Many students today are still wondering what is so interesting about school holidays. I can still recall the days when I was a secondary school student. When school holiday came, I hoped it can be over soon. When school term started, I wished the holiday could last longer.

It is indeed quite common for teenagers to feel so. As a matter of fact, there are many limitations to what teenagers can do during vacations. Your child is considered minor if he is below 18. Not allowed to buy a can of beer and enter some pubs or discos. Very few employers will be keen to hire anyone below 18 too. In cases of dispute, the law protects the minor. Most often, teenagers are very much restricted by parents. Not allowed to stay out late, not allowed to have boyfriend, not allowed...etc. So, does it mean that there is really nothing much for youngsters to do during vacations? We do have some suggestions for your child here:

Taking up a vacation job

Most often, self employed small business owners will be interested to hire students during the vacation. Vacation jobs like flyer distribution, telemarketing are quite common. A good time to start looking for vacation job will be 1 week before school holiday starts. One word of caution though, some dishonest employers may not pay any salary since it is likely that there is no formal contract.

Picking up a new hobby

It is always exciting to learn something new. There are many sports to consider: cycling, swimming, roller blading. If your child is not the outdoor type, how about learning to play a musical instrument? We will be very glad to recommend some experienced music teacher to you.

Visiting nearby attractions

Not everybody can afford to go to Europe for school holiday vacation. But how about nearby places of interest? If your child has visited Sentosa too often, try going to Genting Highland. It is very affordable and you need not take a plane. A bus from Johor Bahru to Kuala Lumpur will cost less than RM$30.

Becoming a volunteer

It will be a very rewarding experience for your child if he/she volunteers to help the needy. These may include the handicapped, elderly staying in old folks home and many others. Here is a useful link for those considering volunteer work.

The list is not exhausted and there are many other activities that you can plan for your child. He/she may need your help in planning for a meaningful holiday. If you are keen to know about holiday enrichment programmes that can help your child, we will be glad to recommend to you. Feel free to email us if you have any queries.