who we become and how we handle adversity.

This is why I can tell you, not suggest, that we will get through this. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not gonna be all fun and games. We will have to do without for a while; something many people have never experienced. I like going to bars and restaurants too, so we will have to forego the things to which we’ve grown accustomed as a way to fill our time. But hey, there’s still cable, the internet, going outdoors and talking with family and friends with FaceTime and Skype (that’s how I’ve communicated with my brother in Australia for years). Life goes on; a little different, but it goes on. It can be just as fun, just as fulfilling as we want it to be. Or we can just grumble about not being able to party, go shopping, go on vacation and wallow in self-pity. The choice is ours.

Freedom is considered an essential business and while there is always the possibility that government will mandate a shutdown of all businesses including ours, as of today, we carry on. Whatever happens though, it is vitally important that we not lose our humanity; that we not succumb to fear and paranoia. I said in my earlier message that what we do now will be an example to others and future generations. I believe that with all my heart.