Moms Talk is a new feature on Fridley Patch that is part of a new initiative on  Patch sites to reach out to moms and families. Fridley Patch invites you and your circle of friends to help build a community of support for mothers and their families.

Each week in Moms Talk, a Moms Council of experts and smart moms will take your questions, give advice and share solutions. Moms, dads, grandparents and the diverse families who make up our community will have a new resource for questions about local neighborhood schools, the best pediatricians, 24-hour pharmacies and the thousands of other issues that arise while raising children.

Moms Talk will also be the place to drop in for a talk about hot topics in parenting. Do you know local moms raising their children in the Tiger Mother's way and is it the best way? Where can we get information on local flu shot clinics for children? How do we talk to our children about the Tucson shootings? How can we help our children's schools weather budget cutbacks?

So grab a cup of coffee and settle in as we start the conversation today with a question (and a few possible answers):

How do you fight cabin fever, entertain the little ones, and not spend a dime? The groundhog is already back in his hole, and we're preparing for six more weeks of winter. If your family is anything like mine, you've maxed out on snow angels, sledding and bundling up. I recommend these three local outings, each one a freebie if you play them properly.

The Hampster Maze at Chuck E. Cheese's. Okay, yes, the blinking lights and noises just scream, "Put a token in the machine!" But back in the corner, tucked next to the booths, is a world of fun for any kid small enough to wedge him or herself into the tubes, where they can then travel up and over many of the games on the floor.  Yes, there is only one path, but frankly, a three year old can make that trip 15 or 20 times and never get bored as long as mom or dad go to various see through points in the maze and wave at them.  Cost: Free, if you don't succumb to pizza.

Visit Your Library. Sure, you can stop in for drop in story times or music fun, but even without an event, the library is fun! There are multiple libraries throughout the county to explore. We love the Columbia Heights library, which offers a children's room on the bottom floor, so if you have a ... well, less than quiet child ... you don't have to worry about disturbing all of the grownup patrons. Grab a few stuffed animals from the corner, set up in a chair and read away from the hundreds of children's books around you. Even better, take home a few books, CDs or DVDs as well.  Cost: Free, if you can remember to turn your materials back in on time.

Thomas the Train. I'll confess, we have our own train table at home, but for some reason it doesn't compare with the allure of the Thomas table at the Barnes and Noble by Northtown Mall. We've been known to pop into the children's section at the store and hang out for over an hour, trading off who plays trains with my daughter while the other parent goes off and scans the bargain books for hidden treasures. Cost: Free, unless you lack self-control around large piles of books.

What are your favorite freebie or low-cost outings to survive the last six weeks of winter?