Five ways to make the Christmas holidays count

Nov 26, 2023
3 min read

Updated: Jul 22

It’s always great for teens to kick back and enjoy the school holidays, with more time for the things they enjoy and some extra rest. That said, whether they’re in GCSE or sixth form years, they should keep an eye on doing things this December that not only get them into the Christmas spirit, but also give them something standout to talk about in interviews and applications for jobs or further study later on. Read on for five easy suggestions.

Five ways to make the Christmas holidays count

1. Create a holiday vibe

Holidays should feel different, and with decorations and lights galore, that’s fairly easy to achieve over Christmas. Get them involved in creating the holiday vibe at home by helping put up the decorations, choosing or decorating the tree, and making each part of the home feel special, including their own room and any outside space.

If they’re creative, perhaps they could make some of their own unique decorations. It can be a great activity for siblings and the whole family to enjoy together.

2. Start a business

If your teen has the enthusiasm and ability, the Christmas holidays can be the perfect opportunity to start a new business venture. This needn’t be costly, and if things go really well, they may even have the beginnings of a career working for themselves. If they need inspiration, ideas might include:

creating and selling wreaths
making jewellery
selling Christmas hampers
designing Christmas cards
online tutoring
setting up a fashion store
offering dog walking services
creating personalised gifts
becoming a social media influencer

Starting a business can help develop key transferable skills; find out why here.

3. Be creative in the kitchen

From mince pies to gingerbread men, there are plenty of reasons to spend time with your teen in the kitchen this Christmas. If your teen is already an experienced cook, you could let them prepare a festive meal, such as Christmas breakfast or Boxing Day lunch. If this seems too adventurous, how about getting them to decorate Christmas cookies or prepare something special, such as Christmas pudding or family treats?

4. Get some virtual work experience or enter a competition

Lots of businesses now offer online work experience, so your teen could benefit from doing some this holiday. Virtual work experience gives them the chance to gain experience in the workplace, develop their skills, boost their employability and explore new industries and job roles. If that seems too onerous, they could go online to find a competition to enter. If they win or are acknowledged as a good entry, it’s a great confidence booster. But win or not, entering a competition demonstrates initiative, intellectual curiosity, drive, research skills, preparation and organisation, all great qualities in the eyes of future interviewers.

5. Volunteer together

Teach your teen the spirit of giving this festive season by encouraging them to show kindness to strangers. This might include volunteering at a shelter, writing Christmas cards to local care homes, or donating old clothes, gifts and games to those in need. Helping charitable causes is one of the top ways to increase happiness.

Remember, you can always teach your teens about the importance of giving, but you can’t force them to enjoy or adopt it. Try to do these things together and lead by example.

Let us know if any of these ideas suit your teen and, if they try them, how they get on. If you’d like more ideas on how your teen can stand out from others in job and further education applications, it’s all in our specialist guide, The Parents’ Guide to Developing Skills and Character, suitable from Year 10 to Year 13. It explains how hobbies and interests develop soft, transferable skills.