You don’t need a fancy maker lab or high-end gadgets to raise a problem solver. Sometimes, all it takes is a cardboard box, a bit of string, and a curious mind.
While coding and robotics tend to steal the spotlight, tinkering is quietly making a strong comeback. And it deserves a little more love. Tinkering is about hands-on learning. It’s building, experimenting, and figuring things out as you go. It’s what happens when kids use their hands and imagination to create something from scratch, even if it falls apart the first few times.
Tinkering helps kids think in new ways. They learn how to approach problems from different angles, stay patient when things go wrong, and feel proud when something finally works. These are the same kinds of thinking skills they’ll need if they ever choose to explore more advanced tech down the road.
One of the best things about tinkering is that it can happen anywhere. In the kitchen, the backyard, the garage, or the playroom. Give your child a pile of old toy parts or some recyclables and a roll of tape, and you might be surprised by what they come up with.
It’s screen-free. It’s creative. And best of all, it’s fun. So next time your child says they’re bored, skip the tablet and hand them some tools. Then stand back and enjoy the magic of watching them build something all their own.
