There are many things you can
do to help your child during this process. The most important
thing you can do to help your child is to support and encourage
them. Inventing is full of failed experiments, but that is part
of the process. Experiments fail all of the time and it's to
be expected that your child's first invention probably won't
work the first time. If it does great! But if it doesn't, help
them learn from there experience, and have them try again and
again. All inventors fail, but why they succeed is because they
don't give up.
Inventing is fun and exciting and when kids are given the right
environment and the right direction, support and encouragement
they can do great things. Another way to help your child is
to feed their ideas and questions. Don't solve the problem for
them, ask the questions that make them think and figure out
the solutions to their problems. They will need to be able to
explain their ideas, how their invention works and this is where
you can help. When they have an idea, ask them how it works,
ask them to tell you, ask them to show you. This is great preparation
for the Invention Convention itself and it helps them with the
process. Plus it's fun to watch kids when you ask them questions
and you can watch the wheels turning as they figure out the
answers.
Your approach is very important. Avoid "that won't work"
or "it can't be done," instead ask them to show you
or tell you how it will work. The benefits that kids learn from
this experience are immeasurable and long-lasting. Self esteem,
optimism, creativity, and problem solving skills are all things
that they will develop and grow during this process.
For over 15 years now, The Invention
Convention and Just Think Inc. have been making a positive impact
in children's lives and in the community. Like you, we believe
your children are capable of great things. What we do is help
unlock your child's potential by encouraging their curiosity
and their creativity and provide opportunities to shine. We
recognize and reward your child's achievements. Past participants
have appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, on Nickelodeon's
Figure it out, Ellen, on local news shows, and coming in November - Montel. That is
in addition to the many prizes that we give away. We've given
over $650,000 in college scholarships to date.
By participating in The Invention Convention, your child will
learn invaluable problem solving skills that will benefit them
for their entire lives. Kids enjoy creating and have a lot of
fun participating in this program. The added benefits are the
skills, self confidence, and self esteem that they learn along
the way. Soon we will be adding video clips of what parents,
teachers and kids have to say about the Invention Convention.
There is no cost to your child, school or teacher to participate,
we have wonderful partners and sponsors that cover all of the
costs of the materials and prizes. We help kids get started,
provide teachers with materials, and together they do the rest.
Inventing is fun, and with the right support and encouragement,
children can do amazing things. Did you know that Becky Schroeder
invented the glo-sheet when she was just 10 years old?
This section of the website was designed to assist you in helping
your kids with this program. Your encouragement will do wonders.
One part of inventing is 'failing,' and parents are the ones
who can lift their kids up when they fall. Experiments don't
always work, but the purpose is to learn from 'failed' experiments.
Thomas Edison 'failed' thousands of times before he invented
the light bulb, the important thing is that he didn't give up,
and that he learned from each trial. Your kids will 'fail,'
it's a part of the process, but if they have the right support
and encouragement, they will try again, and that is one of the
most important life lessons that they can learn.
Another way to look at it is if Edison had invented the light
bulb on the first try, the story wouldn't be nearly as exciting.
His perseverance is a lesson to all of us, because as the saying
goes, sometimes "great challenges are what make great men
and great women." Thomas Edison himself said, "Why,
I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work."
There are tremendous benefits to your child above and beyond
the recognition and prizes. The Invention Convention builds
self-esteem, resilience, and optimism in your child, and all
of these characteristics help people live happy lives. Unlocking
creativity, developing problem solving skills, and expanding
their thinking process are all crucial skills for kids to master.
We've seen what kids can do, kids of all ages, and backgrounds.
Your child could be the next Invention Convention winner, be
inducted into the young inventors' hall of fame, or just have
fun and learn some valuable skills along the way. Every inventor
is a winner because they have done something, made something
better. Inventors are do-ers not just talkers.
Inventing is usually a series of experiments - 'failed experiments.' When kids understand that a failed experiment isn't a reflection on them, but a part of the process, they become resilient and strengthen their sense of self. Tests fail, experiments fail - it doesn't mean that the person has. People learn from experience (often mislabeled as 'mistakes'), when really they are steps in the learning and innovation process. "White-out" was a mistake, Teflon was a mistake, trying is not a mistake.
The Invention Convention is a proven tool to exercise the mind that teaches kids to think. It helps kids learn, and learn to solve problems. And it is a fun exercise. This program not only energizes the gifted and talented students but it can help reach the hard to reach students. The competition inspires, nurtures and energizes while it teaches and rewards. Watching a child describe an idea they created is magical. Every student who participates in the Invention Convention is already a winner and receives participation certificates and ribbons. Each student talks with two adult Honorary Judges which is a brief moment that creates a lifelong memory for the child, parents, grandparents and siblings. For a few weeks in the child's life, their imagination and ideas take center stage within their family and the child is celebrated for what they have dreamed up.
The project has many partners and our objective is to make the Invention Convention fun and effortless. For schools, the project is "Turn Key" as we supply all materials for use in the classroom including lesson planning guides for teachers. Any child can be an inventor and The Invention Convention can bring out the best in kids. We encourage kids to think and to dream, and if they win the $2,500 grand prize college scholarship, then we can help to make their dreams come true.