Beat the Winter Blues: Winter & Spring Ideas for Host Families

Last updated Jan. 6, 2026. Originally published March 14, 2019.

Maybe you live in a ski coat all winter. Or perhaps you love the indoorsy life. Either way, it’s a great time to show your exchange student how unique a snowy season can be.

After the holidays are over, it can be hard for an international teenager to get back to their routine. Plus, they may have to get used to less sunlight, which could even lead them to homesickness.

Read on to learn how to beat winter blues with your exchange student.

Indoor Winter Activities

Snow and freezing temperatures aren’t everyone’s cup of tea. It’s totally fine to embrace indoor heat.

So here are several ideas for indoor winter activities for exchange students and host families.

Consider a few active experiences:

• Bowling: It’s an activity that’s always fun with a group. And depending on the area of the country you live in, you may be able to try different styles of the sport, like 10-pin, duckpin, or candlepin. Be silly and add bumpers, or head out on a weekend night for glow bowling.
• Basketball: Get in on a pickup game at your local gym. Or find a recreational league to join. Practice your layups, or maybe get a game of horse going.
• Ice skating and/or hockey: Teach them how to ice skate. If they already know how, or if they pick it up quickly, encourage putting on some pads and grabbing a stick.
• Roller skating: Maybe it’s been a few decades since you wore your Rollerblades. Dust them off for a fun experience that’s making a comeback across the country!
• Climbing gyms: Consider attempting indoor rock climbing. Take a couple of lessons to get comfortable with the ropes and rocks.
• Indoor skydiving: It’s one of the more expensive activities on the list, but it could be perfect if you’re on the more adventurous side. There’s no need to worry about a parachute in these wind tunnels.
• Yoga: You might enjoy the calmness of these exercises, reconnecting your physical and mental selves. Plus, there’s are variations to choose from, like hot, restorative, or vinyasa.
• Trampoline park: Have fun bouncing around for an hour or two. Not only do they house your traditional trampolines, but oftentimes they’ll have separate areas for dodgeball or slam dunks.

Plus a few less active options:

• Concerts, performances, and games: Seek out your favorite musicians on tour, or find a play that’s happening at your local theater. Cheer for the home team at a major or minor league hockey game, or introduce them to basketball games at your local college.
• Museums: What's your interest? Science, art, history, and sports establishments are common, but perhaps your community has specialties or niche interests like space, video games, or motorcycles. Search out one-of-a-kind places, like the Museum of Bad Art in Massachusetts, the International Spy Museum in Washington, D.C., or the Roswell UFO Museum in New Mexico.
• Classes: The types of hobbies you can start up are endless! Consider woodworking, pottery, stained glass, music, jewelry making, cooking, coding, scrapbooking, and so many other options.
• Escape room: Get a group together to seek out clues and lead your way to the exit. The more people in your group, the more skill sets you bring together to find your way out.
• Spa: Get that mani/pedi you’ve been thinking about. Or pretend you’ve flown to a warmer destination by opting for a spray tan.
• Puzzles: Find a big one with a picture the whole family is excited about. Leave it out on the table to pick at for a few days, or gather around to finish it in one sitting.
• Family playlist: Introduce each other to your favorite music styles. You can share your favorite grunge and metal bands, they can teach you about the latest K-pop and indie rock.
• TikTok creation: Learn this week’s dance trend together. (Be sure to save the outtakes to giggle at later!)
• TV shows: There’s nothing wrong with spending a day on the couch watching your favorite series. You just might want to consider disabling the pesky “Are you still watching?” reminder, though.
• Indoor waterpark: Take it easy on a lazy river or zip down the waterslides. Hit the wave pool, or sit in a hot tub. 

No matter which indoor activity you choose, the goal is simply to stay warm, stay entertained, and make the most of the winter.

Outdoor Winter Activities

Sure, it’s easy to stay indoors. But if you’ve been hesitant to breathe in the chilly, fresh air for outdoor activities, you’ll need to believe that they can be fun to try out. (Trust us!)

Here are a few helpful suggestions for outdoor winter activities for host families and exchange students:

• Skiing and/or snowboarding: Introduce your student to some of the most popular winter sports. If you’re a newbie, enroll in a lesson. If you’re seasoned at the sport,  
• Tubing and/or sledding: If you're at a winter resort, there’s a good chance one mountain is reserved for tubing. Or go old school, and take your student to the biggest hill in town.
• Snowshoeing: Try a sport that’s a little gentler on the body. Strap on a pair of snowshoes, and walk the neighborhood or a nearby trail. (Feeling adventurous? Sign up for a snowshoe race!)
• Sleigh rides: Sit back and ride along for a tour of the outdoors. (We recommend going to a park or farm that also offers hot cocoa and s’mores.)
• Annual winter events: Embrace what the community has to offer, like holiday parades or church celebrations. Or consider going big, by traveling to some of the country’s largest cold-weather attractions: Colorado’s International Snow Sculpture Championships, the Saranac Lake Winter Carnival in New York, Zehnder’s Snowfest in Michigan, or the lit-up Ice Castles in several northern locations.

With any of these winter outdoor activities, you're sure to make lasting memories these next few months.

Preventing Winter Blues

Use a few of these suggestions to help your student get out of a rut:

• Find more light: Open your curtains wide and let natural light in. If you live in an area that doesn’t catch too many rays, try light therapy with a “happy box.”
• Connect with friends: Whether it’s through texting, calling, or Facetiming, encourage your student to connect with their new network. Hear the latest stories or make plans for the weekend.
• Eat well: This can be a tough one, especially right after all of the holidays. Eating better can lead to feeling better. Choose meals together to get the entire family on the same page.
• Get out of bed: Sleeping in is one thing. Hiding under the covers for longer periods of time is another. Encourage sitting at the table for meals, or watching movies in the family room – and not squirreled away with a laptop.
• Plan ahead: If your student truly can’t embrace the winter lifestyle, get them scheduling out for spring. Adding events to the calendar is a great way to dream about the near future.

Spring Planning

If you’ve exhausted all ideas from these activity lists, perhaps it’s time to plan even further ahead.

Like spring break.

You can have fun working together when you start your spring break planning for host families and international students! But first, have a conversation with your student to see if traveling over break is something they’d be interested in doing. (You may also want to discuss how expenses will be split, as well.)

If everyone is on board for traveling, start brainstorming what activities the family might be interested in doing while on vacation. This can help you narrow down locations for your trip.

Popular Spring Break Locations

According to a AAA report, top U.S. spring break destinations for families include:

1. Orlando, Florida
2. Fort Lauderdale, Florida
3. Atlanta, Georgia
4. Miami, Florida
5. New York, New York
6. Honolulu, Hawaii
7. Anaheim/Los Angeles, California
8. Tampa, Florida
9. Chicago, Illinois
10. Charlotte, North Carolina

Cruises are also a popular choice for families.

Small Activities Can Be Meaningful, Too

No matter what you plan to do, it can all be enjoyable. Simple activities – both indoor and outdoor – can make a big difference.

Teach them how to make the perfect mug of hot cocoa (topped with marshmallows, of course). Have them choose a cozy blanket to wrap up in and set up a movie everyone agrees on. Take a walk around the neighborhood on a sunny day, and maybe even toss a snowball their way.

When you find what works for you and your student, you’ve found the cure for the winter blues.

Are you thinking of becoming a host family in the upcoming year? Learn more information on our CIEE BridgeUSA Host Family page.