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National Kid Inventors Day, celebrated annually on January 17th, is a time to honor the incredible creativity and ingenuity of young minds.

This day commemorates the birthday of Benjamin Franklin, one of America’s most famous inventors, who invented the first swim fins at just 12 years old.

While this single day shines a spotlight on the power of youthful innovation, schools nationwide can extend the celebration all year through Inventionland Education’s K-12 applied STEM course focused on innovation and inventing.

A Year-Long Celebration of Creativity

Inventionland Education offers an immersive curriculum that empowers students to think outside the box, identify problems, and create innovative solutions. This course doesn’t just teach STEM concepts—it fosters critical thinking, teamwork, and entrepreneurial skills in a hands-on environment where ideas come to life. Students learn and apply a structured, step-by-step process for inventing, guiding them from brainstorming to prototype creation.

At the heart of the program is an exciting finale: an invention showcase where students present their inventions or innovations. These contests are held at individual schools and culminate in a national invention competition hosted at Inventionland’s world headquarters in Pittsburgh every May. This renowned event brings together young innovators from across the country, offering a platform for their ideas to be celebrated and shared. Students can compete virtually or in person.

Local invention contests were held last week at Grove City Middle School and this week at the Ligonier Valley School District. The student winners are now eligible to present their ideas at Inventionland this May.

From Classroom Creations to Marketable Products

Inventionland’s approach goes beyond the classroom by giving students the tools and opportunities to turn their concepts into reality. Last year, two standout student teams won their invention contests and achieved something extraordinary: their products are now available for purchase on Amazon after earning licensing agreements.

Two middle school students (Mia and Madison) developed the first product, the No Cry™ Hair Tie, to address the discomfort people with long hair often feel when removing traditional hair ties. This innovative product eliminates the tugging and pain of taking out a ponytail.

The second product, The Amazing™ Lid, created by students from a school in Jordan, is a multipurpose, eco-friendly lid designed to stretch over coffee cups. This invention exemplifies how students are thinking globally and addressing real-world problems.

Inspire Young Inventors in Your School

National Kid Inventors Day is a wonderful reminder of what young minds can achieve. With Inventionland Education’s year-round program, schools can cultivate this inventive spirit, giving students the tools to innovate, create, and make a difference. By celebrating student ingenuity every day, we can inspire the next generation of inventors and innovators to shape a brighter future.