Snow Days: An American Experience

You wake up early, ready to help your exchange student get ready for their school day when you look outside and see everything covered in a blanket of snow. Then, you get a text from their school letting you know that classes are canceled. You want to make this snow day a highlight of your student’s exchange!

This could be the first time your exchange student gets to experience a snow day. If your family doesn’t already have snow day traditions, now is the time to start one with your exchange student.  We’ve got you covered with ways to make the day feel special for both of you!

Try Non-Traditional Hot Cocoa Recipes

Everyone loves hot cocoa on a freezing winter day. Start the day on a sweet note by trying unique hot cocoa recipes together. Get festive by setting up a hot chocolate bar with marshmallows, peppermint, caramel, hot cocoa bombs, spices, and more for a build-your-own hot cocoa experience. If you’re feeling extra adventurous, try this viral Earl Grey hot chocolate recipe. Don’t forget the whipped cream!

Bake Classic U.S. Cookie Recipes 

A snow day is the perfect excuse to spend time in the kitchen making delicious treats! Take the opportunity to introduce your exchange student to traditional cookie recipes in the United States, such as chewy chocolate chip cookies or cowboy cookies, red velvet cookies, black and white cookies, decadent peanut butter cookies, spiced snickerdoodle cookies, sugar cookies, or scrumptious whoopie pies! Chances are your exchange student hasn't tried them all. There’s even a list of the most popular cookies in every state so you can bake your state’s favorite cookie!

Get Crafty with DIY Winter Wreaths

A snow day is the perfect opportunity to do something you never seem to have time to do, like making these DIY winter wreaths. Winter wreaths can make the cold months feel special once the holidays are over. Plus, you can customize them to fit your style and budget. This activity will be sure to get your family’s creative juices flowing. Enjoy crafting!

Get Active Outdoors 

Make the most of the snow day by getting active outdoors! Your exchange student might come from a warmer country, so make sure they have what they need to stay warm. If the cold is extreme, explain the importance of staying hydrated, being careful when walking on ice, and coming inside for breaks to warm up. 

Go Tubing or Sledding

Take your family to the best local sledding or tubing hill for some snowy fun. Your exchange student may never have gone sledding before, so this will be a memorable experience for them. If it's their first time sledding or tubing, don't forget to explain the basics before they go down the hill!

Build a Snowman or Snow Fort

Nobody is too old to enjoy building with snow. Like the idea of a snow cave? If there’s enough snow to build a fort, come up with a plan together and get building. You can also challenge each other to a snowman-building contest to see who can come up with the most creative idea.

Go Ice Skating

Has your exchange student been ice skating before? If not, this is a great opportunity for them to try something new! If your neighborhood has a nearby ice skating rink, get out on the ice and teach them the basics. They'll be gliding smoothly across the ice in no time.

Create a Snow Obstacle Course

Create a snowy obstacle course with elements like snow tunnels, snow wall climbs, snow balance beams, log stepping stones, and more. This activity is perfect for a big group; the more people, the better!

No matter what kind of snow day you choose to have, rest assured it will be a highlight of your exchange student’s time in the U.S. Next time school gets canceled, take advantage of this extra time to bond with your exchange student and create new snow day traditions together!