Children are natural engineers. They learn and explore the world around them through imaginative play, which is also an excellent way to develop problem-solving skills. Parents can encourage their kids' innate curiosity with the right activities, including reading books together. Here are five books for teaching the little engineers in your life:
Ages 7-10
Emma Lilian Todd was a self-taught engineer and inventor, often overshadowed by her contemporaries—the Wright Brothers. In the early 1900s, she worked tirelessly to improve designs for prototype airplanes. This book is a biography from Todd's perspective, showing the highs and lows of the design and testing process. Todd also serves as a valuable role model for girls in STEM, and sheds light on one of the unsung heroines of modern aviation.
Ages 4-8
Lodner Philips, an eccentric 19th century inventor, is the basis for Papa, an equally eccentric man. Although Papa invents things, he hasn't ever managed to make anything that actually works—until his daughter Virena inspires him to craft his amazing mechanical fish. The real Lodner Philips crafted submarines, testing them by taking his family on trips to the bottom of Lake Michigan. Despite all of his inventions, few of Philips' ideas ever made it to production. This book shows children what goes into bringing an idea to fruition, from inspiration, to prototyping, to testing. It also demonstrates the persistence needed to succeed after a series of failures.
Ages 8-12
This historical fiction book takes place in France, from the perspective of a young boy named Hugo. When Hugo loses his father in a fire, he survives by living in the walls of of a train station, maintaining its clocks and stealing food from nearby shops. Left with a notebook of mysterious drawings of an automaton, Hugo sets out to find a way to restore it. Throughout the course of the story, Hugo shows problem-solving skills and persistence as he attempts to restore the automaton, and find the heart-shaped key needed to activate it. It also introduces children to George Méliès, one of the pioneers of film special effects techniques. This book was the inspiration for the award winning 2011 Martin Scorsese film Hugo.
Ages 7-10
Lonnie Johnson, always curious about what made things work, was trying to find a way to replace dangerous refrigerants in air conditioners and refrigerators. He connected a nozzle to a faucet, and whoosh! He'd created the mechanics for one of the most popular summertime toys—the Super Soaker. Johnson had a long engineering career, including working for NASA, but the Super Soaker is what he's best known for. This book walks children through the process of creating a new invention, from the initial idea, to prototyping, testing, redesigning, and testing again.
Ages 10-17
William Kamkwamba was a boy in Malawi, in an area suffering from drought and hunger. He had seen how wealthier people lived, with luxuries like running water and electricity, and thought that windmills could be the way to bring these luxuries to more people around him. Even though his neighbors called him crazy, Kamkwamba took a pile of science textbooks, some metal scraps, discarded bicycles, and tractor parts, and turned them into a functioning wind turbine. This inspiring story shows Kamkwamba's problem-solving skills, and that anyone, anywhere, of any age, can use their ingenuity to make people's lives better.
Beyond reading, there are numerous ways to encourage and foster the engineering spirit in children:
Hands-On Projects: Provide children with hands-on engineering projects. Building simple machines using household items, constructing bridges with popsicle sticks, or designing paper airplanes are excellent activities to engage their problem-solving skills.
STEM Toys and Kits: Invest in STEM-focused toys or kits that encourage experimentation and critical thinking. Kits involving robotics, circuits, or building structures offer interactive experiences that stimulate children's curiosity.
Field Trips and Museum Visits: Take trips to science museums, engineering exhibitions, or workshops. Hands-on experiences in these environments expose children to real-world applications of engineering principles, sparking their interest further.
Encouraging Curiosity: Foster an environment where questioning and curiosity are encouraged. Encourage them to ask “why” and “how” about everyday phenomena, and engage them in finding answers through exploration and investigation.
Support Problem-Solving: Encourage children to solve problems independently. When faced with challenges, guide them to break down problems into smaller parts, brainstorm solutions, and test different approaches.
Mentorship and Role Models: Introduce children to mentors or role models in the engineering field. This exposure can inspire and motivate them by showcasing real-life examples of successful engineers.
STEM Clubs and Programs: Enroll children in STEM-focused clubs or after-school programs where they can collaborate with peers, engage in hands-on projects, and participate in competitions that challenge their engineering skills.
Incorporate Technology: Introduce age-appropriate coding or programming games and tools. Learning the basics of coding early can enhance logical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
Encourage Persistence: Emphasize the importance of perseverance and resilience in the face of challenges. Reinforce that failure is a natural part of the learning process and encourage them to learn from setbacks.
By combining these activities with engaging books, children can develop a holistic understanding of engineering concepts and foster a lifelong love for innovation and problem-solving. Parents, caregivers, and educators play a pivotal role in nurturing and supporting these budding engineers.
Young children are like sponges, ready to absorb all of the lessons the world has in store for them. These books inspire kids to imagine and invent, as well as encouraging them to persist in the face of failure, frustration, and adversity. Kids who don't often see themselves reflected in the STEM field can find new role models, and get encouraged by the stories of these courageous inventors and engineers.
