6 Ways to Teach Kids to Think Like an Engineer!
As a parent, you might feel like you don’t have the technical background to teach your kids about engineering or robotics. But here's the good news: you don’t have to be an engineer to help your child think like one!
At Kids Explore Robotics, we’ve seen firsthand how children can develop engineering skills, creativity, and critical thinking without needing an engineering degree in the family. Here’s how you can encourage your child to think like an engineer — all while having fun and learning new skills.
1. Encourage Problem-Solving Mindsets
Engineering is all about solving problems in creative and practical ways. Whether it’s building a robot or designing a new structure, engineers approach challenges by breaking them down into smaller pieces and figuring out the best solution.
You can introduce this mindset to your kids by giving them simple challenges at home, like:
Fixing something around the house, like a broken toy or a loose shelf.
Building something using household items, like a tower of spaghetti and marshmallows.
Exploring new ways to do things. For example, ask them, "How can we make this task easier or faster?"
When your child encounters challenges, let them know it’s okay to try different approaches. Encourage them to ask questions, test ideas, and learn from mistakes. This will help them develop that crucial problem-solving mindset.
2. Spark Their Curiosity with Hands-On Learning
You don’t need to be an engineer to spark your child’s curiosity and teach them basic concepts of design and technology. The key is hands-on learning — and that’s where Kids Explore Robotics comes in.
We offer project-based kits that let your child build real robots, like a dancing robot, a traffic light system, or even a drumming robot. These hands-on activities allow them to see the result of their work in real-time, and when something doesn’t work, they learn how to troubleshoot and improve their designs.
You can encourage hands-on learning at home by:
Building simple machines or toys together, such as a basic pulley system, catapult, or a simple robot.
Using simple DIY projects that involve building and experimenting with basic electronics, like a flashlight or a battery-powered fan.
Exploring educational online games or apps that teach programming concepts, like Blockly or Scratch.
When kids get involved in hands-on learning, they begin to see how theory translates into real-world applications. This is the heart of engineering!
3. Foster an Environment of Creativity and Imagination
Engineers think outside the box — they come up with unique ideas and innovate solutions. This creativity is essential to solving engineering problems, and it’s something you can nurture in your kids from a young age.
Encourage your kids to:
Imagine the impossible: Ask them what they would build if they had all the materials in the world. How would they design a robot that could clean their room, or a car that runs on water?
Use art and design: Engineering isn’t just about math and science — it’s also about creativity. Encourage your child to sketch out their ideas and think about how to make their creations better, both functionally and aesthetically.
Experiment: Try new things! Give them tools like LEGO sets, building blocks, or even our Kids Explore Robotics kits where they can design, build, and test new robots.
This creativity fuels curiosity and helps kids approach problems in novel ways, which is a fundamental part of thinking like an engineer.
4. Make Coding Fun and Accessible
At Kids Explore Robotics, we believe learning to code is one of the most valuable skills a child can acquire today. And while it may sound intimidating to some parents, we’ve made it easy for kids to learn how to code in a way that’s both fun and accessible.
Our kits and classes teach kids how to write simple code that makes their robots do things like move, light up, or make sounds. Kids as young as six can start learning basic coding concepts through hands-on projects and video-based lessons, where they see the logic behind the code and learn how it controls their robots.
At home, you can help foster an interest in coding by introducing your child to:
Coding games and apps: Apps like Scratch, Tynker, or Code.org make learning programming fun for kids by allowing them to create games, animations, and simple robots.
Interactive platforms: There are many platforms where your child can build and program virtual robots, like Lego Mindstorms or Arduino.
Coding kits: Once they’re comfortable with the basics, you can get them simple coding kits that will allow them to experiment and learn even more.
By showing your child how fun and rewarding coding can be, you’ll help them gain a fundamental skill that will serve them well in the world of engineering.
5. Lead by Example: Stay Curious and Learn Together
One of the best ways to encourage your child to think like an engineer is to stay curious yourself. While you might not have an engineering background, your willingness to learn with them can inspire and motivate your child.
You don’t have to know everything — just be open to learning alongside them. Build a robot together, explore a coding platform, or watch educational videos on engineering topics. By showing your child that learning is an ongoing journey, you create a safe space for them to explore and grow.
6. Provide Opportunities for Collaboration and Teamwork
Engineering isn’t just about working alone — it’s about collaborating with others. Many of the best engineers thrive because they work with people from different backgrounds and areas of expertise.
At Kids Explore Robotics, we provide opportunities for kids to work in teams during our classes, camps, and project-based activities. Kids learn how to share ideas, divide tasks, and problem-solve together — all while having fun building robots.
Encourage teamwork at home by:
Working together on family projects that require problem-solving.
Giving them opportunities to work with other kids on group robotics or engineering challenges.
These collaboration skills will be invaluable as they grow into future engineers, scientists, and innovators.
Final Thoughts: You Don’t Have to Be an Engineer to Inspire Your Child
Teaching your child to think like an engineer doesn’t require an engineering degree — all it takes is the willingness to encourage curiosity, creativity, and problem-solving. With the right mindset and a few tools, you can help your child build the skills they need to become the next generation of engineers.
At Kids Explore Robotics, we’re here to help guide you and your child every step of the way. Our kits, classes, and camps are designed to teach kids how to think critically, experiment, and have fun while learning engineering principles. Together, we can inspire a love for STEM and prepare your child for a future full of possibilities.
At Kids Explore Robotics, we’ve seen firsthand how kids light up when they complete their first robot — how they take pride in coding something that actually works. Whether they’re six or sixteen, this experience is empowering, inspiring, and unforgettable.
So if you’re thinking about how to help your child grow, explore, and get excited about learning — robotics just might be the best gift you can give.
👉 Ready to explore your options?
We offer live classes, summer camps, and video-based projects — designed by an engineer dad and his son — to make learning robotics fun, affordable, and meaningful. See some of our robots.
Let’s build something amazing together. 💡🔧🤖
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