At one point or another, almost everyone is asked to create an invention as a school project. Teachers often use this project as a great way to teach about important inventors of the past, scientific methods, trial and error and the overall creative process. While a lot of the final projects are worthy of an A+, some inventions that kids produce are worth so much more.
The idea of a young inventor is not as foreign as it may seem. Kids these days are making leaps and bounds in the world of innovation. You may have even heard of these kids before; 13-year-old Jianna Nichols and her invention that detects Red Dye 40 in food recently made headlines.
Maybe this all sounds familiar. Maybe your child has come up with an idea or even created a prototype of an invention that could really change the world. If your child comes up with something that you both think is worth pursuing, you may have some questions. How do you proceed? Is it worth it? What if it fails?
Before you make any major decisions, check out these tips to see how you can best support your tiny genius.
Do Your Research
The world is a big place with a lot of people in it. As unfortunate as it may seem, someone might have already thought of and produced your child’s invention idea before your family could get to it. Do as much research as you can online and in relevant marketplaces to make sure their idea is untouched before you invest money into it.
Enlist Some Help
As a parent, you’re expected to be the expert authority on a lot of things. Product innovation isn’t one of them. Don’t worry if you don’t know all of the answers! Start by talking to your child’s teachers or other school officials. It’s possible that they’ve had experience with previous students who’ve had success in their inventions. They may be able to connect you to resources and people who can work with your child on moving their product to the next step.
If you’re not sure who to talk to, reach out to us at Source Direct, Inc. We specialize in helping inventors around the United States get their ideas made into reality, and it’s likely that we can help you too.
If it’s “Too Good to be True,” it Probably is
As you and your child enter the world of invention, be aware that some people have better intentions than others. If you stumble across a deal that seems too good to be true, use caution before signing anything legally binding. This includes the overall concept of licensing, which usually involves selling your idea to a person or company so that it legally becomes theirs to own, produce and make money off of. While you can make a nice sum of money by licensing your idea, it’s usually a better long-term financial decision to see the product through to production and sell it yourself.
Don’t be Afraid of Bumps in the Road
It’s incredibly rare for an invention to be produced and sell like hotcakes without at least one hang up or hitch. At times, the invention process can be overwhelming – even daunting. Don’t give up, though. You and your child will learn a lot of lessons together about perseverance, creativity and business. It may even bring you closer!
If you or your child feels inspired to move forward with an invention idea after reading this post, feel free to reach out to us at Source Direct, Inc. for advice or more information on forming a partnership with us. We can help you move to the next step with your invention, no matter if you’re starting from square one or you’re ready to manufacture market and sell your product. Call us at 888-373-3876 today!
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Libby Jourdan is the social media expert and writer for Source Direct, Inc., an invention company based in Oldsmar, Fl. If you have any additional invention tips, comments or want to get started with an idea, feel free to email her at marketing2@thesourcedirect.net. If you absolutely dread using email, you can comment below!
