Cardboard is the perfect material for kids’ projects. But trying to cut cardboard with scissors is a real pain, and it’s dangerous. The canary cutter is a great solution. The serrated edge is a safer way for kids to cut cardboard, with greater control and less chance of hurting themselves in the process.

https://www.canary-usa.com/dc-190f-1.html

Since 2005, Make magazine has been promoting the Maker ethos with instructions for fun and creative projects. Nowadays, their website is also chock-full of inventive goodness.

https://makezine.com/

Not everyone can afford their own sewing machine, 3D printer, or CNC. But you can often access these tools at a shared Makerspace. Use this link to explore over 650 MakerSpaces in the U.S., and find one near you!

https://makerspaces.make.co/

The best way for a kid to get started learning to code. It’s fun, safe and free. As teachers like to say, it has a low floor, but a high ceiling. (It’s easy to get started on simple projects, but also can support complex projects.)

https://scratch.mit.edu/

Imagine if you could program a mini computer, smaller than a deck of cards, for less than $100...What creative things could you do with that? Explore the Raspberry Pi to find out!

https://www.raspberrypi.org/

This store provides kits and supplies for electronic projects including Arduino, Raspberry Pi, and more. Great for a teenager who wants to hone some cutting-edge Maker skills.

https://www.sparkfun.com/

A card game designed to nurture creative, out-of-the box thinking. For ages 10 and up, and can be played competitively or collaboratively.

https://foxmind.com/games/disruptus/

Reinvigorate that box of Legos with inspiration from these books:

• The Lego Ideas Book: Unlock Your Imagination by Daniel Lipkowitz

• The Lego Technic Idea Book: Simple Machines by Yoshihito Isogawa

• Beautiful LEGO (set of 3 books) by Mike Doyle

Or these movies:

• A Lego Brickumentary (2014)

• The Secret World of LEGO (2015)

You know who faces the challenge of making art projects that are easy, unintimidating, fun, and always result in something kinda cute? Art teachers for little kids! So do a search on Pinterest, Instagram, or Teachers Pay Teachers for "kindergarten art projects".

For inspiring creativity and insight into the high emotions of troubleshooting problems, try some of these shows:

• Nailed It

• Forged in fire

• The Big Flower Fight

• James May's Man Lab

• James May's Toy Stories

• Repair Shop