Category Archives: Simple Engineering Projects for Kids

Simple Engineering Projects for Kids: A Pet Bed

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Thinking creatively is the foundation to good design. You never know what ideas you might come up with, and inspiration can be found anywhere.

I’ve been the proud parent of a chocolate labrador named Gemma for over a year now. At first, Gemma had a hard time getting used to her crate. She is a strong dog, and she likes to chew things. I came home one day and discovered that Gemma had shredded into the pillow in her crate. Stuffing was everywhere. When the problem repeated itself, I knew I needed to come up with a different plan. As an engineer, I know that common problems have creative solutions. I set to work to design a better pet bed.

A dog sits amid a chewed pillow. Text reads "Common problems have creative solutions"

The challenge with making any kind of mattress is to make sure that the materials are flexible enough to cushion what rests on top. I knew I wanted to use a material that would not make a mess if, and when, my dog chewed through it. Eventually I decided on stuffing two t-shirts with clothes I was no longer wearing. I improved the design by positioning the shirts so that the head of one shirt was on the same side of the bottom of the other shirt. Gemma has been resting comfortably in her crate for months now because I took the time to come up with a better solution.

How could you make a pet bed? Could you design a portable bed that made lying on the floor more comfortable? How might a bed for a cat or dog be different from a bed for a person?

Inventions happen when people see a problem and create a solution. If you would like to encourage a young inventor you know, check out the Curiosity Effect’s Inventing adventure!

Simple Engineering Projects for Kids: The Ultimate Fort

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Some engineering projects are gifts that keep on giving. A question like “How can I make the ultimate fort?” can keep kids and grown-ups engaged for a long time.

At first glance, designing a fort seems deceptively simple. What’s so complex about throwing a blanket over four chairs and calling it a day? What makes designing a fort to be a worthy engineering project?

Text "The Ultimate Fort" with an image of a girl reading in a blanket fort supported by chairs.

Truth be told, even the simplest of forts have a good deal of engineering complexity. What makes the fort stable? Is the fort large enough for all of the activities it should house? And the big question: Is the fort tall enough?

Experimenting with different ways to make a tall fort involves a lot of engineering. Does your fort use a center pole to go for maximum height? What holds the center pole in place? Can you make the center pole sturdy enough to withstand someone bumping into it? If you are using a blanket to make a roof, how can you keep the roof from sagging? What kind of support structures do you need? Can you give your fort doors and windows?

Are you building your fort inside or outside? What kind of materials are best to use in an outdoor fort? What activities would you want to do in an outdoor fort? Are they same set of activities as in an indoor fort? How would your fort design change if you built the fort on a hill instead of a flat surface?

Changing the questions are a great way to breathe new life into an engineering project. If you’d like some more insight about how you can help your kids ask great engineering questions, check out my free guide Every Parent’s Guide to Creative Projects.

Simple Engineering Projects for Kids: Clothing Costumes

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I think too often we get stuck on coming up with engineering projects that have supply lists and tools. An engineer’s most important tool is their imagination. Innovation can be found by looking at the same objects in new ways.

Many of my favorite engineering projects are creating clothing costumes. Our closets can be full of inspiration. When we ask questions like, “How can I wear this piece of clothing in a different way?” or “What are the best options to make a cape?” we’re releasing our inner engineer. Towels, bedsheets, and dishwashing gloves take on a new character when we loan them out to our imagination.

 Two kids sport their superhero costumes. "Clothing Costumes" is written in white on a dark blue strip.

We can ask questions about the items of clothing itself:

  • How many different ways could I use a belt in my costume?
  • What if I cannot put my shirt on by pulling it over my head?

We can ask questions about the things that inspire us:

  • What could I use to make a tail?
  • What would need to happen to create a successful elephant costume?

We can also ask questions about our goals for our costumes:

  • What is the best way to stay warm outside if I do not want to put on a coat?
  • How could I choose colors that help me camouflage myself?
  • What costume is best if I want to be able to run super fast?

All of these questions (and more!) are engineering kinds of questions. If you’d like some more insight about how you can help your kids ask great engineering questions, check out my free guide Every Parent’s Guide to Creative Projects.

 

Simple Engineering Projects for Kids: An Indoor Frisbee

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Hello, hello! As the holiday season gets into full swing, I thought I’d load up the blog with a lot of gifts for you and your family. I’m going to sharing a lot of simple engineering projects for kids that do not require any special materials.

A good engineering project starts with a good question. Since it’s getting colder outside, I wondered about bringing outdoor games inside. As I thought about simple projects that are also fun, I asked, “What if we could create an indoor frisbee?”

Two part image. On the left: A young child plays outside with an orange Frisbee. On the right: Text reads Everyday Curiosity - Design an indoor Frisbee above the Opportunity Unlocked logo

Getting our inventing juices flowing by combining two different ideas (being inside and Frisbee) helps us continue to think outside of the box. What can I use to make my Frisbee? The traditional hard plastic is out because it won’t work well inside. I want to throw something that can float through the air. I might practice by seeing if other lids fly well around the house. I may try covering cardboard with different materials. I might test throw different kinds of pillows to see if any of them have frisbee potential. I could experiment with different kinds of paper. Engineers work with the materials that they have to explore their ideas. Actively brainstorming ideas does not need to be a pen-and-pencil activity.

After testing a bunch of different materials, we can choose the material combinations that seem the most promising and work to refine the design. I chose to use paper plates and tape in my design, just because that seemed like the most fun. The difference between a good engineering project for kids and a great engineering project for kids is that the great projects encourage kids to keep exploring. You know a kid is unto something good when they ask a question, tinker with different materials, ask another question that builds on earlier questions, and start tinkering again.

As I continued to work on my indoor frisbee, I explored questions like:

  • What happens if I cut out different shapes from the middle?
  • How will adding weight to one side change how my frisbee flies?
  • Can I attach plates in different ways?
  • Is a smaller frisbee better for indoor play?

I’d love to hear more about your indoor engineering adventures in the comments! If you’re looking for more great ways to encourage kids to go from big idea to doable project, grab a copy of Every Parent’s Guide to Creative Projects.