This challenge is a great introduction to design thinking because it will capture your child’s interest in a way that is fun and empowering. The task at hand is to design a bridge that is made out of marshmallows and toothpicks, focusing on its functionality. The bridge must be six inches long and able to hold four medium-sized paperback books.

We have laid out step-by-step instructions that are useful to follow as a guideline of the design thinking framework, but feel free to go beyond what we have written out. Your job is to help your child through the design thinking process by teaching them the importance of empathy, brainstorming, and prototyping. Each step in the design thinking process is essential, so make sure to complete each step in the instructions.