In a world full of complex problems, we need creative thinkers and problem-solvers more than ever. Yet to build the next generation of scientists, engineers and innovators, we need to reach young people early – long before career paths are fixed or stereotypes take hold.
At Kids Invent Stuff, we do just that.
Each month, we bring a child’s wild and wonderful invention idea to life – building real working prototypes from their designs, documenting the process, and sharing the results with thousands of viewers on our family-friendly YouTube channel. Our work combines digital content with real-world engagement and curriculum-linked resources to inspire the next generation of engineers, starting in primary school. We’re extremely passionate about STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts & Mathematics) education and we’re on a mission to change the narrative.
Real Reach. Real Impact.
We don’t just say we engage young people – we back it up with results:
- 97% of young people say they understand engineering better after engaging with our content
- 52% of invention ideas come from girls, showing the importance of visible representation
- 6 million+ YouTube views
- 72,000+ subscribers
- 215,000+ hours of content watched
- Around 20,000 invention ideas submitted every year
- We’re on track to have engaged with 20,000+ children face-to-face this academic year through school visits, workshops, and events
We meet children where they are – both online and in classrooms – with engaging, hands-on STEAM experiences that leave a lasting impression.
Why Primary Matters
Most STEAM outreach is aimed at secondary school students, yet studies show that children begin forming perceptions about their potential far earlier. By age 6, many girls already associate brilliance more with boys (Bian, Lin et al., 2017). Meanwhile, EngineeringUK reports that primary-aged children are already deciding what careers are “for them.”
That’s why we focus on 4–11 year olds – offering an early, empowering introduction to STEAM before stereotypes take root.
Education That Feels Like Play
STEAM shouldn’t feel like schoolwork – it should feel like fun. We work directly with schools to deliver:
- Primary school visits
- STEAM assemblies and roadshows
- Curriculum-linked invention challenges
- Hands-on workshops, including cardboard prototyping, chocolate welding and rocket-making
- Free downloadable resources aligned with KS1 and KS2 objectives, ideal for use in classrooms or at home
These are engaging, high-energy sessions designed to inspire curiosity, creativity and confidence. Teachers consistently tell us that our approach helps children see engineering as accessible, exciting – and for them.
Why YouTube?
When engineers Ruth Amos and Shawn Brown created Kids Invent Stuff, they wanted to do more than just build amazing inventions. They wanted to build a community – one that would make STEAM feel inclusive, imaginative, and accessible for all children, no matter their background. YouTube wasn’t just a platform choice. It was a strategic decision to ensure their work could have a lasting legacy and reach young people on a platform they already love and understand.
Their goal was simple: if kids could see people like them designing, building and testing real inventions, they might start to believe they could do it too.
And they were right.
YouTube continues to be one of the most powerful platforms for reaching young audiences:
- 89% of children aged 3–17 watch YouTube, with the platform being most popular among 7–16-year-olds (Ofcom, 2023)
- In the UK, almost half of 3–4 year olds and 71% of 5–7 year olds regularly watch YouTube or YouTube Kids (Ofcom, 2023)
- Globally, YouTube is the most-used platform by children for both entertainment and education (Pew Research, 2020)
- 53% of parents say their child watches YouTube content daily, and over a third say it’s multiple times per day(Pew Research, 2020)
By choosing YouTube as their main platform, Ruth and Shawn didn’t just follow the trends—they responded to the media habits of children aged 4–11, and built an interactive, ongoing space where kids could see their ideas brought to life, watch STEAM in action, and feel part of a growing creative movement.
The content is free, family-friendly, and built for repeat viewing, with children often watching multiple episodes and even submitting multiple invention ideas as a result.
This unique blend of broadcast reach, community participation, and hands-on inspiration is what makes YouTube the perfect home for Kids Invent Stuff – and a highly effective platform for sponsors and partners to engage with young audiences in meaningful, measurable ways.
A Unique Partnership Model
What makes Kids Invent Stuff truly unique is the way we combine online reach with real-world impact. We offer our partners a rare opportunity to engage young people both digitally – through our popular YouTube channel – and directly, through in-school visits, live events, and hands-on workshops. We work closely with each organisation to design and deliver bespoke STEAM outreach that aligns with their social impact goals, whether that’s inspiring future talent, promoting diversity in engineering, or supporting education in underrepresented communities. Our partnerships are built to be flexible, meaningful, and results-driven – helping you meet your CSR targets while making a lasting difference in young people’s lives.
How You Can Work With Us
We collaborate with a wide range of partners to create high-impact STEAM engagement campaigns. Here are just some of the ways we work together:
- Collaborative Challenges – Co-create a themed design brief for 4–11 year olds. We’ll help promote it, build one of the ideas, and share the journey on YouTube.
- One-Off Builds – Sponsor a build from our growing bank of submitted inventions. These projects are fun, visual and great for aligning with key messages or values.
- Short-Form Series – Work with us to create playful, educational Shorts that connect with young audiences in bite-sized bursts.
- Strategic Campaigns – Looking to reach schools, families or STEAM teachers? Let’s build a tailored campaign that links on-the-ground activity with exciting content and curriculum-friendly resources.
Whether you’re an organisation looking to invest in future talent, a brand committed to equity and inclusion, or a team that simply believes in the power of play – we’d love to hear from you.