Spending time with our kids is so valuable. Getting outside to build a snowman or play tag, heading to the park to burn off some energy, and even playing card games or video games together are fabulous memory makers that your kids will appreciate. But if you have a 3D printer, there are so many activities you can do with your kids that will not only create quality time together but also help grow their minds. Check out this list of six projects you can do with your kids, all while using one of the fastest 3D printers on the market.
Build a Glider that is Powered by an Elastic Band
What little kid (or parent) doesn’t like a paper airplane? But with a 3D printer, you can make something far more impressive. Building a power glider with your child lets you do something fun together and teaches them some science. Depending on your child’s age, talk about aerodynamics, or make guesses about how long it will take for your new gliders to get from point A to point B. And the cool thing about this project is that it won’t be one-and-done. Your child will surely want to play with their new toy repeatedly. Just be prepared for when they show it to their friends, and they all want a power glider of their own.
Build a Rocket Launcher
Okay, this one is genuinely rocket science, but whoever said that rocket science is hard? Building a rocket launcher together is a good break from all those online games like Wordle and Scrabble and provides a different way to keep your mind sharp. Before starting your project, spend some time online perusing the fantastic images on the NASA website. Talk to your kids about pressure and force. And encourage your child to share their new project with their science teacher at school. Whatever approach you take, your kid will feel like the coolest one on the block because they have their rocket launcher.
Build a Fire Truck
Kids love fire trucks, both the real ones and the ones they can vroom all over the house. But even better is the fire truck you can build with your 3D printer, which no other kid in the neighborhood will have. Want to add some fun to the project? Ask Alexa to tell you and your child why firetrucks are red. You’ll have a great time laughing at her answers while your fire truck is printing.
Build Some Googly Eye Glasses
If you have a younger child who wants to create something with you but is still getting ready for the complexity of the other projects on our list, why not build something silly, like some googly eyeglasses? Add custom designs and colors, and then watch a movie wearing your new glasses together. And why not take it up a notch and add some 3D lenses? Your younger children will enjoy their one-of-a-kind 3D glasses.
Build a Candy Machine
If Easter, Halloween, or Christmas is coming up, it’s the perfect time to build a candy machine together. Select base colors themed with the coming holiday and set to work. Then, head to the grocery store to pick up some M&Ms or Skittles that your child can pour into their new machine. Turn their completed device into a reward jar – if they do something good, let them push the button to enjoy a handful of treats. Ensure they know to brush their teeth after indulging in their delicious candies. After all, we don’t want their new candy machine to become the reason they need to make an extra trip to the dentist.
Build a 3D Printer
This one seems counterintuitive, especially since you already have a 3D printer. But after you’ve made some of the cool projects on this list, your older child will likely want a 3D printer of their own. Have your child search online for a project plan and let them get to work rummaging through the garage and basement for the parts they’ll need for the printer. Who knows what creativity they’ll demonstrate, and the world is their oyster when it comes to all the future projects they’ll make.
