You Can Do It!!!

We've had tens of thousands of students, just like you, participate in the program over the last 15 years. As with any new project, the hardest part can be figuring out where to start and having doubts about what to do... well, rest assured, many students have been in your shoes, and with a little time and a little thought, they had an idea. Then with a little work, they had an invention!

The Invention Convention was developed to allow kids, just like you, to use your imagination, your ideas, and your brains to solve everyday problems. Kids, exactly like you, invent new things every day! It's true, and better yet, it's easy and YOU can do it! Anytime or anywhere, because you NEVER need permission to solve a problem or invent something fun or useful. You don't have to live in a certain place, or be a certain age, all you we believe in you.

Anytime you are faced with a problem, or when an idea magically pops into your head, you have the opportunity to create. All you have to do is just turn on your brain and think. It's that easy, and well let you in on a little secret... inventing, creating something new, can be tons of FUN! At times it can be more fun than playing video games or riding your bike or hanging out with friends. Go ahead, try it! We know that you can do it, that's why we're here. Every kid, including you, has the potential to solve problems and to invent something new. And we're here to help you.

Did you know that it took Thomas Edison thousands of tries before he invented the light bulb? So if your idea doesn't work the first time, or second or 100th time, don't give up, because the next time could be the try that finally works! And wouldn't it be totally cool to invent something new and possibly win something for your idea? A cool prize or a college scholarship up to $15,000. We think that's pretty cool.

All you have to start with is an idea, and we'll help you with the rest. So the next time you have an idea, or you think of something fun that's never been done before, write it down, and let the fun begin!

Don't forget to nominate your teacher for the Teacher of Excellence Award.

All About Inventing

Inventing is fun! You don't have to take our word for it, try it for a while, open up your mind and think, and you can find out for yourself just how much fun inventing can be.

There are many ways to invent, and best of all, there is no wrong way. Whatever works for you, is the right way for you. And remember, you never need permission to come up with a new idea or solve a problem. All you have to do is to think. Opportunities are all around you all of the time and you may not even realize it.

All inventions are solutions to problems. The problems can be old or new, but the solutions... now they should always be new. In fact, one of the fun parts about inventing is figuring out how many different solutions you can find to just one problem! Have you run across any problems recently? If you pay attention and look around your world, you'll see opportunities to solve problems everywhere.

Other inventions are pure imagination. Ideas that seem to come out of nowhere - things that no one has ever thought of before. Although these types of inventions aren't as common, they are just as fun and exciting as solving problems that you, your family, or your friends face everyday.

Listen for the word 'can't' and change it around to 'why not?' Count how many times you hear 'can't' in a day? (Except for the cant's from your mom or dad about eating ice cream for breakfast, or staying up late playing video games) Every can't is an opportunity to invent.

For the Invention Convention, you need to think up a solution or idea that someone hasn't thought of before. If the idea you are thinking of has already won an award it won't be eligible to win again. Check the list of winning inventions to make sure that your idea hasn't already won. Just think, next year, YOUR invention could be included on this list! Good luck!