National Kid Inventors’ Day

Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.

Pablo Picasso

Just because children possess less knowledge of how the world works, that doesn’t mean they can’t have ideas for practical and useful inventions.

In fact, many people believe that children are capable of being particularly creative for the simple reason that they don’t yet know how difficult many things are, and are therefore able to imagine much more than adults.

There are plenty of things we enjoy on an everyday basis that were invented by children or teenagers. And if their creativity doesn’t deserve recognition, what does?

National Kid Inventors’ Day is a time to celebrate all the kids who dared to defy the world and come up with better solutions than all of the adults before them!

History of National Kid Inventors’ Day

Kid Inventors’ Day (K.I.D.) was founded in the early 2000s by people who wanted to celebrate the achievements of the youngest inventors as well as encourage more children to be creative.

The date chosen to celebrate was no accident—it is the anniversary of renowned polymath, politician and child inventor Benjamin Franklin’s birthday.

Due to his countless other achievements, many people don’t know that when Franklin was just 12 years old, he invented the world’s first swim flippers, making him a great role model for every child who dreams of making something nobody has ever seen before.

Over the centuries, other children have invented many other things we continue to use today, such as popsicles (a very tasty accident!), the trampoline, and ear muffs.

Perhaps one of the most impressive things invented by a child is the language of the blind now used the world over, Braille.

Louis Braille, its inventor, lost his vision in a tragic accident at age 3 and spent his early teen years developing his new language while studying at The National Institute for Blind Youth in Paris.

Almost 200 years later, American teen Ryan Patterson also improved the lives of the disabled when he invented a glove with special sensors that translates the hand motions of American Sign Language into written words on a digital display.

How to Celebrate National Kid Inventors’ Day

Encourage Kids to Be Creative

For parents, teachers or others with kids in their lives, National Kid Inventors’ Day could easily turn out to be one of the most educational and at the same time fun days you’ve ever spent together.

Children’s minds are yet unlimited by the knowledge of what’s possible and what’s not, and as sometimes just believing that something is possible is enough to make it so, you may be truly astounded at the ideas your children come up with.

Who knows, perhaps you are unwittingly living under the same roof as a potential Ben Franklin?

Get Inventive with Activities and Ideas

The National Kid Inventors’ Day website also offers plenty of fun ideas on how to spend this day creatively and productively, such as taking part in a rubber band contest for young inventors.

If you live nearby a museum, this is also the perfect day to take your children there to look at all of the amazing things people have made over the ages that can serve as inspiration to them.

However you decide to spend this day, be sure to raise awareness about how much children can achieve and encourage them to reach for the stars!

Facts About Kid’s Inventor Day

Frank Epperson’s Popsicle Innovation

Frank Epperson accidentally invented the ice pop, later known as the Popsicle, at around age 11 in 1905. By leaving a mixture of powdered soda and water to freeze overnight with a stirring stick in it, Epperson created a beloved treat, which he later patented in 1924.  

Louis Braille and the Braille System

At just 15 years old, Louis Braille developed the tactile writing system for the blind known as Braille. Blind from a young age, his invention transformed communication for visually impaired individuals worldwide.

Chester Greenwood’s Ear Protection  

Chester Greenwood invented earmuffs at 15, inspired by the chilly conditions of his Maine hometown. Receiving a patent in 1877, his design included a flexible band and warm pads, revolutionizing winter wear.  

Benjamin Franklin: Early Innovation

Benjamin Franklin, at the age of 12, invented swimming flippers for the hands, showcasing his early penchant for practical inventions that would later define his innovative legacy.  

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