Little Inventors
Designed an inspiring, imaginative and practical hands-on workshop program to engage creative young kids.
Project Information:
Client: Woolkin, Virtuo
Industry: Consumer Products
Services: New Ventures, User Experience Service Design
Identified the gap in kids’ learning.
Created the concept and designed the program.
Developed all content.
Delivered the program annually.
Little Inventors is an inspiring and imaginative educational program designed to engage young minds in inventive problem-solving.
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Overview
No. 8 wire. A simple cultural phrase has grown to represent Kiwi ingenuity and resourcefulness. The can-do attitude, improvisation, and the ability to think laterally to solve a problem are synonymous with Kiwi invention. In New Zealand, the 8-gauge wire is commonly available and is an ideal material to quickly put together a new idea, many of which have gone on to become truly innovative inventions. The problem is that most kids today don't grow up like they used to. Some might not know what No. 8 wire is, and many do not have access to a shed for tinkering and learning about making things. Little Inventors was conceived as an "inventive shed" for these kids — we want to get kids active in physical problem-solving.
Frame
It is reckless not to think big! Let's help kids think big and become little inventors! As one of our ways of giving back, we wanted to create an inspiring, fun, and highly interactive educational program for kids to get their hands dirty while creating.
One of the most common questions we get asked is, What will the world look like in the future? Most of us have no idea. So, what does this mean for our kids? How do we prepare them for a future that we do not know? Well, one thing we know well is that children have an extraordinary capacity for creativity. Kids will take a chance. If they don’t know, they’ll have a go. They aren’t frightened of being wrong. Being wrong is not the same thing as being creative.. Kids are like pirates when it comes to inventing things.
At a primary level, many kids are hungry for practical, hands-on, creative learning experiences. This fundamental human need is not being fulfilled for many. This is the hallmark of the Little Inventors program - to foster creativity and confidence so they’ll invent the future.
We wanted to create a playful and practical blend of science, design, engineering, and math, along with a good dose of storytelling. We wanted to create a positive environment that could help give the little ones the confidence to try new things, the encouragement to openly think about new ideas, and the positivity to learn that they really can achieve whatever they set their minds to.
Our Approach
Little Inventors is a series of workshops that begin with a design challenge for young inventors aged 6-10 to build, create, and learn from. The workshops are geared to inspire creative thinking. All creation materials for the workshop are provided. These workshops feature awesome activities for kids, with plenty of inspiration to get their minds going — and plenty of room to add their own crazy ideas.
The challenges change but the general format remains the same. Kids are first welcomed into a creator space. Imagine a workshop with all the tools and materials to go wild! Then they’re introduced to their very own technicians who help guide them through the process of bringing their ideas to life. Once the goals are shared with both parents and kids, and the safety aspects are covered, it’s time to dive in. The Invention Challenge gets introduced — and then it’s mayhem. Brainstorm, sketching, building, testing …. and the banging of hammers, the sound of cutting saws!
Our technicians (who we also call toolsmiths) work directly we the kids helping them build their ideas while teaching them some of the practical skills required. We also do this to foster confidence, to share and have fun, and to keep them going (but never take over).
Future technology is going to disrupt repetitive task orientated jobs. For tomorrow’s jobs, kids today are going to need to be more creative thinkers and practical problem solvers. They’ll need to be equipped with soft skills and the confidence to tackle new, yet to be imagined, possibilities. We believe Little Inventors is fostering a future of creative thinkers.
Outcome
The most special thing about Little Inventors is the magic that happens on the day. It becomes so much more than a workshop. It’s hard to capture or explain but it truly becomes an experience. We have participants arrive as shy kids and leave as confident inventors. Parents have told us that these workshops have “unlocked their kids”.
The cool thing about Little Inventors is that it isn’t just about the inventive ideas the kids come up with. It’s about them actually making things and bringing these ideas to life. This is really crucial as it is one thing to have an idea, but it’s a whole different ball game to make it a reality. Being able to think and then build is a fundamental skill.
As much as Little Inventors helps foster creativity for kids, we also can’t help but notice how it inspires our own thinking. We always walk away feeling as if we have learned just as much from the experience as the kids do.
Our vision is to help 4 million kids engage in early practical and applied learning experiences involving the fundamentals from design, engineering, science, math, technology and problem solving. Little Inventors make creativity and problem solving fun and more easily accessible.
The programs are repeatedly the No.1 fastest selling-out event in Tauranga’s annual innovation festival. It often has a waiting list and it provides a lot of media exposure. Feedback has been incredibly positive, with unanimous requests for more. Our goal now is to open it up and make it more readily available so one day all kids can benefit. If you are interested in helping, please get in touch.
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