Things you and your teen can do this October half-term

Oct 13, 2024
3 min read

Updated: Jul 22

It can be tough knuckling down to school after the long summer holidays, but October half-term is nearly here and it'll soon be time for a break. Want to spend some time with your teen while they’re off? We’ve got some ideas to inspire you.

Go to the cinema

If the weather's bad, it can be lovely to cosy up at the cinema and watch something on the big screen. Look out for new autumn releases and anniversary re-runs over half-term, and check your local cinema's listings for what's showing.

Pumpkin picking

What better way to celebrate Halloween than finding a local farm to go pumpkin picking? It’s a great way for your teen to learn that pumpkins don’t just appear washed and cut on supermarket shelves. Search online and you’re bound to find a local farm offering pick your own pumpkins. There might be a small fee, but it won’t break the bank, and you can all enjoy fresh pumpkin food afterwards, such as pumpkin soup, pumpkin rice, pumpkin pie or pumpkin curry. Don’t forget to make Jack-o'-lanterns with the shells afterwards.

Adrenaline junkie?

If you can bear the thrill of the ride, why not make a family outing to a local theme park? It's a chance for your teen to let loose and burn off some energy. Many parks offer family-themed events if you want to include younger siblings too. Options include Alton Towers, the National Botanic Garden of Wales, Chessington World of Adventures, Diggerland Durham, Flamingo Land, Gulliver's World, Lightwater Valley Family Adventure Park, Shrek's Adventure, Thorpe Park, and the UK's oldest theme park, Blackgang Chine, to name but a few.

Go zip lining

If your teen’s a bit of a daredevil, they’ll love soaring from tree to tree and taking in the views below. Go Ape has locations all over the UK, and there are other aerial adventure parks too. As well as the adrenaline rush, they’ll enjoy terrific views of the turning trees at this time of year.

Go out for a coffee

Creating special times doesn’t have to be expensive or dramatic. An hour or so sitting together without interruptions can be a real joy. Speciality teas and coffees are also a treat, especially if you don’t have a coffee maker at home. And why not indulge in a slice of cake while you’re there?

Dive into a book

Reading for pleasure is a wonderful way to escape without moving anywhere at all. Any type of reading helps improve vocabulary and communication, so maybe your teen could dive into a book this holiday. For those who don't like to read, an audiobook or podcast offers an alternative with similar benefits. A few places to look:

Visiting a bookshop can be a trove of unexpected pleasures. Some of the most-loved bookshops in the UK include Barter Books (Alnwick), Blue Bear (Surrey), The Bookshop by the Sea (Aberystwyth), The Bookshop Wigtown (with a mile of shelves), Gosh Comics (Soho), Leakey's (Inverness), Nantwich Bookshop (Cheshire) and Topping & Company (Edinburgh).

Shop together

If shopping’s your bag, a day out at the shopping centre could be a good bonding experience with your teen. Whether it’s window shopping, getting ahead with Christmas gifts or treating them to some new autumn outfits, it’s a day out they’re bound to love. With eateries and entertainment on site there are other distractions too, and maybe even some early Christmas decorations to admire.

Interests and hobbies

If you’re wondering what else your teen can do throughout the year to build character, develop skills, stand out from others and improve their chances at interviews, all while doing things they enjoy, we’ve compiled plenty of ideas, whether your teen’s the adventurous sort or prefers quieter activities. Take a look at The Parents’ Guide to Developing Skills and Character.