What Can Kids Invent? Whatever they Want!
The story from our “Kangaroo Cup” video above is heartwarming and inspiring. It also reminds many of their own youth. Did you ever have an idea like Lily’s during your imaginative adolescence, and years later saw it come to fruition by the hand of someone else? Or, did you simply exclaim “Why didn’t I think of that!?”, then shrug, and go on about the business of life? Us too.
The reason that most young people don’t follow through on pioneering some new concept or construct is a lack of encouragement and empowerment. Sure, becoming a successful inventor may be as lofty of a goal as becoming a Vancouver Canuck, Toronto Blue Jay, or Raptor, but would you discourage kids from participating in sport with the dream of joining the athletic elite? Certainly not. We encourage parents, teachers, and role models to apply this same manner of support to kids with active imaginations and a deep-seeded desire to create and innovate.
What can kids invent? Whatever they want with a little help from YOU! Read ahead for more on how you can make that happen.
How You Can Support a Young Child’s Desire to Become an Inventor and Maker
Teach Them to Just Go for It!
If the proverb ‘Necessity is the mother of invention’ reigns true, then ‘Procrastination is its grim reaper‘ must be its closing argument. As soon as your child comes to you with an idea, drop everything and help them get started. Otherwise the idea and/or motivation to follow through on it may disappear into the ether. Follow our 5-Step Guide to Breaking the Cycle of Procrastination to get your child well on their way to doing something great.
Show Them Examples
Kids are inspired by other kids. The inventor of the Kangaroo Cup, Lily Born, can be a fine role model for your young child, but find others who have also had success in invention. For instance, Samuel Houghton was just five years old when he received a patent for his two-headed broom. The idea came to Sam while watching his dad sweep leaves from the backyard using two brooms – one to sweep the pile, and the other to sweep the debris left behind. Learning about the inventions of other kids will not only inspire your child, it will offer insight into the process involved, and more importantly – it will teach them that it’s actually possible!
Empower Them with Tools and Resources
Your child will require “tools” to turn their ideas into tangible forms. Based upon their scope of interest, make a small investment in the resources, be it building blocks, drawing or sculpting materials, of software applications that enable and empower them to fiddle and tinker accordingly.
Encourage Them to Ask an Expert
Your child may stumble with their invention/s along the way. They may even need to get over a single hurdle to get started. Encourage them to lean upon the knowledge and skills of experts in fields that apply to the projects they’re working on. This expert may be you (parent or teacher) or another professional out there in the world. For instance, if your child is working on a construct, they (with your oversight) can email or DM (on social) someone from the Faculty of Architectural Sciences at a local University with their question/s. If working on something mechanical, they may connect to someone from the Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering. Most educators and professionals will be happy to assist a budding mind who has taken the initiative to reach out and ask for help. If your child is typically reticent when it comes to asking questions, follow this guide to breaking that habit.
Bringing Their Invention to Market
If your child has completed their invention, they have already succeeded! That being said, if they would like to share it with the world, and it really does have some potential (even as an artisan craft) you can teach them about bringing it to market. If applicable (as with Lily Born or Sam Houghton) you can go through the patent application process with your child which will be a very educational experience. If more appropriate to their creation, you can try selling the invention/craft at a local artisan market or sell it through an online marketplace such as Etsy for Kids.
To be honest, the odds of inventing something that will succeed in the marketplace are slim, but it’s not as much about the end result as much as it is the journey. The process of invention teaches children the value of hard work, and gets them engaged in creative thinking and problem solving. It also encourages them to see things through to the end. Even if their project doesn’t take-off, they can apply what they learned to the next project, and the next, which will eventually lead to other forms of success. And just maybe, they will invent the world’s next Kangaroo Cup.
