Prizes Awarded at the InventHelp-INPEX Inventor's Corner at the Home & Housewares Show Learn More >>
COMPANIES THAT HAVE ATTENDED INPEX®
Internet Resources for Kid Inventors
Surrounded by hundreds of inventions each day, it is no surprise that children have a natural inclination to brainstorm and create. Children's minds work overtime, wondering where their favorite toys come from, what they're made out of, and how they work. Their natural inquisitive nature sparks questions that develop into education and dialogue with their friends, family and educators. Numerous resources exist on the Web to help parents and educators facilitate these conversations, as well as provide opportunities for young inventors to showcase their ideas.
Read more articles
from the March 2005 issue of InventHelp's free newsletter for inventors |
The Wild Planet Kid Inventor Challenge
The Wild Planet Kid Inventor Challenge enables children to invent a toy and submit it to a national contest. The Web site describes five easy-to-understand steps that children may follow in order to enter their inventions in the contest. Children also may download an application and submit their entry by mail. Another section contains frequently asked questions about inventing and the rules governing the contest.
The site recognizes previous winners and publishes stories complete with photographs and original drawings of the inventions. Approximately 100 contest winners receive the chance to be a "kid consultant" to Wild Planet Toys for one year, and ten grand-prize winners are awarded Wild Planet gear, Wild Planet toys, and sneak previews of up-and-coming Wild Planet toys.
Founded in 1993, Wild Planet Toys strives to create innovative products to appeal to children ages five to eleven and their parents. The company boasts a variety of toys that spark the imagination and promote creativity without relying on violence. For more information about the Wild Planet Kid Inventor Challenge, or to learn about Wild Planet Toys, visit www.kidinventorchallenge.com.
K.I.T. (Kids Inventing Toys)
K.I.T. (Kids Inventing Toys) develops and distributes curriculum for one-week summer camps, after-school programs and classroom learning. The program enables children to design and build prototypes of toys, prepare business plans, present marketing materials, and create Web pages.
The curriculum, designed specifically for children in second to sixth grades, encourages creative thinking, inventing and entrepreneurial enterprise, and it inspires children to continue these processes even after the program has ended.
The site features colorful graphics and pictures of children in action as they work on computers, build mock-up toys, and interact with one another. Dates, locations and program prices are listed on the site, along with space for the entry of questions, comments or feedback. For more information about the Kids Inventing Toys programs, visit www.kidsinvent.com.
The National Museum of Education
The National Museum of Education is an organization dedicated to assisting young inventors. The organization has helped over 75 students and teachers turn their inventions into products that are now on the market. They have created the National Gallery for America's Young Inventors™, which honors up to six young inventors across the country each year, and they have developed a national competition, Students' Ideas for a Better America.
The National Gallery for America's Young Inventors is the only nationally recognized Hall of Fame for Student Inventors. It was established in 1993 and has been given permission by the adult National Inventors Hall of Fame Board in Washington, D.C. to archive and enshrine great student inventions and inventors K-12. Please visit their website for more information.
Additionally, the museum hosts a specific invention site for students K-12, called Inventucation Central. The site lists invention competitions, resources, interactive activities and more!
Kidvention
Kidvention, a competition open to children ages eight to 15, encourages creativity and imagination. The annual, nationwide competition provides children with the chance to design a new toy or game. All submissions are evaluated for their market potential, originality, age appropriateness and overall appeal. Finalists, along with their parents, are flown to Las Vegas, Nevada to present their inventions at the prestigious Toy and Game Inventor's Forum. Winners receive academic scholarships valued up to $20,000, and adults who are interested in sponsoring the program are able to enjoy many benefits, including the satisfaction of participating in a non-profit educational program.
For more information about Kidvention, refer to www.toysngames.com. The site also includes frequently asked questions, links to other sites of interest, and a "featured invention idea" to provide children with fun, new ways to use their creativity.
InventHelp® applauds those who work to develop a child's creativity and natural talent. These kid inventors Web sites serve as excellent resources to encourage a child's thought process and reveal the history behind everyday items.
Back to Articles for Inventors | Back to March 2005 Newsletter
|
|
home | about InventHelp | services | resources | contact | offices | site map | InventHelp Store | InventHelp's Invention & Technology News | InventHelp Blog | Avoiding Invention Scams