what should a 12 year old be halloween

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Congratulations, you have a tween, that beautiful age between 9 and 12 years old when things get a bit trickier, especially come Halloween. Kid costumes? Theyre over it, but theyre not ready for adult costumes either. And you must always beware the dreaded eye roll. But, we’re here to tell you to put away the caution tape—or save it for the outdoor Halloween decorations. Heres the secret: Let your tween take the lead in choosing their costume, then help them make it. Of course, it helps to have ideas as a jumping-off point.

To get you started, we’ve rounded up our favorite DIY Halloween costumes for tweens, ranging from cute to cool to (just a little) scary. Weve also got plenty of ideas for classics like DIY superhero costumes, as well as best friend Halloween costumes if they want to pair up with their middle school BFF. For 12-year-olds on the cusp, weve included a few teen costume ideas rated PG-13. Best of all, many ideas start with things your kids may already have in their closets, and there are plenty you can make with cardboard, paint, and felt!

A monster-themed onesie plus face paint equals one easy, comfy, and fun Halloween costume. Artsy tweens will have a blast doing their own makeup.

The best thing about dressing up as this beloved character? We bet your tween already has most of these items in her closet.

This is the most intense DIY tween Halloween costume on our list—but if your crafty family has a can-do spirit, the results are epic. The mom behind The Unplugged Family Instagram blog says she gathers costume ideas on a Pinterest board, and then lets the kids choose their favorites.

Another look from the The Unplugged Family. Flashing LED string lights make it look like real lightning!

To make the storm cloud: Start with a black sombrero. Cover top of hat with flashing, battery-operated LED string lights, using tape to attach. Add a generous layer of stuffing. Add another layer of lights, and top with more stuffing. Hit a few times with short sprays of gray spray paint to give it a dark and stormy look. Cut out large rain drop shapes from blue felt and attach to hat with blue yarn. Complete the look with black clothing and neon rain boots.

“This has got to be the easiest and quickest costume I’ve made so far,” said the mom behind this costume, who posted it on her Instagram @creativearttable. The life-sized Starbucks cup she whipped up at her tweens request is not only super easy and adorable—it won a homemade costume contest too! The secret to the straw? A self-adhesive glitter foam sheet.

Tween Instagram influencer Natalie Izabella rocks this school-friendly costume. If your child already has a green top and pants or skirt in their closet, all you need is a couple of accessories.

If your tween was glued to the TV watching Serena play her final tournament at the 2022 US Open this year, this costume is the perfect way to pay tribute to her hero.

Need a last-minute costume idea? Youve found it in this lumberjack outfit. You probably already have some of the pieces in your closet!

The famously cute meme is a tween this year too! Pair gray cat ears with a rainbow tutu and socks, and pull out the construction paper and glue to make a pixelated cardboard “Pop-Tart” to attach to the shirt. Advertisement – Continue Reading Below

YouTube your way to a DIY deer costume for tweens. For a similar look, check out the deer antler tutorial by Cristina Viseu and kids deer makeup tutorial by Pretty Casual. For the outfit, cut out an oval from a sheet of white faux craft fur and attach it to a tan-colored dress or shirt.

Fairy is one of those Halloween costumes thats good for any age—and you can always repurpose the wings in another costume another year. Use a favorite dress as the base.

For the fairy wings, check out the tutorial at Andreas Notebook. Theyre a little different than the wings pictured here, but we love how approachable her instructions are.

A tween who loves all things aviation—or whos always poring over boxes of old family photos from generations past—will take off in this vintage-style aviator look. They might imagine themselves as Amelia Earhart, Orville or Wilbur Wright, or Bessie Coleman. Advertisement – Continue Reading Below