Ever wondered who created the toy truck, earmuffs, or the no-spill feeding bowl? Children inventors! In the past two decades alone, many more have invented things like an emergency traffic signal, biodegradable disposable diapers, a kiddie step-stool, and an easy lift trash can. Why this is significant is because of the many ideas that children dream up can become reality. When those realities turn into useful products for everyone to use, it helps communities, businesses, and the economy. That is why adults need to encourage a love for learning in their children at an early age, providing them with the tools they need to succeed. It doesn’t mean children should be forced into becoming inventors; rather they need to be guided toward how to express their ideas and create goals, which will help them develop their writing and critical thinking skills, along with fine motor skills, reading, art, science, math and overall creativity. In short, it keeps them well-rounded and able to excel in a variety of subjects, even ones they are not necessarily keen on. It may not mean they actually invent something, but the potential is there, and that is important. If children are raised to feel like they have nothing to offer society, they will not be as motivated to go on to become successful adults in the workforce.
A Love for the Arts
Drawing by my daughter, age 3
Let me tell you about my daughter, someone I admire for her interesting take on the world around her. At a very young age, she became highly aware of sights and sounds, and as my only child, my husband and I certainly were available to her needs, providing opportunity and the tools for her to use. She started recognizing patterns and shapes by age 1 1/2, mimicking tunes she’d heard as early as she could talk, and went on to draw recognizable objects and her favorite animals by the age of 3. In the above photo she drew of what she calls a dinosaur (which also looks suspiciously like her favorite stuffed giraffe), it captured my attention because of her ability to shade in the figure, rather than just draw its outline. Though she’s still young (in second grade at the time of this writing), she has gone on to a variety of ways to express her artistic and curious nature, which in turn prompted me to write this blog.
Trees at Sunrise/Sunset Painting by my daughter, age 7 1/2
As you can see from one of her latest works of art this year, she has fine-tuned her artistic ability, and loves to express her thoughts in this way. Although she prefers impressionism and modern art, much of the credit is due to her art teacher at school, who helps students mimic the work of some of the greatest artists using a plethora of techniques. My daughter also loves building things, and it helps that she has a mechanical engineer for a dad, so that she can use her Tinker Toys to create fascinating structures like this airport:
airport replica, 2010
Other creative children thrive on a more mathematical approach, with straight lines and precise graphs. While this isn’t her strong point, she still takes a stab at it when required.
Projects Unleashed
Broom + Mop = The Brop 2012
Recently, my daughter’s school was challenging students to invent something useful to solve everyday problems. My child was initially stumped. But then with a few questions and promptings, she came up with “the Brop”: an interchangeable broom/mop to save you time and energy on using both. Somewhat whimsical, but still practical!
Other great inventions she made just yesterday are:
car with moving wheels, green laser beams, and a "Jesus" cross
convertible shower / hot tub with adjustable faucet
airport control tower
It has been exciting and intriguing to watch these spontaneous creations! But it also got me thinking about today’s schools and what they offer students worldwide.
Teaching IB Throughout the School Years
Until this past month, I hadn’t had a full appreciation of International Baccalaureate (PYP or Primary Years Programme) that is in its first full year of being taught at the primary level in my daughter’s school district. I was skeptical, to say the least. Why? Because it is more rigorous than before, with a not-so-subtle push to challenge students to understand every subject more in-depth, and how what they learn relates to a global audience. Not a bad concept overall, but I had my doubts as to whether my child who burns out easily could keep up with the demands. I won’t lie; this year has been rough. But from sticking with it, and seeing where she can excel with the programme, she has gone on to have a deeper level of thinking, with more of a desire to invent.
With a traditional academic environment, it is not always possible for students to have extended creative license. Not all teachers have learning styles that match such a curriculum, and they don’t have the time or patience to see that each child is able to learn in a way that makes the most sense to them as auditory, visual, or haptic learners. Having IB teachers requires the added expense of continued education, so that everyone is on the same page. It also means extended planning for a curriculum that encompasses all the core components to be IB, and taking the time to appreciate each child’s needs and learning styles. This is a complicated and whole-community effort! The only way to make it work is by having parents and the schools meet to discuss ways in which to keep growing. Parental involvement with projects and for resource purposes is crucial, especially at the primary level. Once students are familiar with PYP, they adjust better to what IB entails in intermediate and high school years. I don’t know how that looks for students who come from different backgrounds, where one or both parents are not available or lack an understanding of how to help. Yet, somehow in inner-city areas where students are given this chance to make a difference in their lives and to enrich the world around them, many are going on to becoming excellent examples of ingenuity in their communities.
The Minds of the 21st Century
I realize that not all children who became inventors were taught with IB. But just with seeing the overwhelming responses in the unique inventions students created in my daughter’s school this year, it has ignited a spark for learning. And that is not an easy thing with a group of kids who come from a variety of ethnic and sociological backgrounds. Many don’t even speak English. Others don’t own books. All within a school in a fairly well-to-do school system.
So…what can we all learn from taking a page in the IB book of instruction?
- Allow students to have endless resources so that they can explore their talents
- Mentor youth as much as we can, since they will one day be our future leaders
- Find every-day practical applications for topics students can relate to in the home/community, and tie them in with the global audience
When every school can do this more effectively, more businesses will see a rise in smart and savvy shoppers, and employees who know how to serve those customers well!
Natasha Kohlhoff Polak (Freelance Writer)
