Please critique my rough itinerary traveling with my 16 year old nephew.

It’s fast, but you’re an experienced traveler, so I’m sure you have reasons for structuring it this way. I’d cut Annecy because it’s too far east and add the time in Paris and/ or Barcelona or Malaga. Some will question Carcassonne, but I think it’s a great stop for a 16 year old, especially the first of January when there will be few tourists.

Thanks
The problem is trying to incorporate Annecy and Ronda places I have not been before while exposing the lad to the classics Paris,

Maybe Paris to Arles instead of Annecy?

Comparatively speaking, that's a lot of time in Ronda. In the summer it is possible to do a day-trip from Ronda to Arcos by bus. I don't know that the schedule is the same in January. You can keep yourself busy in Ronda for about a full day if you visit all the (mostly minor) local sights. After that, I'm not sure what you will find to do.

I don't understand such a short visit to Barcelona.

Will flying to Malaga then switching to a train or bus back up to Ronda really save time over just taking a train the whole way? I don't think it will be hugely faster, and there's the irritation factor of dealing with airports.

The train Barcelona to Ronda is about 7 hours.
Ok back to the drawing board.
I might just have to cut Ronda.
I don't know. I just want my nephew to use his Spanish
Oh it does not look like Comes Bus goes to Arcos in January. Rats!

Know that Jan 6th is our major 3 Kings Day holiday (expect smaller towns, like Ronda, to be dead) kind of like Christmas day in USA. Consider spending the night of Jan 5th in Malaga, this night is when the major 3 Kings Day celebrations and parades are actually held, called la Cabalgata de Reyes, it may be good to be in a large city during that time for the festivities.

Consider adding Zaragoza instead of Ronda, it's about 2 hrs on the AVE from Barcelona, it's easy to train to Madrid from there too. I'm sure your nephew will be able to practice Spanish there very well. Zaragoza is very festive during the holidays :)

I think Arles would be a good choice for a 16 year old boy. Arles is full of Roman stuff and a good base. My boys loved Roman ruins. You could easily visit Nimes or Orange from Arles and I wouldn’t miss the Pont du Gard.

Hey Carlos oh yeah I saw the parade in Malaga 3 Kings day this year
I was thinking about going east of Barcelona also to Zaragoza and saving Ronda for another time. I just love the weather in Andalusia in January and the Tapas

Hi Eef is that Mistral wind happening that time of year in Arles?
Oh yeah I took my nephew's mom to see Pont du Gar in 2014. I am trying to see some new stuff also.

Hey Jazz, nice you were able to see it in Malaga :) The weather in the Aragon region (where Zaragoza is) is very similar to Andalucia, they even have a Moorish Palace too called la Aljafería, a UNESCO Heritage Site.

Also, in Zaragoza there is a very nice Tapas quarter called El Tubo, it in the centre of the old town with twisting narrow streets. You can read more about it here: https://uncoveringspain.com/spain-guide/el-tubo-zaragoza-tapas-restaurants/

Zaragoza is a good thought. I must disagree about the weather, though. While the summers are reminiscent of those in Andalucía (i.e., miserably hot), over the Christmas holidays the average temperatures are about 10 degrees (F) warmer in Seville than in Zaragoza. Not that 51F is cold or anything, but that's the average daily high temperature in Zaragoza. Barcelona's average is about 8 degrees (F) higher.

I haven't looked at actual, day-by-day historical weather stats (timeanddate.com), so I have no idea how wildly conditions swing in any of those places.

Hey Carlos I learned un tubo is a large beer by the way

ok forget Ronda. Add Zaragoza especially to see
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aljafer%C3%ADa

Also Zaragoza have much Ancient Roman History, the city's name actually comes from its old Roman name Caesar-Augusta : https://uncoveringspain.com/spain-guide/caesaraugusta-the-roman-route-in-zaragoza/

Good Day trips from Zaragoza:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palace_of_the_Kings_of_Navarre_of_Olite

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castle_of_Loarre

Annecy can be dreary in mid winter. It's too low in elevation to be a "winter wonderland" - snow is a rare occurrence. Given that Spain is the ultimate target, I would go to Nîmes instead. A hair less windy than Arles, and slightly busier so probably better at this time of the year. You can go to the Pont du Gard, visit the new Roman museum, and/or day trip to Arles if you wish.
Also Annecy to Carcassonne is a 6 hour train ride.