Ask friends or family about daily problems they face and record their feedback. The problem doesn’t need to be new and the device doesn’t need to be new. Even if a dozen designs for a particular device exist, you’re still inventing something if you make a new design to do the same thing in a different way. Be creative with your ideas. Not every idea will be a great one, but don’t be afraid to think outside the box. Some problems that have been solved in the past include: The telephone solved the problem of rapid communication. Before the telephone, the fastest way to communicate was using a telegraph and Morse code. With the telephone, you skip the translation of the code and speak directly to another individual! Crayon holders: Invented by 12 year-old Cassidy Goldstein who solved the problem of coloring with broken crayons. [1] X Research source
Use your notebook to keep track of inventions you’re currently working on and to write down ideas about new inventions.
If your idea does exist, don’t be discouraged; it just means that you came up with such a great solution that it has already been made.
Be inspired by reading about other young inventors. Look at other inventions in your surroundings and learn how they work. Inventions don’t need to be complicated, simply functional.
Ask them how long it took them to come up with an idea and make a workable device. Find out how much time and effort they put into their inventions. Did they ever come up with an idea that they couldn’t make work? What do they do when that happens?
Start the sketch with pencil so you can erase mistakes. Use colored pencils or markers to add the finishing details. If you’re a little more advanced, you can use a Computer Aided Design (CAD) program to make a 3D model of your invention on the computer.
Make a list of everything you’ll need and how much of it is necessary. Look around your home for recycled materials that you may be able to use and then purchase the rest with permission from your parents. Try checking thrift stores and yard sales for parts that you can use. This will be much more cost effective and you will also be reusing materials. Learn all you can about the things that will comprise your invention, whether those are wood or metal rods, circuits and software, motors and gears, or fabrics and threads. The more you know about how the pieces work and how they work together, the more robust your invention can be. If you need any special tools for construction, ask your parents if they have them or if they know anyone who might have access to them. Find out if your school has a workshop that you can use.
If there are components that don’t need adult supervision, work on those when your parents are too busy to help you with the power tools.
You may find that while building the prototype you have to change the design a bit. This is all part of the inventing process. [9] X Trustworthy Source Science Buddies Expert-sourced database of science projects, explanations, and educational material Go to source Always have a parent in the room with you while you are inventing. They know how to use the tools and will be a huge help. If you have to use a hot glue gun, there are mini ones on the market. You can use those by yourself, but make sure a parent is in the room. Wear old clothes you don’t care about to avoid getting paint and glue all over good clothes.
Ask your parents to test out the device and if they have any suggestions for improvements. Ask them what they like about it and what they might change. Constructive feedback is an important part of the process. If something isn’t working, use the information they give you to make it better.
There are also camps available for young inventors that might be of interest. [10] X Research source
Come up with a few different names and ask your friends and family what sounds the best.
The patent process can be complicated so ask your parents for help with this if it’s something you are seriously considering.
You can start by asking friends and family to help out. Participating in inventor challenges can be a great start because many of them have cash prizes.
Find a competition near you and register for it. Turn in all of the components on time to be eligible for the competition. Some of the top competitions include: The Young Inventors’ Program, hosted by the Academy of Applied Science The Invent It Challenge, hosted by the Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation[13] X Research source
