Coming up with a real invention could take months of hard work and lots of technical know-how. That’s not practical for small children. Even famous child inventors were well into their teens before they began to find workable ideas.

But that won’t stop us here at Summer Celebrations! We’ll just aim for imaginary inventions.

Here’s how to do it.

First, brainstorm a list of kid problems. What are the little things that annoy them? Finding someplace to keep gum that’s not finished being chewed? Shoes that won’t stay tied? Having to be reminded to feed the dog? (Read about brainstorming if you haven’t already.) Here is a short list of kid problems, just to get you started:

• losing pencils
• cowlicks that stick straight up
• keeping a bedroom clean
• losing things in the bottom of the closet
• remembering when library books are due
• doing chores
• socks that disappear under the bed

Next, think of a way to fix that problem. Not so easy, I know. But this is the fun part: They don’t have to be practical. It doesn’t matter if anyone could actually make their inventions. So having a microchip in a sock with a remote to find it will probably never happen, but it would make a lively discussion, or a funny drawing. (See some of my funny drawings of actual inventions.)

This activity could just generate a great time of talking around the dinner table. Or maybe everyone could take a sheet of paper and draw his or her invention.

And who knows — maybe one of them might just be crazy enough to work.

Like the Chewing Gum Locket — patent #395,515 — an invention to keep gum fresh. Just like what imagining does for a child’s mind.