Do you get excited about some of the inventions that have been brought into our world? I am very grateful for electricity and plumbing in my house, among others. But I get excited even more when I see children interested in the world around them thinking outside of the box. Some of the inventions they come up with are truly remarkable. Did you know that popsicles, a trampoline, earmuffs, and a snowmobile were all invented by children?
History of Kid Inventors’ Day
Kid Inventors’ Day is celebrated each year on January 17. This special day was set aside years ago to remember the special achievements of some unique young people as well as to encourage children to be creative.
You may ask: Why January 17? This is the day when Benjamin Franklin, an American statesman and one of the first child inventors, was born. In his youth, he enjoyed swimming so much that in 1717 at the tender age of 11, he created swimming fins and attached them to his hands. They allowed him to swim much faster. He also tried similar fins for his feet. Even though these didn’t work as well, they became a thought for other inventors to explore.
Most Famous Kid Inventors
Let us look at some other young inventors whose products changed the world. [Please note that we have chosen only a few examples for our article but the list can go on and on.]
George Nissen: Trampoline
George Nissen was an American gymnast. In 1930s he came up with a brilliant idea how to improve his tumbling by creating a trampoline. He was 16 years old when his invention came to light. Since then, the trampoline has brought much joy to many children around the world. Later in life George witnessed trampolining to become an Olympic sport in 2008. He even travelled to Beijing, China to witness this achievement at the age of 94 where he was the guest of honor.
Frank Epperson: Popsicle
Frank Epperson stumbled upon his invention of the frozen popsicle treat at the age of 11. It happened one cold winter night in 1905 that Frank forgot a mixture of water and powdered soda outside. He also left a serving stick inside of the mixture. When he discovered it in the morning, the mixture was frozen around the stick and a popsicle was invented. He got his invention patented in 1924 and later sold it to a Popsicle company.
Chester Greenwood: Earmuffs
When Chester Greenwood was 15 years old (in 1873), he was frustrated about his ears being continually cold while ice skating. One day while visiting his grandmother, he made use of her sewing kit and created two tufts of fur connected by a wire. These began to be known as earmuffs. Soon he began to manufacture his invention for others to use so that they also could enjoy warm ears during cold winter days.
Louis Braille: Braille Reading System
After a tragic accident when he was only three years old, Louis Braille of France lost his sight. When he was 15 years old and a student in a school for the blind in Paris, he was introduced to a system of raised dots that soldiers used to communicate in the dark. He was greatly inspired by this and in 1824 he adapted this way of communication into a special alphabet that allows visually impaired people to read books.
Cassidy Goldstein: Crayon Holders
When Cassidy Goldstein was 11 years old (in 1999), she didn’t like the idea of throwing away her used crayons that were too short to color with. She came up with an idea to enclose them in a simple plastic tube. She got her invention patented and today these tubes can be found in many stores for every child to profit from.
Kylie Simonds: Pediatric Backpack
Kylie Simonds managed to beat cancer in her body when she was only 9 years old. While going through her chemotherapy treatments, she encountered many issues with the large IV bag she had to haul around. Her movements were very limited, she would get tangled up and even trip over the tubes. She wanted to do something for children who had to go through the same issues. At the age of 11, she invented a pediatric backpack that allows children to move with ease while receiving their medical transfusions.
How to Observe Kid Inventors’ Day
There are many ways to celebrate this special science day. Following are a few examples:
- Study kid inventors and how they achieved their amazing products.
- Learn about the patent process and how it aids inventors with their discoveries.
- Visit a local museum and/or a library and explore their programs for Kid Inventors’ Day.
- Organize a Kid Inventors’ Day “get-together” in your area (please see ideas of possible science lessons for this day below).
- Share pictures of your inventions with us by emailing them to support@tools4schoolsathome.com. We will be honored to present them on our website.
