Does your child have an imagination? Do they like to solve problems? Can they think outside the box?
If so, they could be the next great inventor. “But she’s just a kid,” you might say! Don’t worry about a little thing like age. Some of the greatest inventors in the world got their start as kids.
For example, one famous inventor — Benjamin Franklin — got his start when he was only 12. At that young age, he created paddles for his hands to help him swim faster. Eventually, his creation led to what we now call flippers!
You don’t have to be an adult, a scientist or a genius to be an inventor. One thing you do need, though, is something that kids have plenty of: curiosity and imagination. Kids are known for looking at things in new and unique ways. Sometimes these insights lead to great inventions!
Many times inventors come up with completely new products or devices that solve a particular problem. At other times, though, new inventions are merely existing items that have been changed or improved so that they work better or serve a different purpose.
So what should one do if they have a great idea for an invention? Talk to a friend or family member about it. Get input from others about the idea. Ask them to help you create a working model, called a prototype, of the idea.
Once there is a prototype, it can be tested. Sometimes one’s idea turns out to be not quite as great as they thought. At other times, though, you realize it is a good idea and your prototype can help figure out how to make it even better.
If the idea really is a good one, an adult can help contact companies that might be interested in it. An adult will also need to help to get a patent for the idea, so that it is protected and can’t be stolen by someone else.
Our invention unit is helping us to think, plan, create and improve just as inventors do. Who knows, the next great inventor may be one of our second graders!
“The ability to invent requires something that comes naturally to most young children: creativity and imagination. Creative thinking is an important life skill that can be applied to everything they do, especially to problem-solving, which is what inventing is all about.” –Ellen Church, Let’s Invent Something Together!, Scholastic Parents