Holidays with Your Mentee

The holidays are a time to be with family and enjoy the spirit of the season. But people without homes and families can feel exceptionally lonely and depressed this time of year. Mentors mentoring young people to help them overcome the impact of a broken family may understand what these kids are going through.

Fortunately, several mentor-mentee activities will make the season brighter for kids who need mentoring. Here are some to consider. 

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Know When a Mentee is Suffering

A mentee may feel depressed and lonely during the holiday season, but they may not want to talk about what’s bothering them. However, the mentor will notice underlying signs like:

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• Aggressive and defiant behavior
• Weight gain or weight loss due to eating disorders
• Complaints of headaches and stomachaches
• Panic attacks with symptoms that include intense fear, pounding heart, and difficulty breathing
• Engaging in self-destructive behavior
• Not wanting to participate in fun activities
• Difficulty concentrating and paying attention
• Conversation that includes absolutist language like “always” and “never” and statements like “no one cares” and “I can’t.” 

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How to Support Your Mentee During the Holiday Season

Mentors should support their mentees during the holiday season by staying in touch.

Call, text, or video chat often so they don’t feel lonely. Let them know you are open to

talking to them about their feelings. 

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A mentor should also normalize their mentee’s feelings. Let them know that several people feel lonely or stressed about the holidays. They will feel less isolated.

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Some mentees take a more subtle approach when communicating with mentees during holiday breaks. Others are more active, sending a holiday card and regularly checking in with parents and caregivers. Mentors should consider their approach based on the mentee’s mental state and living situation.

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Mentor programs may provide webinars or other resources with additional guidelines on how mentors should interact with mentees during the holiday season.

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Key Considerations When Planning Mentoring Activities for the Holidays

Various mentoring activities can make mentees feel less stressed and alone during the holiday season. However, not every activity is right for every mentee. Some mentees may struggle to socialize, so they prefer more organized and peaceful events. Here are other things to consider when determining the best holiday activities near me.

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• Consider Your Mentee’s Taste and Personality: What does your mentee enjoy? If they are sports fans, consider inviting them to a sports-related outing. If they like art, a museum trip may be ideal.
• Be Flexible: Be prepared to alter your plans to ensure your mentee is

comfortable. They may need to switch dates and times. Don’t set anything in

stone before they confirm.

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• Focus on Connection: Regardless of the activity, it should focus on connection.

Your activity should aim to deepen your mentee-mentor relationship and enhance the bond. It should promote a sense of togetherness during the holiday season.

Holiday Activities for Mentors and Mentees

Here are some holiday activities mentors and mentees may enjoy.

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• Volunteering: Volunteer activities may help mentors feel more connected to their community. You may suggest your mentee deliver food through Meal on Wheels, make a homemade item for an individual in need, or design a holiday card for an elderly neighbor.

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• Activities Outside of School: The holiday season means kids are out of school.

While most students celebrate this time of year, mentees may feel lost without a sense of schedule. Many mentor programs offer activities on a school schedule to prevent depression.

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• Holiday Events: Mentor programs may also host special events for their mentees. They may invite them on an ice-skating outing or host a holiday party at their facility or another venue. These events allow mentees to connect with their peer group and promote a sense of community.

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• Work on Something Together: A mentor may encourage their mentee to work with them on a creative project. They could write a poem, create arts and crafts projects, or draw portraits of one another. The project should express how much they care about each other. It will also boost the mentee’s self-esteem and provide enjoyment.

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• Set Intentions for the Holiday Season: The holiday season is the perfect time to set intentions such as learning a skill, being more present, or developing leadership. Talk to your mentee about goals for the new year. Then, check in with each other throughout the holiday season to learn how you achieve these goals. Setting intentions will help the mentee build confidence and focus on something positive during the holidays.

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• Holiday Market Visit: Consider planning an outing to a holiday market or another seasonal community event.
• Virtual Meetings: if you are leaving town for the holiday season and can’t meet with your mentee, plan a virtual meeting. Do something special, like place decorations behind you during the chat or plan for both of you to eat a plate of holiday cookies during the meeting. 

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Is Gift Giving Okay?

Some mentors are unsure about guidelines regarding gift-giving during the holiday

season. Many programs will solicit donations from mentors and community members to give mentees an educational holiday gift. If you don’t have any outside guidance, here are some tips that ensure you give a suitable gift: 

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• Don’t be overly elaborate when giving gifts. Choose a gift that is under $20.

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• Appropriate gifts include educational items, homemade goods such as baked

goods, ornaments, holiday decorations, or meaningful gifts like framed photos.

You may also give them something they need, like a warm coat or blanket.

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• Consider a gift for the family to reduce the risk of sibling jealousy. For example,

you may give the family movie tickets or a board game they can play together.

Big Brothers Big Sisters Provides Support During the Holiday Season

Big Brothers Big Sisters can support young people in need during the holiday season

and throughout their lives. We match mentors and mentees, ensuring the kids we work with achieve their life goals. Our program has been proven to reduce drug use, promote better attitudes toward education, and decrease aggressive behavior.

Contact us to learn more about how we are improving young people’s lives.

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