How to Take Apart Play Time: Tips From the World’s Best Tinkerers

Get your recycled materials and hammers ready. We talked to leaders in the tinkering field to give you ideas on how to look at everyday stuff in a whole new light.

By Natasha Davis September 8, 2015

Drills, saws, hot glue and hammers aren’t usually what come mind when you think about kids and play. Think again. In the wonderful world of tinkering this is just the tip of the iceberg. Using creativity, math, science, imagination and the magic of trial and error, tinkering teaches future inventors about the world around them. Want to learn how to do it? Listen to these tips and tricks from the best tinkerers out there and you’ll be all set for your next project.

Anne Carey

This MIT educated engineer turned stay-at-home mom is here to share her creative side with families everywhere. Her blog, Left Brain Craft Brian, is all about using hands-on STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math) projects to create young engineers, one craft at a time.

Through her blog she encourages the open ended creativity that tinkering inspires. For Anne, tinkering can be a part of anything and everything. As she explains, “do they have a favorite character? Incorporate tinkering into storytelling. Do they love to be outside? Take tinkering on a hike with natural elements like sticks and rocks.”

Another important piece of advice from Anne is, “to leave it out and accessible.” There’s no need to put your supplies away, because giving kiddos unrestricted access will inspire little ones to create even more tinker-tastic projects. However, if you want to take the show on the road, try Anne’s Portable Tinkering Kit for Preschoolers. She calls this kit, “small enough to fit in my mom-sized purse,” and it allows your little rascals to tinker anywhere. In Anne’s fam, it’s a big hit in restaurants during the never-ending wait for food.

Online: leftbraincraftbrain.com

Do you like to tinker with your kids? Share your favorite project in a Comment below.

— Natasha Davis