Inventions for Kids
Every invention began with someone asking "what if?". These lessons tell the stories behind the wheel, paper, the telephone, penicillin and the smartphone, explaining how each idea worked, who helped to create it and how it changed daily life.
All 112 Inventions topics
The Wheel
The wheel was invented in Mesopotamia about 5,500 years ago.
Discovering Fire
People learned to control fire hundreds of thousands of years ago.
The Invention of Writing
Writing began about 5,000 years ago with pictures and wedge marks in Mesopotamia and hieroglyphs in Egypt.
Paper
Paper was invented in China around 105 AD by Cai Lun, who used bark and rags.
The Compass
The magnetic compass was invented in China and later helped sailors navigate far from land.
The Telescope
The telescope was developed in the Netherlands in 1608 and improved by Galileo, who discovered Jupiter's moons.
The Microscope
Microscopes make tiny things look bigger.
The Steam Engine
Steam engines use steam to push pistons and create motion.
The Electric Light Bulb
Thomas Edison developed a practical long-lasting light bulb in 1879.
The Telephone
Alexander Graham Bell patented the telephone in 1876.
The Radio
Guglielmo Marconi sent radio signals across long distances in the 1890s.
Television
Television turns light and sound into signals sent to your set.
The Automobile
Karl Benz built the first practical petrol car in 1885.
How Planes Fly
Planes fly because wings are shaped to create lift as air flows over them.
The Bicycle
The modern bicycle with pedals, chains and equal-sized wheels developed in the 1800s.
The Camera
Early cameras captured an image on a light-sensitive plate.
A Short History of Computers
Early computers were as big as rooms.
Smartphones
A smartphone is a pocket computer with a camera, touchscreen and apps.
The Refrigerator
Fridges keep food cold to slow bacteria growth so it stays fresh longer.
Penicillin
Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin in 1928 when mould killed bacteria in a dish.
X-rays
X-rays are invisible rays that pass through soft body parts but not bones.
Mechanical Clocks
Early people told time with sundials and water clocks.
Eyeglasses
Glasses were invented in Italy in the 1280s to help people see clearly.
Submarines
Submarines travel underwater by filling and emptying tanks with water to dive or rise.
The Electric Motor
An electric motor changes electrical energy into movement using magnets and coils.
The Washing Machine
Early washing machines were hand-cranked tubs.
The Sewing Machine
The sewing machine was invented to stitch fabric faster than by hand.
The Vacuum Cleaner
A vacuum cleaner uses suction to pull dust and dirt from floors and carpets into a bag or container.
The Hot Air Balloon
A hot air balloon rises because the air inside it is heated, making it less dense than the cooler air outside.
The Parachute
A parachute slows a falling person or object by catching air in a large fabric canopy.
The Helicopter
A helicopter flies using rotating blades that push air downwards, creating lift.
The Jet Engine
A jet engine sucks in air, compresses it, mixes it with fuel, burns it and pushes the hot gases out of the back.
The Escalator
An escalator is a moving staircase that carries people up or down.
The Elevator
An elevator carries people between floors of a building.
The Ballpoint Pen
The ballpoint pen uses a small rotating ball at its tip to spread ink evenly onto paper.
Pencils
Pencils use a core of graphite mixed with clay, which leaves marks on paper.
The Toothbrush
Early toothbrushes were made from sticks and feathers.
Soap
Soap is made by mixing fats or oils with a strong alkali.
The Zipper
A zipper joins two edges of fabric by interlocking small teeth.
Velcro
Velcro is a fastening system with two strips, one with tiny hooks and one with soft loops.
The Skateboard
A skateboard is a short board with wheels that can be used for transport, sport or tricks.
The Traffic Light
Traffic lights control the flow of cars and people at junctions by showing red, amber and green lights in a set order.
The Umbrella
An umbrella is a folding frame covered with fabric that protects people from rain and sun.
The Calculator
A calculator is a device that performs mathematical operations quickly and accurately.
The Abacus
The abacus is one of the oldest calculating tools.
The Thermometer
A thermometer measures temperature.
The Stethoscope
A stethoscope is a medical tool that lets doctors listen to sounds inside the body, such as the heartbeat and breathing.
The Bandage
A bandage is a strip of cloth or material wrapped around a wound to protect it and help stop bleeding.
The Hearing Aid
A hearing aid is a small electronic device worn in or behind the ear to make sounds louder for people with hearing loss.
The Pacemaker
A pacemaker is a small device placed inside the chest that helps control a heartbeat that is too slow or irregular.
The Lawn Mower
A lawn mower cuts grass to keep lawns neat.
Rubber Tyres
Rubber tyres are the outer layer of wheels that grip the road and absorb bumps.
Glass Bottles
Glass bottles store liquids safely and can be reused or recycled.
Matches
Matches are small sticks with a tip that lights when rubbed against a rough surface.
The Pencil Sharpener
The pencil sharpener was invented to make a pencil point quickly and neatly.
The Lightning Rod
A lightning rod is a metal pole on top of a building that carries lightning's electric charge safely into the ground.
The Bicycle Brake
Brakes on a bicycle slow the wheels by rubbing a pad or a disc against them.
The Microwave Oven
A microwave oven heats food using microwaves, a type of energy that makes water molecules in the food move and warm up quickly.
The Wheelchair
A wheelchair is a seat with wheels that helps people move around when walking is difficult.
The Hovercraft
A hovercraft is a vehicle that floats on a cushion of air it blows down onto the surface below it.
The Electric Kettle
The electric kettle heats water using an electric element inside its base.
The Paper Clip
The paper clip is a simple wire tool that holds sheets of paper together without damaging them.
The Wind Turbine
A wind turbine is a large machine with blades that turn as the wind blows.
The Light Switch
A light switch opens and closes an electric circuit to turn a light on or off.
The Snowplough
A snowplough is a vehicle with a large blade that pushes snow off roads and paths.
The Satellite Dish
A satellite dish is a curved dish that receives signals from satellites in space.
The Tin Can
The tin can was invented to preserve food for long journeys and was first used for food in the early 1800s.
The Hot Water Bottle
The hot water bottle is a rubber or metal container filled with hot water to keep someone warm in bed.
The Thermos Flask
A thermos flask uses a double wall with a vacuum between the layers to keep drinks hot or cold for hours.
The Pressure Cooker
A pressure cooker traps steam in a sealed pot, which raises the pressure and the boiling point of water.
The Air Conditioner
An air conditioner removes heat from the air inside a room and sends it outside, keeping the room cool.
The Scooter
A scooter is a simple vehicle with a footboard, handlebars and wheels that you push along with one foot.
The Drinking Straw
The drinking straw lets people sip liquids easily, and modern straws are made from paper, plastic or metal.
The Hair Dryer
The hair dryer blows hot or cool air to dry wet hair quickly.
The Electric Toaster
An electric toaster heats slices of bread using electric heating elements.
The Revolving Door
A revolving door has panels that turn around a central axis.
The Parking Meter
A parking meter lets drivers pay to park for a set amount of time.
The Fire Extinguisher
A fire extinguisher sprays a substance onto a fire to cool it, smother it or stop the chemical reaction.
The Smoke Alarm
A smoke alarm detects smoke in the air and makes a loud sound to warn people of a fire.
The Seatbelt
The seatbelt holds passengers in their seats during a sudden stop or crash.
The Airbag
An airbag is a bag that inflates very quickly in a crash to cushion passengers.
The Pedestrian Crossing
A pedestrian crossing is a marked place on a road where people can cross safely.
The Cash Machine
A cash machine lets people take money out of their bank account at any time of day.
The Photocopier
A photocopier makes copies of documents by scanning the page and printing it using light and static electricity.
The Bicycle Helmet
A bicycle helmet is a hard hat that protects the head during falls and crashes on a bicycle.
The Spray Can
The spray can uses pressurised gas to push paint or other liquids out through a small nozzle.
The Wheelbarrow
A wheelbarrow is a small cart with one wheel at the front and two handles at the back.
The Lighthouse
A lighthouse is a tall tower with a bright light that guides ships safely past dangerous coasts and rocks.
The Electric Guitar
The electric guitar uses magnetic pickups to turn the vibrations of its strings into electrical signals.
The Hand Mixer
A hand mixer has beaters that spin to mix ingredients quickly.
The Tea Bag
A tea bag holds loose tea leaves inside a small porous bag.
The Lock and Key
Locks and keys were used in ancient times to protect homes and treasures.
The Garden Hose
A garden hose is a flexible tube that carries water from a tap to a garden.
The Sticky Note
The sticky note is a small piece of paper with a light glue on one side.
The Tin Opener
A tin opener is a tool that cuts open metal tins of food.
The Stopwatch
A stopwatch is a timer that can start, stop and reset to measure how long something takes.
The Plastic Bag
The plastic bag was introduced to carry shopping and is made from plastics that can take a very long time to break down.
The Typewriter
The typewriter allowed people to produce printed text by pressing keys that struck inked ribbons onto paper.
The Stapler
A stapler joins sheets of paper together by pushing a small metal staple through them.
The Corkscrew
A corkscrew is a tool used to remove corks from bottles.
The Electric Razor
An electric razor uses a rotating or vibrating blade to shave hair without a sharp blade touching the skin directly.
The Padlock
A padlock is a portable lock with a hinged shackle that can be closed and locked.
The Doorbell
A doorbell lets visitors signal that they are at the door.
The Hand Drill
A hand drill is a tool that is turned by hand to bore holes into wood, metal or other materials.
The Pocket Watch
A pocket watch is a small clock carried in a pocket, often on a chain.
The Bread Slicer
A bread slicer is a machine that cuts a loaf of bread into even slices.
The Bicycle Lock
A bicycle lock keeps a bike secure when it is parked.
The Water Filter
A water filter removes dirt, bacteria and other unwanted particles from water.
The Sunglasses
Sunglasses are glasses with tinted or dark lenses that protect the eyes from bright sunlight.
The Mousetrap
A mousetrap is a device that catches or kills mice.
The Cuckoo Clock
A cuckoo clock is a clock that makes a small mechanical bird pop out of a door and call the hour.
The Magnifying Glass
A magnifying glass is a lens that makes objects look bigger.
Frequently asked questions about Inventions
What is an invention?
An invention is a new device, method or process that solves a problem or meets a need. Many inventions build on earlier ideas.
Who is the most famous inventor?
Many people are famous, including Thomas Edison, Alexander Graham Bell and Marie Curie. Most inventions were the work of many people over time.
How can children invent things?
Try designing a simple machine, a bridge from spaghetti or a new game. Write down your ideas, test them and improve them.