Do you have a little one who loves to tinker and take things apart? If so, you may have a future inventor on your hands! Inventors are creative problem solvers who see the world differently. They use their imaginations to develop new invention ideas and product designs to solve problems. Here are some tips if you want to help your kid think like an inventor!
1. Help Them Come Up With Ideas by Asking Open-Ended Questions
It can be as simple as asking, “What do you think we could do to make this better?” or “How could we make this task easier?” By encouraging your child to develop their ideas, you’re helping them think like an inventor.
Another way to help them generate ideas is to ask them to improve upon something already existing. For example, you could ask them how they would make a toy more fun to play with or create a piece of furniture more comfortable.
2. Encourage Them to Experiment and Take Risks
One of the best ways to encourage your child to think like an inventor is to enable them to experiment and take risks. Kids need to understand that not every experiment will succeed but that failure is a part of the process. Please help them to see failure as an opportunity to learn and grow rather than something to be avoided.
3. Let Them Figure Out Solutions on Their Own
One of the best ways to encourage your child’s inventive thinking is to let them try to figure out solutions on their own. When they encounter a problem, they resist the urge to offer an answer immediately. Instead, ask them questions to help them think through the issue themselves. For example, you might say, “I wonder how we could get that toy down from the shelf?” or “How do you think we could fix this broken toy?” By allowing them to come up with their solutions, you’ll be helping them develop their creative thinking skills and teaching them critical problem-solving skills.
4. Celebrate Their Successes (And Failures) Along the Way
One of the best ways to encourage your child’s inventive thinking is to celebrate their successes along the way- no matter how small. Likewise, it’s important not to dwell on their failures; instead, help them see each “failure” as a step closer to success. Doing so will foster a growth mindset in your child that will serve them well throughout their life.
So, the next time your child comes to you with a new invention, celebrate their success- and help them see that failure is just another step on the road to success. Who knows, you may end up raising the next great inventor!
5. Help Them Document Their Inventions
Please encourage your child to document their inventions, whether it’s through drawings, videos, or written descriptions. This will help them keep track of their ideas, and they can refer to their documentation when they want to improve upon their invention.
You can also help your child by documenting their invention process. This can be done through video, photos, or written descriptions. This will help your child see their invention from start to finish, and they can learn from their mistakes.
6. Share Their Inventions With Others and Get Feedback
Please encourage your child to share their inventions with others and get Feedback. This will help them improve their design and make them proud of their accomplishments. Additionally, it will allow you to see how they interact with other people and what kind of response their invention receives. Who knows, maybe someone will be so impressed that they want to help your child bring their vision to life!
Suppose you have a budding inventor in your home; congratulations! You are raising a future changemaker. Teaching them how to think as inventors set them up for success in whatever they choose. So get started today and see what amazing things your child has.