Transparency Note: We believe every broken toaster is just an invention waiting to happen. This post helps you celebrate! It contains affiliate links, meaning if you buy through them, I may get a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products I truly love.
Does your living room currently look like a cardboard box exploded? Do you find "experiments" in the bathroom sink?
Don't panic. You aren't raising a messy kid; you are raising an inventor.
This Saturday, January 17, is Kid Inventors' Day.
It is the day we celebrate the fact that children often see solutions where adults only see problems. Whether they are building a fort, mixing potions, or trying to tape the cat to a skateboard (please stop them), today is about channeling that chaotic energy into creativity.
Manny (our resident penguin) claims he invented the "Belly Slide," and honestly, we can't prove him wrong.
Why We Celebrate: A "Benji" Birthday
Why January 17th?
It is the birthday of Benjamin Franklin.
Before he was a Founding Father on the $100 bill, Ben was a kid inventor. At age 11, he invented the first pair of swim flippers (wooden paddles for his hands) because he wanted to swim faster.
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Fun Fact: Kids are responsible for some of the things you use every day.
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Popsicles: Invented by 11-year-old Frank Epperson (who left soda outside in freezing weather).
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Earmuffs: Invented by 15-year-old Chester Greenwood (because his ears got cold ice skating).
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The Trampoline: Invented by 16-year-old George Nissen.
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The Big Why: We celebrate to remind our kids that you don't have to be a grown-up to have a world-changing idea.
3 Ways to Make Today Memorable
1. The "Cardboard" Challenge (Low Cost)
Every parent knows the box is better than the toy.
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The Move: Give them a pile of recycling and tell them to build a robot/castle/spaceship.
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The Upgrade: Stop using dangerous box cutters or weak tape.
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The Amazon Find: The Makedo Cardboard Construction Toolkit. This is, hands down, the best invention toy on the market. It comes with safe plastic saws (that actually cut cardboard but not fingers) and reusable "Scru" connectors. It lets kids build massive, sturdy forts safely.
2. The "3D" Dream (The Tech)
If your kid loves to draw, blow their mind by letting them draw in the air.
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The Move: Take art off the page.
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The Amazon Find: The 3Doodler Start+ Essentials 3D Pen. Unlike the adult versions that get hot, this one uses low-heat, BPA-free plastic that is safe to touch. They can draw glasses they can wear, figures they can play with, or bridges for their toy cars. It is pure magic.
3. The "Persistence" Lesson (The Book)
Invention is 10% idea and 90% failure. Kids need to know that crashing is part of the process.
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The Move: Read a story about not giving up.
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The Amazon Find: "Rosie Revere, Engineer" by Andrea Beaty. It’s a modern classic about a girl whose inventions fail, and her aunt teaches her that the only true failure is quitting. The illustrations are incredible, and the message is essential for perfectionist kids.
The Perfect Gift for the Tinkerer
If you have a child who takes pens apart just to see how the spring works, give them a safe outlet for that curiosity.
Our Editors' Pick:
The "Snap Circuits" Jr. Electronics Exploration Kit
Why we love it: It turns complex electrical engineering into literal child's play. The pieces snap together like buttons (no soldering or hot wires). Kids can build a working doorbell, a flying saucer, or a voice-activated alarm in minutes. It makes them feel like a genius.
Perfect for: The kid who asks, "How does the light switch work?"
Shop Snap Circuits Jr. on Amazon
Join the Conversation
We want to hear the funniest "Invention" your child has ever made.
(Did they invent a soup made of dirt? A shoe with wheels?)
Tell us their patent-pending ideas in the comments on Instagram or TikTok and tag us @OnManyOccasions!
Don't Miss the Next Celebration
January is heating up! Do you know when National Popcorn Day is? (It’s coming up on Jan 19!).
Download our Free 2026 Celebration Calendar and never miss a creative excuse to party.
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