Finding ways to engage your teen in interesting and creative learning can be complicated. Fortunately, this resource offers a variety of options for study that include making and selling upcycled crafts - a wonderful way to infuse learning into a money making side-gig for your teen.
*Disclosure: I received a copy of “Teen’s Guide to Making and Selling Upcycled Arts and Crafts: How to Start a Creative Reduce-Reuse-Recycle Side Gig” by James Dillehay at no cost and was compensated for my time to write a review. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Finding Hands-On Art Activities For Teens
Before we get into this unique resource, I need to stress how novel it is, because it provides hands-on activities specifically for teens.
Finding hands-on learning opportunities for teenagers has been a challenge for me. My children have always learned best by “doing” but as they have gotten older, it has become more and more difficult to find options that are age-appropriate and engaging.
Research shows that hands-on experiential learning has tremendous benefits for learners of all ages, including increases in:
- Retention of learning
- Critical thinking skills
- Life skills
- Learner confidence
- Creative expression
For us, whether we were learning in the elementary years or high school, we have incorporated hands-on learning into our studies through lazy unit studies.
Lazy Unit Studies For Teens
What is a lazy unit study?
Essentially, I learned early on that my children’s learning interests often ebbed and flowed. It’s totally normal, of course. However, the more time I put into creating and preparing a unit study, the more frustrating it was when my children’s interests would shift.
Thus, the lazy unit study was born.
A lazy unit study requires the least amount of upfront planning and effort possible for me while still providing an enriching, engaging learning experience. As my children have grown older, the allure of the lazy unit study has become even stronger.
The best part? As teens, my kids can now use their interests to create and implement their own lazy unit studies.
Teen’s Guide to Making And Selling Upcycled Arts and Crafts
A fantastic reference my kids have discovered to propel their own hands-on, interest-led, lazy unit studies is Teen’s Guide to Making and Selling Upcycled Arts and Crafts: How to Start a Creative Reduce-Reuse-Recycle Side Gig by James Dillehay.
The book is designed for teens (although I could also imagine it being applicable for younger learners with parent support) and covers the basics of upcycling to create art and crafts, and the potential to use their creations as products for online marketing and selling opportunities.
Teen’s Guide to Making and Selling Upcycled Arts and Crafts is brimming with practical guidance, additional resources for learning, and actionable steps for creating a successful online business.
In addition to the wealth of ideas for hands-on learning, an element of the book that my kids really responded to was the discussion around and emphasis on the realities of entrepreneurship. This resource includes a variety of topics for use in our real life lazy unit studies.
Teen’s Guide to Making and Selling Upcycled Arts and Crafts: A Summary
Take a look at all that is included in the book for your teen’s growth and learning:
- Ideas for upcycled crafts and products
- Finding raw materials for hands-on projects
- Side hustles for teens and Family side hustles
- Setting up a business
- Marketing your crafts
- Pricing
- Selling online
Not only does the Teen’s Guide to Making and Selling Upcycled Arts and Crafts contain a number of engaging art and craft ideas, it literally walks your teen through creation of the crafts and marketing them to sell as a side hustle.
Add Engaging Learning To Your Teen’s Life Today
My kids are SOLD.
Not only do they have the chance to create and learn, but they are excited about the opportunity to design a business (and, let’s be honest, make some money!).
I LOVE that they have a chance to explore entrepreneurship as they create. For us, this book is a blueprint for an excellent teen unit study this summer!
If you have a teen interested in creating and selling upcycled arts and crafts, you can purchase a copy of Teen’s Guide to Making and Selling Upcycled Arts and Crafts: How to Start a Creative Reduce-Reuse-Recycle Side Gig at your favorite bookseller.
