These amazing creations were thought up by young people like you
Popsicles
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Popsicles are a favorite summer treat. But did you know that they started out as a sweet mistake? It happened in the early 1900s. Frank Epperson was around 11. He mixed a sugary powder and water with a stick. Then he forgot his drink outside. That night, it got really cold—and the drink froze. The next day, Frank picked it up by the stick and tasted it. Delicious! Kids in his California neighborhood agreed. Today Popsicles are popular everywhere.
Swim Fins
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Want to glide through the water? Try strapping on a pair of swim fins. The first ones were created by an 11-year-old in Boston in 1717. You might recognize the inventor’s name: Benjamin Franklin. (He later helped form the United States.) Today’s swim fins are made with plastic or rubber. But Benjamin’s fins were made out of wood. He used them on his hands instead of his feet!
Water Skis
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It was winter in 1922. But 18-year-old Ralph Samuelson had summer on his mind. While skiing with friends in Minnesota, he wondered: If you can ski on snow, why not on water? That summer, Ralph made the first water skis. Then he put on shows, performing tricks on his skis. Interest in the new sport grew quickly and spread around the world.
Trampoline
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Boing! Do you like jumping on a trampoline? If so, say thank you to George Nissen. George built the first trampoline in 1930 in Iowa. He was 16! At first, he thought his invention could be used to train athletes. But later he discovered kids loved bouncing on it for fun. Soon the trampoline became a popular backyard toy—and it still is!
Superman
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In 1931, 16-year-olds Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster met in school in Ohio. Both boys loved science fiction. They quickly became friends and started creating stories together. One featured a new superhero named Superman. In 1938, the first Superman comic book came out. It was a huge hit! Today the superhero is everywhere. There are Superman cartoons, books, movies—and even video games.
Healing Headphones
courtesy of family
Leanne with her headphones
When she was 14, Leanne Fan saw her mom suffer from painful ear infections. The teenager from California wanted to help. So she created high-tech headphones that can spot and treat ear infections! How? By shining a special blue light into your ear. The light kills the germs that cause ear infections. Leanne has a tip for anyone who wants to be an inventor: “If something doesn’t work out, keep trying!”
Think & Write
Choose one of the inventions above and write a thank-you letter to its inventor. Make sure to explain what you find interesting about the invention, using details from the infographic.
This article was originally published in the May/June 2026 issue.
