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12 Fun And Creative Teenager Gift Ideas For Girls

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This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

If you need a little help with teenager gift ideas, I have the girls covered for you with this list of eclectic but popular ideas. Also, look at my pages How to Successfully Homeschool Middle School and How to Homeschool High School.

Whether you are struggling with an idea for your own teenage daughter, niece, granddaughter, or any other 12–18-year-old girl you will find something for girls of all personalities here.

12 Fun And Creative Teenager Gift Ideas For Girls

Check over my list and hopefully it helps you cross some items off your list to get your shopping done quickly.

I have researched, polled the teenage girls I know, and compared them to bring you some choices that I think you (and they of course) will really like.

Most options come in a variety of colors and are appropriate for girly girls to more neutral girlies.

12 Fun And Creative Teenager Gift Ideas For Girls

Too, you’ll find many of them budget friendly.

Next, look at some more gift guides.

Gift Guides for Families

12 Teenager Gift Ideas For Girls

Teenager Gift Ideas For Girls

Add one or two of these to your gift list for teen girls.

Instant Print Camera -(Pink) Print Memories Instantly

What better way for them to document friendships, co-op, field trips, and family events than with an adorable and instant printing camera?

Stanley Quencher Vacuum Insulated Tumbler with Lid and Straw

I have been assured that this is one of the big gift ideas for teens right now, they come in a wide variety of colors and are great for getting their water in around the house, on field trips, or at co-op classes.

Wearable Blanket Hoodie

Most of the teens I know love to be bundled up with a hoodie even when it's far too warm, this big snuggly option is great for around the house on the chilliest of days.

Bluetooth Speaker with Lights, Wireless Charging Speaker

This is wireless, bluetooth and works with Androids or iPhone so even if you are not sure which type they have you are covered.

Polymer Clay Earring Making Kit

If you want to gift your teen with something that helps build skills and flex their creative muscles a nice quality jewelry kit gives them the framework but plenty of freedom to be unique and show off their own personal style.

Cute Pastel Highlighters Set: 12 Assorted Colors No Bleed Pens

For school, notes, letters, and more these aesthetic highlighters are pretty paired with a cute notepad and post it notes.

Life Skills for Teenage Girls: How to Be Healthy, Avoid Drama, Manage Money, Be Confident, Fix Your Car, Unclog Your Sink, and Other Important Skills Teen Girls Should Know!

I think this is a great practical gift that might be paired with something more whimsical to give your teenage girl some simple life skills goals to aspire to.

iPhone Charger Cord 6FT 4Packs 4Colors Lightning Cable iPhone Charger

If you have a teen, you know that there are never enough phone cords or blocks in the house. This is always a wonderful and welcomed gift. Look for unique colors and designs as well as different sizes

The Summer I Turned Pretty

This one you will have to do a little investigating on, especially if it is not your child to be sure it's appropriate and a topic they enjoy. Twilight, Hunger Games, and Divergent series are still popular YA options. The Summer I Turned Pretty is one of the books on my teen shopping list this year.

Led Strip Lights Led Strip Lights Waterproof

Strip lights can be run around computers, tv/s, bulletin boards, and around the room to add a little fun.

Neon Signs,Pink Led Neon Light for Wall Decor,Neon

These shaped ones to show off a little of the teen's personality are also really fun.

Monopoly: Barbie Edition Board Game

Barbie has been really big this year from the big screen to makeup palettes, clothes, and in everyone's favorite all night game, monopoly too. This one is perfect for the girly girl who loves all things pink and glamor girl barbie.

Kanoodle Extreme Puzzle Game, Brain Teaser

This is a great brain teaser puzzle pocket game for a single player  that has been trending lately.

LEGO Icons Flower Bouquet Botanical Collection and Table Art for Adults

Even if they are not typically into LEGO these beautiful flower sets are not only a great permanent bouquet but also a good and crafty tech distraction. They make a wonderful room decoration when completed.

8 Cool Winter Crafts for Middle School | Craft a Snowman Bead Necklace

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This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

If you have a middle school student that you are trying to get off their tech for a bit these winter crafts for middle school are a perfect distraction from texting and video games. Also, look at my page How to Successfully Homeschool Middle School and ideas for winter fun on my page Winter Season Unit Study with free lapbook.

Snowmen, snowflakes, and cocoa candles, oh my!

8 Cool Winter Crafts for Middle School | Craft a Snowman Bead Necklace

I have rolled up 8 adorable craft ideas to cover a lot of our favorite winter topics and will keep your teen screen-free for at least a little while.

Too, I have an easy tutorial for how to craft a snowman bead necklace as well and it is a great intermediate project for one child, a group of friends, co-op, or even the whole family to create.

You don’t have to stop with just one craft though.

Challenge your middle school child to choose another craft and learn some of these fantastic snowman facts, get outside and build their own snowman, or make a snowman-themed snack.

4 Winter Snowman Facts for Middle School

  1. In February of 2020 residents in Donnersbachwald, Austria, built a giant snowman named Riesi that towered above at 124.8 feet.
  2. According to scientists the best snow for building snowmen is moist or wet snow, which forms when the air temperature is hovering just above freezing- 0°C and 2°C.  When this happens some of the snow melts and makes water between ice crystals that acts as a glue to hold it all together.
  3.  Everyone’s an expert! There are more than 90,000 YouTube videos that teach you how to build a snowman, there is even a patent out there for the process.
  4. The classic song ‘Frosty The Snowman’ “Frosty the Snowman” was written by Walter “Jack” Rollins and Steve Nelson. It was first recorded by Gene Autry and the Cass County Boys and later recorded by Jimmy Durante in the same year, Jimmy’s version being used in the animated movie.
8 Cool Winter Crafts for Middle School | Craft a Snowman Bead Necklace

Then add some books for fun winter reading for your student.

I lean toward living books then like to add in some reference books too.

7 Books for Middle School Students to Read in the Winter

These books also make for a great read aloud, even older kids would enjoy piling up on the couch in the morning for a good story together.

Julie of the Wolves (HarperClassics)

Julie of the Wolves is a staple in the canon of children’s literature and the first in the Julie trilogy. The survival theme makes it a good pick for readers of wilderness adventures such as My Side of the Mountain, Hatchet, or Island of the Blue Dolphins.

This edition, perfect for classroom or home use, includes John Schoenherr’s original scratchboard illustrations throughout, as well as bonus materials such as an introduction written by Jean Craighead George’s children, the author’s Newbery acceptance speech, selections from her field notebooks, a discussion guide, and a further reading guide.

To her small village, she is known as Miyax; to her friend in San Francisco, she is Julie. When her life in the village becomes dangerous, Miyax runs away, only to find herself lost in the Alaskan wilderness.

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

Four adventurous siblings—Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy Pevensie—step through a wardrobe door and into the land of Narnia, a land frozen in eternal winter and enslaved by the power of the White Witch. But when almost all hope is lost, the return of the Great Lion, Aslan, signals a great change . . . and a great sacrifice.

The Call of the Wild (Reader's Library Classics)

The domesticated life of a powerful St. Bernard-Shepherd mix named Buck is quickly turned on end when he is stolen away from his master and put to work as a sled dog in Alaska. His once life of luxury turns into a life of survival and adaptation as he learns the ways of the wilderness.

Sweet Home Alaska

    It's 1934, and times are tough for Trip's family after the mill in their small Wisconsin town closes, leaving her father unemployed. Determined to provide for his family, he moves them all to Alaska to become pioneers as part of President Roosevelt's Palmer Colony project. Trip and her family are settling in, except her mom, who balks at the lack of civilization. But Trip feels like she's following in Laura Ingalls Wilder's footsteps, and she hatches a plan to raise enough money for a piano to convince her musical mother that Alaska is a wonderful and cultured home. Her sights set on the cash prize at the upcoming Palmer Colony Fair, but can Trip grow the largest pumpkin possible--using all the love, energy, and Farmer Boy expertise she can muster?

The Winter King

Ever since Cora's father disappeared through the ice, whispers about her family's "curse" have grown increasingly louder. Desperate to help her mother and siblings survive another bleak season in the Winter King's frozen grasp, Cora begins to bend (and even break) the rules she has kept since she was a little girl. But when she discovers a secret that's much bigger than herself, she realizes too late that she has put herself--and those she loves--in even greater peril.

Winterhouse (Winterhouse, 1)

Orphan Elizabeth Somers’s malevolent aunt and uncle ship her off to the ominous Winterhouse Hotel, owned by the peculiar Norbridge Falls. Upon arrival, Elizabeth quickly discovers that Winterhouse has many charms―most notably its massive library. It’s not long before she locates a magical book of puzzles that will unlock a mystery involving Norbridge and his sinister family. But the deeper she delves into the hotel’s secrets, the more Elizabeth starts to realize that she is somehow connected to Winterhouse. As fate would have it, Elizabeth is the only person who can break the hotel’s curse and solve the mystery. But will it be at the cost of losing the people she has come to care for, and even Winterhouse itself?

Northwind

When a deadly plague reaches the small fish camp where he lives, an orphan named Leif is forced to take to the water in a cedar canoe. He flees northward, following a wild, fjord-riven shore, navigating from one danger to the next, unsure of his destination. Yet the deeper into his journey he paddles, the closer he comes to his truest self as he connects to “the heartbeat of the ocean . . . the pulse of the sea.” With hints of Nordic mythology and an irresistible narrative pull, Northwind is Gary Paulsen at his captivating, adventuresome best.

Then, add in these other fun winter crafts for middle school.

8 Cool Winter Crafts for Middle School

  1. Fun Styrofoam Snowman Art Activity & 5 Facts About The Wonders of Winter.
  2. With just paper, glue, and scissors you can create a winter wonderland of Curled Paper Snowflakes to decorate the whole house.
  3. Not only is it beautiful but this Snowflake Soap serves a purpose and makes a great craft to keep or gift to friends and family.
  4. Check out these 10 Middle School Winter Crafts and Make a Sweet Smelling Hot Cocoa Candle.
  5. Think of the personality that can be infused into this cute DIY Wood Block Snowman tutorial. I think this is the perfect craft for everyone in the family to make together to represent themselves.
  6. I just love this Popsicle Stick Winter Bucket List idea. I have found that kids don’t need you less as they turn into teens, just in a different way. Create a list of things you would enjoy doing together throughout the winter season and let your middle schooler turn it into this fun tin pail bucket list.
  7. Sometimes a winter craft can be longing for spring, like with these Winter Craft Ideas How to Make Fun Pinecone Flowers that can bring a bright touch to a dreary winter.
  8. Easy DIY Fun Salt Winter Watercolor Art Project for Kids.
8 Cool Winter Crafts for Middle School | Craft a Snowman Bead Necklace

Okay so maybe this is less craft and more of a snack but it definitely looks like a work of art.

So maybe these Hot Chocolate Stir Sticks can do double-duty as your middle schoolers’ project.

Craft a Snowman Bead Necklace

You will need:

8 Cool Winter Crafts for Middle School | Craft a Snowman Bead Necklace

The first thing you want to do is string your unfinished wood beads for the snowman on a skewer, this is the easiest method for painting.

8 Cool Winter Crafts for Middle School | Craft a Snowman Bead Necklace

Next paint the beads with a light coat all over, leaving room between each to dry.

8 Cool Winter Crafts for Middle School | Craft a Snowman Bead Necklace

Also, paint a little unfinished wood spool black to make a hat.

If you would rather you can also use a scrap of fabric to make a cloth hat instead.

8 Cool Winter Crafts for Middle School | Craft a Snowman Bead Necklace

Once your first layer is dry, paint a second thick coat on them and then sprinkle with fine glitter if desired to give the snow a dimensional and glistening effect.

8 Cool Winter Crafts for Middle School | Craft a Snowman Bead Necklace

Allow the paint to dry then hot glue the 3 pieces together, leaving the hole on the beads vertical for the bottom two and going horizontally for the head so that it can be strung on the necklace.

Add your top hat as well.

8 Cool Winter Crafts for Middle School | Craft a Snowman Bead Necklace

Use paint markers to add details like eyes, a carrot nose, buttons, etc.

8 Cool Winter Crafts for Middle School | Craft a Snowman Bead Necklace

While the details are drying begin adding beads in whatever pattern you like to one side of the necklace.

8 Cool Winter Crafts for Middle School | Craft a Snowman Bead Necklace

Slip your snowman onto the string and repeat the bead pattern on the other side, going as far up the string as you like.

8 Cool Winter Crafts for Middle School | Craft a Snowman Bead Necklace

10 Middle School Winter Crafts and Make a Sweet Smelling Hot Cocoa Candle

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This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

It seems like preschool crafts are in abundance but finding middle school winter crafts is a little more difficult. So, I have gathered 10 winter crafts for you. Be sure you grab more ideas for winter fun on my page Winter Season Unit Study.

Also, I’m showing you how to make a sweet-smelling hot cocoa candle that your middle schooler will love to make and keep or give away.

10 Middle School Winter Crafts and Make a Sweet Smelling Hot Cocoa Candle

Winter is a great time to dive into all things cozy-snow, snowflakes, winter hats, snowmen, winter creatures, and of course cocoa.

First, look at some of these fun facts about winter to share with your middle school student.

Winter Facts for Kids

  • December 21st or 22nd marks the winter solstice for the northern half of Earth (the Northern Hemisphere).
  • There are 5 types of snow-Dry snow, moist snow, wet snow, very wet snow, and slush or snow.
  • Snow forms when the atmospheric temperature is at or below freezing (0°C or 32°F) and moisture must be present.
  • A snowflake is made of frozen water, so it has two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom (H2O) in its make up.
  • A blizzard is classified as a severe snowstorm that has high winds of at least 35 mph and the visibility is reduced to less than a quarter mile for more than 2 hours.
10 Middle School Winter Crafts and Make a Sweet Smelling Hot Cocoa Candle

Next, here are some great books for your child to read when the weather changes.

7 Middle School Winter Books to Snuggle Up With

If your middle schooler loves to curl up with a good book, a soft blanket, and their sweet-smelling hot cocoa candle here are a few that are set in winter to enjoy.

7 Books for Middle School Students to Read in the Winter

These books also make for a great read aloud, even older kids would enjoy piling up on the couch in the morning for a good story together.

Julie of the Wolves (HarperClassics)

Julie of the Wolves is a staple in the canon of children’s literature and the first in the Julie trilogy. The survival theme makes it a good pick for readers of wilderness adventures such as My Side of the Mountain, Hatchet, or Island of the Blue Dolphins.

This edition, perfect for classroom or home use, includes John Schoenherr’s original scratchboard illustrations throughout, as well as bonus materials such as an introduction written by Jean Craighead George’s children, the author’s Newbery acceptance speech, selections from her field notebooks, a discussion guide, and a further reading guide.

To her small village, she is known as Miyax; to her friend in San Francisco, she is Julie. When her life in the village becomes dangerous, Miyax runs away, only to find herself lost in the Alaskan wilderness.

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

Four adventurous siblings—Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy Pevensie—step through a wardrobe door and into the land of Narnia, a land frozen in eternal winter and enslaved by the power of the White Witch. But when almost all hope is lost, the return of the Great Lion, Aslan, signals a great change . . . and a great sacrifice.

The Call of the Wild (Reader's Library Classics)

The domesticated life of a powerful St. Bernard-Shepherd mix named Buck is quickly turned on end when he is stolen away from his master and put to work as a sled dog in Alaska. His once life of luxury turns into a life of survival and adaptation as he learns the ways of the wilderness.

Sweet Home Alaska

    It's 1934, and times are tough for Trip's family after the mill in their small Wisconsin town closes, leaving her father unemployed. Determined to provide for his family, he moves them all to Alaska to become pioneers as part of President Roosevelt's Palmer Colony project. Trip and her family are settling in, except her mom, who balks at the lack of civilization. But Trip feels like she's following in Laura Ingalls Wilder's footsteps, and she hatches a plan to raise enough money for a piano to convince her musical mother that Alaska is a wonderful and cultured home. Her sights set on the cash prize at the upcoming Palmer Colony Fair, but can Trip grow the largest pumpkin possible--using all the love, energy, and Farmer Boy expertise she can muster?

The Winter King

Ever since Cora's father disappeared through the ice, whispers about her family's "curse" have grown increasingly louder. Desperate to help her mother and siblings survive another bleak season in the Winter King's frozen grasp, Cora begins to bend (and even break) the rules she has kept since she was a little girl. But when she discovers a secret that's much bigger than herself, she realizes too late that she has put herself--and those she loves--in even greater peril.

Winterhouse (Winterhouse, 1)

Orphan Elizabeth Somers’s malevolent aunt and uncle ship her off to the ominous Winterhouse Hotel, owned by the peculiar Norbridge Falls. Upon arrival, Elizabeth quickly discovers that Winterhouse has many charms―most notably its massive library. It’s not long before she locates a magical book of puzzles that will unlock a mystery involving Norbridge and his sinister family. But the deeper she delves into the hotel’s secrets, the more Elizabeth starts to realize that she is somehow connected to Winterhouse. As fate would have it, Elizabeth is the only person who can break the hotel’s curse and solve the mystery. But will it be at the cost of losing the people she has come to care for, and even Winterhouse itself?

Northwind

When a deadly plague reaches the small fish camp where he lives, an orphan named Leif is forced to take to the water in a cedar canoe. He flees northward, following a wild, fjord-riven shore, navigating from one danger to the next, unsure of his destination. Yet the deeper into his journey he paddles, the closer he comes to his truest self as he connects to “the heartbeat of the ocean . . . the pulse of the sea.” With hints of Nordic mythology and an irresistible narrative pull, Northwind is Gary Paulsen at his captivating, adventuresome best.

Also, choose one of these chilly and beautiful crafts to keep your tween or teens hands busy, and keep on the winter theme.

10 Middle School Winter Crafts

  1. Free Easy Arctic and Inuit Science Lapbook & Unit Study
  2. Winter Craft Ideas How to Make Fun Pinecone Flowers
  3. How cute is this No Sew Sock Snowman? He is a great way to welcome in winter.
  4. Cardinal Birds in Winter and Birch Trees Easy Watercolor Kids Activity.
  5. Make a real cup of hot cocoa with these DIY Hot Cocoa Bombs.
  6. Julie of the Wolves Free Hands-on Arctic Unit Study
  7. Hot Glue Snowflake Charms
  8. Two Fun Candy Cane Hands-on Science Winter Experiments.
  9. DIY Snowy Mason Jar Luminaries are great for lining the walkway or to brighten up the kitchen table.
  10. Easy DIY Fun Salt Winter Watercolor Art Project for Kids
10 Middle School Winter Crafts and Make a Sweet Smelling Hot Cocoa Candle

Make a Sweet-Smelling Hot Cocoa Candle

The directions below will make one-12-ounce candles but can be easily doubled to make more.

Additionally, you could also add a little vanilla, marshmallow, or peppermint fragrance oil to give it a more complex hot cocoa scent.

You will need:

  • 12 oz. Coffee mug (Dollar Tree)
  • 2 cups of  Beeswax pellets
  • 1 brown crayon
  • 2 teaspoons coconut oil
  • 1 Tablespoon of chocolate fragrance oil
  • Candle wick
  • Sprinkles
  • Paint or permanent marker
10 Middle School Winter Crafts and Make a Sweet Smelling Hot Cocoa Candle

You can leave the mug plain or use a paint marker or permanent marker to decorate the outside of the mug.

Create snowflakes or any other winter design you like, let dry completely.

10 Middle School Winter Crafts and Make a Sweet Smelling Hot Cocoa Candle

Secure the wick to the bottom of the mug with a bit of hot glue or double-sided sticker dots, leave the wick 2” taller than the top of the cup.

10 Middle School Winter Crafts and Make a Sweet Smelling Hot Cocoa Candle

Use the centering device (as pictured) or a clothespin to hold the wick centered in place.

10 Middle School Winter Crafts and Make a Sweet Smelling Hot Cocoa Candle

Place beeswax pellets and broken peeled crayon into a microwave safe container, a glass measuring cup with a pour spout is perfect for filing cups.

10 Middle School Winter Crafts and Make a Sweet Smelling Hot Cocoa Candle

Heat for one minute, stir, and then heat in 30 second increments until completely melted.

Stir in fragrance oil well.

10 Middle School Winter Crafts and Make a Sweet Smelling Hot Cocoa Candle

Carefully pour melted wax in a cup ¼” from the top.

10 Middle School Winter Crafts and Make a Sweet Smelling Hot Cocoa Candle

Allow the candle to harden completely.

Soften a Tablespoon more of beeswax pellets, not quite melted, whip with a craft stick.

10 Middle School Winter Crafts and Make a Sweet Smelling Hot Cocoa Candle

Scoop the whipped wax on top and around the wick.

10 Middle School Winter Crafts and Make a Sweet Smelling Hot Cocoa Candle

Top with sprinkles and lightly tap into the wax, let the wax harden.

Trim the wick to ¼” over the “whipped cream”.

10 Middle School Winter Crafts and Make a Sweet Smelling Hot Cocoa Candle

Easy Fall Crafts To Make And Sell By Kids & Scarecrow Candy Jar

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This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have some easy fall crafts to make and sell by kids and an adorable scarecrow candy jar. Also, you’ll love my page Fall Season Unit Study {Pumpkins, Leaves, Corn, & More}.

One great aspect of homeschooling is teaching your child and encouraging them to be entrepreneurs.

There are lots of easy fall crafts to make and sell.

One activity that is adorable and fun to make is these scarecrow candy jars.

And they have so much personality and each one is unique.

Easy Fall Crafts To Make And Sell By Kids & Scarecrow Candy Jar

But beyond the tutorial I have for you today I have plenty more ideas on those easy fall crafts to make and sell for all your little budding businessmen and women of all ages.

Easy Fall Crafts To Make And Sell By Kids

Next, look at some of these ideas for your entrepreneur.

Easy Fall Crafts To Make And Sell By Kids

Grab an idea or two for a craft to sell or just for fun.

Photo Credit: gluesticksblog.com

10-Minute Sock Pumpkins (Video)

Make darling sock pumpkins in 10 minutes! Perfect for fall decor and SO easy to make! You’ll want to make an entire pumpkin patch of sock pumpkins for fall decor this year. 

How to Make Pumpkin Spice Body Scrub & 7 Fall DIY Crafts For Teens

Your teens will enjoy making these fall diy crafts as much as they’ll enjoy using them. Also, look at my page Free Fall Unit Study Ideas– For Older Kids Too.

Photo Credit: pacountrycrafts.com

Canning Ring Rag Sunflowers

Last year I came up with these little upcycled rag sunflowers using old canning rings and lids. It took a little tweaking to get the process more efficient and neatly finished, but I finally have it figured out.

Apples Unit How to Make a Fall Kids Garland Apple Craft

If you’re doing an apples unit, your kids will love making this fall garland craft. Add this hands-on craft to my fall unit apple study for a study for multiple ages.

Photo Credit: www.motherthyme.com

DIY Faux Mini Apple Pie

With just a few supplies you can easily whip up this darling DIY faux mini apple pie! This is so cute to add into your fall decor, make for a gift, add to a tiered tray or on a coffee bar!

Photo Credit: www.thebestideasforkids.com

Leaf Clay Dish

Fall is the perfect time to do crafts with leaves and nature. This leaf clay dish is one older kids can make. It would make a beautiful gift they can personalize.

10 Dollar Tree Crafts for Teens & Craft a Cute Fall Fairy Garden Wreath

Dollar Tree crafts are a great way to update your teens decor without breaking the bank and give them something creative to do. Also, you’ll love my page Fall Season Unit Study {Pumpkins, Leaves, Corn, & More}.

Photo Credit: www.sadieseasongoods.com

DIY Hand Warmers from Flannel Shirts

So, why not make some DIY hand warmers for a fun and easy upcycling idea?

Photo Credit: www.stylesimpler.com

DIY Yarn Tassel Garland

It’s officially fall ya all!  I wanted to bring some fall colors into my home but I’m trying to keep things simple and budget friendly this year

Photo Credit: thriftyjinxy.com

DIY Pumpkin Spice Goat Milk Soap

This DIY Pumpkin Spice Goat Milk Soap is easy to make and is perfect for your own bath or to give as a gift.

Photo Credit: farmlifediy.com

DIY Candy Corn Decor

Easy DIY Candy Corn Decor is a fun, affordable fall craft project! This wooden candy corn can be used in a holiday centerpiece, vignette, or string it on twine for a seasonal garland!

Then, look how to make this adorable scarecrow candy mason jar.

Scarecrow Candy Jar

The key to keeping the paint from scratching off these jars is preparation from cleaning to removing oils and sealing it.

Easy Fall Crafts To Make And Sell By Kids & Scarecrow Candy Jar

You will need:

Easy Fall Crafts To Make And Sell By Kids & Scarecrow Candy Jar

You can use any kind of jar that has smooth sides, like a spaghetti jar, smooth mason, jar, and empty garlic jar.

The jars I’m using today are glass Oui yogurt jars that have been cleaned.

I also found lids that fit tightly on them here.

If your jar has label residue on it you can use something like goo gone or just lemon essential oil to soak it in for 10 minutes then scrub it off.

Easy Fall Crafts To Make And Sell By Kids & Scarecrow Candy Jar

Wipe down the outside of the jar well with rubbing alcohol to remove any dirt or oil.

Once dry paint with one coat of waterproof Mod Podge.

Paint 1 to 2 coats of straw-colored paint all over the outside of the jar, drying between coats.

Easy Fall Crafts To Make And Sell By Kids & Scarecrow Candy Jar

Now. give your scarecrows a little hair.

You can either use raffia or twine.

Both work great and I did one of each to show you how they look.

For short hair cut bits of raffia and glue around the edge beneath the lid where it won’t interfere with it closing.

Easy Fall Crafts To Make And Sell By Kids & Scarecrow Candy Jar

For long braids, braid lengths of twine.

Easy Fall Crafts To Make And Sell By Kids & Scarecrow Candy Jar

Then glue it to the jar, again making sure it doesn’t impede the lid.

Easy Fall Crafts To Make And Sell By Kids & Scarecrow Candy Jar

Once all your layers of paint dry, use paint pens to draw on the eyes, nose, mouth, and any other accents like patches, you might like.

 Typically scarecrows are hand-sewn with burlap and fabrics so add little “stitches” to the features to give it an authentic scarecrow look.

Easy Fall Crafts To Make And Sell By Kids & Scarecrow Candy Jar

If your jar has a screw-on lid you will want to prep and paint it to blend in or look like a hat.

Seal it with a coat of waterproof Mod Podge or clear sealing spray and protect the inside since that is where food will be kept.

Add a bow with a piece of burlap ribbon to the jar or the edge of the lid.

You can also add flowers, small pumpkins, or other small decorative pieces with hot glue to add a little more color and personality.

Easy Fall Crafts To Make And Sell By Kids & Scarecrow Candy Jar

Or a little bowtie at the base.

Easy Fall Crafts To Make And Sell By Kids & Scarecrow Candy Jar

Fill with candy and replace the lid.

Easy Fall Crafts To Make And Sell By Kids & Scarecrow Candy Jar

Beginning Homeschooling in Middle School – 3 Questions Worth Asking

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This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Beginning homeschooling in middle school can be challenging for many reasons. I’m sharing three questions worth asking and answers. Also, look at my page homeschool middle school for more fun tips.

Having helped new homeschoolers on both ends of the learning spectrum from those struggling in public school to those not being challenged, beginning homeschooling in middle school can be demanding.

Across the board tips can help when beginning homeschooling in middle school because a lot of pressure is put on the teaching parent to perform.

Beginning Homeschooling in Middle School – 3 Questions Worth Asking

3 Questions to Ask When You Start Your Homeschool Journey in Middle School

First, look at some of these resources to help you.

5 BEST How to Homeschool Books

I've rounded up some of the best books to help you get started homeschooling.

Homeschooling for New Homeschoolers: When You Don't Know Where to Begin

Homeschooling 31 Day Boot Camp for New Homeschoolers is a real eye-opener on homeschooling. It will alleviate a lot of the anxieties about getting started homeschooling. Reading each chapter’s highlights will give you encouragement, knowledge, guidance, and peace of mind to homeschool with confidence. The best part is that you’ll be educating the person who loves your kids the most in this world--YOU! Armed with the knowledge to make better choices in curriculum will empower you to continue the path of home education. Unlike many books based on one family’s experience, Homeschooling 31 Day Boot Camp for New Homeschoolers is also based on Tina’s many years of mentoring hundreds and hundreds of new homeschoolers at live workshops. When you don’t know where to begin Homeschooling 31 Day Boot Camp for New Homeschoolers equips you to successfully homeschool your children.

The Unhurried Homeschooler

Homeschooling is a wonderful, worthwhile pursuit, but many homeschool parents struggle with feelings of burnout and frustration. If you have ever felt this way, you’re not alone! Most of us need to be reminded of the “why” of homeschooling from time to time—but "The Unhurried homeschooler" takes parents a step further and lifts the unnecessary burdens that many parents place on themselves.

Teaching from Rest: A Homeschooler's Guide to Unshakable Peace

Those who have made the decision to homeschool their children have done so out of great love for their children and a desire to provide them an excellent education in the context of a warm, enriching home.

The Brave Learner: Finding Everyday Magic in Homeschool, Learning, and Life

Parents who are deeply invested in their children's education can be hard on themselves and their kids. When exhausted parents are living the day-to-day grind, it can seem impossible to muster enough energy to make learning fun or interesting. How do parents nurture a love of learning amid childhood chaos, parental self-doubt, the flu, and state academic standards?

Unschooled: Raising Curious, Well-Educated Children Outside the Conventional Classroom

Education has become synonymous with schooling, but it doesn’t have to be. As schooling becomes increasingly standardized and test driven, occupying more of childhood than ever before, parents and educators are questioning the role of schooling in society. Many are now exploring and creating alternatives.

Look at these questions and practical tips that help to start your year on a positive note.

1.
Do You Really Want To Only Experiment With Homeschooling?

Fear can cause a paralyzing effect on a positive mind-set.

Whether your child was overlooked in middle school and getting more behind by the day or if your child was making above average grades and you felt like he wasn’t being challenged, none of that is going to go away anytime soon.

Instead of focusing on the fear that you might mess your child up for life, jump into homeschooling with all the bravado that your child deserves.

Beginning Homeschooling in Middle School - 3 Questions Worth Asking @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

Middle school is half-way between childhood and adulthood.

Though you can’t do anything about the past, you can change their future and prepare them for adulthood.

It takes devotion to read about how to homeschool.

And to make curriculum choices, to fill in any gaps you find along the way and look ahead to high school.

Instead of homeschooling by looking back at public school, give all the time and energy you have to keep moving forward.

Why would you want to return to something that is not working?

Keep your new goal bright and burning because it will spur you ahead to adopt a relaxed homeschooling spirit.

2.
Is It Really Necessary To Teach All The Subjects Yourself?

Encouraging you to jump head long into homeschooling doesn’t mean you have to jump right into teaching every subject.

Being in public school for a while, it takes time for a child to develop a teacher and student relationship with you now.

It is an understatement to say that it can be quite challenging.

I have seen children who outright resent the teaching of a parent.

On the other hand, some children thrive right away when a parent takes control of the teaching.

Beginning Homeschooling in Middle School – 3 Questions Worth Asking

Whatever the case is, ease the new teacher student relationship by appreciating the fact that they have been learning independent of you for a while.

More Homeschooling in Middle School Resources

Though you may want to right all the wrongs of public school immediately but taking full control, I find it is better to build the relationship first.

It takes energy to foster the time you now have with your middleschooler and to renew your relationship.

Divide up your subjects into ones that you teach with your child and subjects that give him some breathing room that he can do independently.

For example, choose a subject that he needs help with right now.

This eases his stress with this transition by doing the subject on a one-to-one basis which he is struggling with the most.

He may not value it it now, but he will appreciate your support with a subject he is struggling in

Then, give him some breathing room by allowing him to do part of his subjects through an online or an interactive class.  

Look at my post Digital Homeschool Curriculum – Big Ol’ List for some more ideas.

Not only will this tip keep your day varied, but it allows you time to get familiar with teaching without getting overwhelmed.

3.
How Many Extra-Curricular Activities Does Your Child Really Need?

I made the same mistake though my child was only in kindergarten which was thinking I had to join every activity that was offered.

Afraid that my child would not be socialized and well rounded, I just knew that I had to keep the roads hot as we traveled back and forth for homeschooling activities.

Though homeschooling activities are a vital part of homeschooling, the timing is not always right each year.

Homeschool activities can be a tool for enrichment or an offensive break in the day depending on the needs of your family at the present moment.

Weigh each homeschooling activity carefully because your child has not been with you for a good part of the day up until this point.

Deepening and strengthening your parental bond with your precious child is the most important thing you want to accomplish this year.

I know you have curriculum worries, socialization worries and high school may be looming overhead.

However, in homeschooling you can advance quickly to accomplish those things.

I have many blog posts here that will help you sail through your concerns.

Relationships are different.  Unlike learning about homeschooling, there are no short cuts.  It takes time to water, nurture and rekindle any strained relationship.

As your child matures, graduates, and leaves your home, you will eventually stop homeschooling him.

However, your relationship will not stop growing.  

Too, he will remember fondly your love for learning and he will be infused with that passion.

It is possible to have it all even when you begin homeschooling in middle school.  The beginning is what matters.

Are you beginning to homeschool with a middle schooler?