Engineering Explorers

For more than 70 years, Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) has been at the forefront of space exploration. Instrumental in every major space mission—from landing astronauts on the moon to sending robotic vehicles to Mars—JPL is renowned for tackling the most complex scientific challenges and finding innovative solutions.

But in the late 1990s, they encountered a surprising problem: Their latest generation of engineers lacked the problem-solving savvy of the company's seasoned veterans.

As many of their longtime engineers retired, JPL found it challenging to replace them with equally adept problem-solvers. The new hires were top graduates from prestigious engineering schools who excelled at theoretical and mathematical challenges. But they struggled with the practical, real-world problem-solving tasks that were so crucial to JPL’s work.

The solution to this dilemma came from an unlikely source: an article written by Nate Jones, a Long Beach auto repair shop owner, and Frank Wilson, an expert in the cognitive benefits of hands-on activities.

Nate Jones had noticed a decline in the practical problem-solving skills of the young interns at his auto repair shop. He observed that the interns who grew up tinkering with cars and machinery were better at finding solutions than those who hadn’t had similar hands-on experiences. Frank Wilson’s research supported this observation, showing that early engagement in physical, creative activities stimulates brain development and enhances problem-solving abilities.

In other words, tinkering is like a gym workout for the brain.

As we flex our problem-solving muscles, our critical thinking skills improve. So do our divergent thinking skills. Also known as lateral thinking, divergent thinking is a creative process that involves generating multiple ideas or solutions to any given problem.

Jones and Wilson discovered that children who worked with their hands—building model cars, fixing appliances, or experimenting with DIY projects—developed critical thinking skills that served them well in complex problem-solving scenarios later in life. These findings suggested that tinkering is not just a pastime but a vital driver of cognitive development.

The article by Jones and Wilson resonated with JPL’s leadership team. They subsequently examined the backgrounds of their retiring engineers and found that many had engaged in hands-on activities such as building soapbox derby cars or repairing household items during their childhood years. Recently hired engineers who had engaged in similar hands-on activities as children were generally more adept at problem-solving as adults.

Guided by these insights, JPL began to incorporate questions about childhood hands-on projects into their job interviews and hire candidates with a background in tinkering. 

This shift in hiring practices underscores a simple but important lesson: When children engage in creative, hands-on activities, they become better problem-solvers.

Tinkering fosters the development of exploration, experimentation, and resilience—skills that are invaluable in both academic and professional settings. 

Tinkering also builds resilience. The beauty of tinkering is that humans learn from their mistakes. This trial-and-error approach to problem-solving ultimately leads to better solutions.

For parents and educators, this means fostering more opportunities for children to engage in hands-on activities.

Encouraging children to experiment, make mistakes, and try again builds resilience, boosts confidence, and enhances their ability to tackle complex challenges later in life..

In today’s digital age, when screen time often overshadows physical play, it’s crucial to remember the value of hands-on experiences.

The lessons learned from tinkering and play are the foundation of cognitive development and can shape a child’s ability to think creatively and solve problems effectively.

When children think like inventors, they create an idea or a plan and then make adjustments when needed.

Tinkering also promotes the development of fine motor skills. As they strengthen the small muscles in their hands and develop their hand-eye coordination, early tinkerers are laying the foundation for kindergarten tasks such as writing, cutting, painting, and pasting.

So the next time you see children engrossed in building models or fixing toys, remember: They are not just playing. They are developing essential skills that will benefit them throughout their lives.

Ready to nurture the next generation of innovative tinkerers, thinkers, and problem-solvers? Check out Discovering Design With a Skyscraper Challenge. It's just one of the many great activities you'll find on our Engineering Explorers lesson page.

Happy tinkering!