When Winter Keeps Us Inside, CARE Keeps Us Moving

When Winter Keeps Us Inside, CARE Keeps Us Moving

Winter can shrink a young person’s world.

Schedules tighten. Outdoor time disappears. Energy builds with nowhere to go. In residential settings, cold weather doesn’t just change what we do—it can change how youth feel: more restless, more stuck, more easily pulled into conflict.

That’s why the small, intentional choices staff make in winter matter so much. And sometimes, the best solution isn’t a big event or a perfect plan. Sometimes it’s a balloon.

In SN 17, staff got creative and turned an ordinary day inside the unit into balloon volleyball—simple rules, a safe setup, and a whole lot of laughter. No expensive materials. No elaborate prep. Just a light, low-stakes activity that invited movement, teamwork, and a shared moment of “we can make something good out of today.”

Why this is CARE in action

Balloon volleyball might sound like “just fun,” but it lines up with CARE principles in meaningful ways:

Relationship-based
Play is a fast track to connection. When staff join in (or facilitate without controlling), youth experience adults as partners—not just rule enforcers. Those micro-moments build trust that carries into harder moments later.
Developmentally focused
Movement helps regulate the body, especially when youth are feeling cooped up. The balloon slows everything down, levels the playing field, and makes participation feel possible for different skill levels.
Competence-centered
Youth get to succeed quickly. Keeping a balloon in the air rewards effort, teamwork, and persistence. It creates positive identity moments: “I helped,” “I can do this,” “we worked together.”
Trauma-informed
The stakes are low, the environment is predictable, and the activity can be paused or modified easily. Staff can offer choice (“Do you want to play or keep score?”) and help youth practice coping skills without calling it “coping skills.”
Family-involved (in spirit and skill-building)
Even when families aren’t physically present, activities like this model what healthy, playful connection can look like—something youth can carry into future relationships and home life.

What made it work (and what others can borrow)

SN 17’s balloon volleyball is a great reminder that winter engagement doesn’t have to be complicated. A few best practices that translate anywhere:

  • Keep it simple and accessible: one balloon, clear boundaries, quick start.
  • Build in roles: playing, scoring, refereeing, timekeeping—everyone can belong.
  • Focus on process, not perfection: the goal is connection and regulation, not “winning.”
  • Use it as a temperature check: notice who joins, who hesitates, who needs support, and who shines.

The bigger point

When the weather limits options, creativity becomes more than entertainment—it becomes an intervention. A balloon game can prevent escalation, reduce tension, and create a shared win in a day that could have gone sideways.

That’s the heart of CARE: meeting youth where they are, using the environment wisely, and choosing relationship over reaction—even when it’s cold out, even when the day feels long.

Today, SN 17 reminded us that sometimes the most effective tool isn’t something you order, schedule, or budget for.

Sometimes it’s the decision to try something light, safe, and human—and to make winter feel a little less heavy.