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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.
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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 Partnership for America's Future, Inc.
The Partnership for America's Future 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 Partnership strives to demonstrate
that valuable inventions can in fact be created by America's
youth, and they display these notable inventions in order to inspire
and motivate others. The site encourages students to work hard
to solve real-world problems, and it urges others to recognize
these outstanding youths.
Students and teachers are encouraged to visit www.pafinc.com more information about the Partnership for America's Future.
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.
Headbone Zone
Headbone Zone, located at www.headbone.com, features games, comic strips and trivia designed to educate young students about inventions and invention history. The information is presented in a colorful, interactive format that is appropriate for children in fourth to eighth grades. The site also encourages the development of Internet research and resources.
Students must register in order to use the site, and an E-mail is sent to the parent or guardian to confirm the registration. Registered students are able to access the "Invention Snatchers" comic strips, trivia questions, games and chat rooms. The engaging content emphasizes the incredible number of inventions that surround individuals in their everyday lives, and the featured games foster the skills of money-management and strategy. Students are also able to build a personal profile.
InventHelp® applauds those who work to develop a child's creativity and natural talent. These 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
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