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We got a kitten to catch the mice in the house. He's about 12 weeks
old or so. The vet has recommended that he stay indoors, so he's not
getting any practice hunting outside at all. He loves to chase the
laser and play with little foam balls, and we have one of those little
mice that hangs on an elastic string that goes over the door that he
also loves. The problem is that in the 3 weeks since we got him the
mice have apparently gotten much bolder. The other night one ran right
by his food dish and this morning a mouse stood up on his hind legs
when it saw my roommate! The cat is never around when the mice are,
they seem to be coming from behind the stove or under the fridge and
he does spend some time sniffing around there and looking around
there, but he certainly hasn't chased or caught anything. Is he too
young for us to expect him to catch the mice? Or is there anything I
can do to help teach him?

Yes, he is far too young to catch mice. Kittens who have never been taught
by their mother may never "get it" entirely. They may catch them as they
get older but not know how to deliver that killing bite. It took my boy 3
years or so of hunting outside to stop releasing live prey in my kitchen.
Fortunately the light bulb went on one day. I don't think there is anything
you can do to teach him yourself, especially as an indoor cat.