Creative minds- help me think of invention for a 10 year old

[mommy2emily]

Hi, Can you help me come up with an easy inexpensive idea for an invention. My 10 year old DD came home with a project yesterday to create a new invention or improve on an existing invention. We have to hand in our brainstorming ideas by Friday, then sketch a picture f the invenion and build it by April 26th.

Any ideas are greatly appreciated! thanks

 

[disykat]

I guess I'll be the first to say it. You might want to reword your post or you're not going to get the kind of feedback you want. How about changing we/our to "SHE has to turn in HER brainstorming ideas by Friday."

As for suggestions, I'd have her think about things she doesn't like to do or thinks are hard and come up with an invention to make it easier.

 

[Pumbaa_]

MTE! Have your 10 yo google and do the research. You can be the sounding board vs, the owner of the project

Good luck!

 

[Shea&Van]

Hi there!

I vividly remember doing this invention project with my Mom many many years ago. We sort of brainstormed together. We went through a lot of different ideas and she was able to sort of "weed the garden."

The idea we thought of was really cool and so important for our family. At the time, my uncle had been involved in a horrible accident and had severe spinal cord damage. He was in one of those metal halo things. We would visit him several times a week. One of his requests was that he wanted to be in regular clothes and not the hospital gown. It was really chilly and we couldn't figure out how to help him.

I remember telling my mom, it's too bad we can't just stretch the sweatshirts out so he can put them over his head and then pull them back like drawstring pants.

An idea was born...Mom said we can't do that, but why don't we cut the collar and put velcro on the shoulders. I helped her try out a couple of mock-ups and voila -- an "invention" was born. My uncle was so happy to get to wear his favorite sports team's sweatshirts. It gave him a little boost as he went through such an awful time.

I remember getting an A+ on that project and Mom and I were so proud of that. I think it was 4th grade. I have pictures of us showing my uncle my paper and we all have big smiles!

Good luck with whatever you decide. Maybe it will be helpful to think about some of the challenges you might have in your life and how to make even a simple little thing (like getting dressed) just a little easier.

All the best!!

 

[okeydokey]

Have her think of a problem she would like to solve and she can start there.

 

[mrsklamc]

I think the entire point of this type of assignment is for the kid to come up with something on their own. If you go online and find ideas or even suggestions for them, it stifles their own creativity.

 

[brymolmom]

Not that I'm opposed to a parent guiding a child on a project, but just a heads up. My sis is a High School Physics teacher and came up with a wonderful idea for a lab - The kids had to come up with their OWN ideas for a lab. The only criteria was that it had to help prove one of the basic physics principles that they were studying. These were Seniors - 17 and 18 years old. And you wouldn't believe the difficulty that they had with this. They kept coming up to her and saying 'but what do we DO?'. Even the smart kids who were A students honestly had WAY too much trouble with the assignment.

Anyway - I know 10 is a long way from 18 but it's the best time to start getting the child to take the lead.

Yes - other parents will be doing it with/for their kids - but your kid will be better prepared for the future.

 

[Burnedout]

A 10 year old should have enough of an imagination to come up with their own idea. The teacher doesn't need to grade the adults who haunt disney boards.

 

[kkwis2]

My son had to do a project like this last year in 4th grade. I would agree with others in that your daughter needs to think about what interests her and then build her ideas from there.

My son loves animals, dogs in particular, and we had just adopted a little min-pin from a shelter. We quickly learned that having a little dog was different from the bigger dogs we were used to and that their issues can be different. We noticed one problem in particular, my son came up with a solution and his invention was born. He owned the project because it was important to him to help our new dog.

Good luck!

 

[jc040404]

I totally agree with the other posters here. Let her do it!! My six year old son (first grader) has the very same project right now and is doing just fine on his own. I'm sure she can handle it!

 

[LocaRoja]

Regardless of the request to help with your kid's homework, so off topic! This is the budget board! Put this in the community board.

 

[pocomom]

Hi, Can you help me come up with an easy inexpensive idea for an invention. My 10 year old DD came home with a project yesterday to create a new invention or improve on an existing invention. We have to hand in our brainstorming ideas by Friday, then sketch a picture f the invenion and build it by April 26th.

Any ideas are greatly appreciated! thanks

I agree with pp's that you should have your child think of a problem and try to solve it. My dd had a similar project and that is what she did. Think of things relevant to your 10 year old to get her started. What are here interests? what household task/chores does she do? What are problems/annoyances in her everyday life? Pets and activities are great places to start. Brainstorm with her and come up with 10-20 probelms or situations she would like to improve. Next work on some solutions. Help her narrow down her list by asking questions about which are practical solutions for a 10 year old to make. Your job should be to gently guide her, but let her lead. I would encourage her to use recycled houshold materials as much as possible. It will keep your cost down as well as being environmentally friendly.
When my dd did this she made a very practical invention which I believe could even be marketable, and we use her prototype all the time!

 

[Duchie]

Not that I'm opposed to a parent guiding a child on a project, but just a heads up. My sis is a High School Physics teacher and came up with a wonderful idea for a lab - The kids had to come up with their OWN ideas for a lab. The only criteria was that it had to help prove one of the basic physics principles that they were studying. These were Seniors - 17 and 18 years old. And you wouldn't believe the difficulty that they had with this. They kept coming up to her and saying 'but what do we DO?'. Even the smart kids who were A students honestly had WAY too much trouble with the assignment.

Anyway - I know 10 is a long way from 18 but it's the best time to start getting the child to take the lead.

Yes - other parents will be doing it with/for their kids - but your kid will be better prepared for the future.

This was my DS in 9th grade. They were asked to come up with a science project and the idea just blew his mind. He just could not come up with anything. These types of creative projects just are not one of his strengths and he has always struggled with them. In the past I have "helped" him but I quickly learned that my "help" was doing more harm. So take it from me - let your DD do this on her own now. You both will be glad that you did.

 

[mjkacmom]

My kids had to do this, and as much as you want to help....

Ds14 was so proud of his first idea: "mom, how about a purse, that goes on a belt, that you wear around your waist, so it's hands-free?!" He was a little late with that one.

Dd12 was proud of her first idea, as well: "mom, how about soft plastic boots that fit over your shoes, that you put on if it's raining?!" Again, a little late.

 

[MSSANDRA]

You job is to support your child as he explores this project. You can certainly be a sounding board where he can bounce ideas off of you and SOME children do need an adult to help them to organize THEIR thoughts. I like what one posted suggested as to have him to think of a problem and then think of what he could invent to solve that problem. Maybe suggest he write down all his ideas, and then think about how he could solve each one. One thing you can do is to help him set a budget for his project. These things can get out of hand VERY quickly if you let them. Encourage or even require that he only use things around the house or tell him any supplies must cost under $$ amount.

 

[Ginny Favers]

I agree that you should let her come up with this on her own, but you may want to help steer her towards something that's more doable. I know my kids come up with all these wild ideas, but actually creating them can pose another problem in itself.

When I was given this assignment in 6th grade, I came up with all these great designs and ideas, but as for actually building it . . . it would take way more money and time and skills than I had. Eventually we got down to the wire and somehow I decided that I wanted to make something that make writing easier on the hands, since I had a sore spot where I held the pencil. We brainstormed together to figure out what materials would be best and eventually I took one of those foam pieces off a hair roller, and slipped it on a pencil. Voila! So easy. This was before writing instruments had comfort-grips. Gah, all the money I could have made!

 

[IUTBAM]

I think the entire point of this type of assignment is for the kid to come up with something on their own. If you go online and find ideas or even suggestions for them, it stifles their own creativity.

My sentiments exactly. She's 10, and it's HER project, not a group project. By all means help her with putting it together if she needs help, but you aren't doing her any favors by practically doing it for her. I remember my DD having to do an "invention" type project, and she thought of a very cool one. I helped her with getting the materials, and some of the assemblage, but it was HER idea, not mine, and certainly not a stranger's off an internet message board.

 

[BBandDisney]

 

[richmond282]

I'm sure her teacher does not expect some grand and awesome invention. It is all about letting the CHILD use their imaginations, take what they dream up, and turn it into something tangible. OP, by asking others for ideas, you are taking away the whole point of the project. Let your child think of some ideas and then you can help pare them down to something that is actually doable.