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Marco Garcia/AP Images for Scholastic Inc. (Cassidy); Shutterstock.com (background)

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I’m an Inventor

Cassidy Crowley turned a bright idea into a success. Find out how you can too!

December 18, 2023
By Jasmine Ting

As You Read: Think about skills that an inventor should have.

Have you ever had an idea so good that you couldn’t wait to share it? 

If you said yes, you have something in common with Cassidy Crowley. When she was 10, she had a big idea that she wanted to show to the world. 

Cassidy had invented a new baby spoon. Unlike a regular spoon, this one didn’t have a handle that could hurt a baby. It could also be used as a teething toy. Cassidy called it the Baby Toon. 

To help spread the word about her invention, Cassidy went on the TV show Shark Tank. The stars on that show are investors. They decide if they like an idea enough to invest money in it. Cassidy was excited that one of the stars decided to invest in the Baby Toon. 

That was in 2019. Today, the Baby Toon is sold online and in stores across the U.S. and Canada.

Cassidy, who lives in Honolulu, Hawaii, thinks other kids can be inventors too. Here are her tips.

Have you ever had an idea so good that you couldn’t wait to share it? 

If you said yes, you have something in common with Cassidy Crowley. When she was 10, she had a big idea. She wanted to show it to the world. 

Cassidy had invented a new baby spoon. Unlike a regular spoon, this one didn’t have a handle that could hurt a baby. It could also be used as a teething toy. Cassidy called her invention the Baby Toon. 

Cassidy went on the TV show Shark Tank. The stars on that show are investors. They decide if they like an idea enough to invest money in it. One of the stars decided to invest in the Baby Toon. Cassidy was excited. 

That was in 2019. Today, the Baby Toon is sold online. It can also be found in stores across the U.S. and Canada.

Cassidy lives in Honolulu, Hawaii. She thinks other kids can be inventors too. Here are her tips.

Tip #1: Find a problem.

The Baby Toon started as a science fair project in 2016. Cassidy’s first-grade teacher asked her to identify a problem and come up with a solution.  

Cassidy was inspired by Emily, her baby sister. Emily would often stick the handle of her plastic baby spoon in her mouth. Their mom worried that Emily might choke or get hurt. 

Cassidy knew she had found a problem. Now she needed a solution.

The Baby Toon started as a science fair project in 2016. Cassidy’s first-grade teacher asked her to identify a problem and come up with a solution.  

Cassidy was inspired by her baby sister. Her name is Emily. She would often stick the handle of her plastic baby spoon in her mouth. Their mom worried that Emily might choke or get hurt. 

Cassidy knew she had found a problem. Now she needed a solution.

Marco Garcia/AP Images for Scholastic Inc. (Cassidy Crowley, prototype, early designs); Courtesy of family (2019)

Cassidy’s first model of her spoon (upper left); The spoon Cassidy made for the science fair (lower left); This is Cassidy in 2019 making sure the spoon’s size is just right. (right)

Tip #2: Start small.

Cassidy did some research on baby spoons. Using what she learned, she drew what a safer spoon might look like. Next, she made a model using a plastic spoon, a bath toy, and tape. 

“I just took stuff I had around me,” Cassidy explains. “Nothing fancy.”

Having a model helped Cassidy to improve her spoon. Now that she could hold it in her hands, Cassidy could tell the shape wasn’t quite right. She decided to create a spoon shaped like an elephant to show at the science fair. 

Cassidy did some research on baby spoons. Using what she learned, she drew what a safer spoon might look like. Next, she made a model. She used a plastic spoon, a bath toy, and tape. 

“I just took stuff I had around me,” Cassidy explains. “Nothing fancy.”

Having a model helped Cassidy to improve her spoon. She could now hold it in her hands. Cassidy could tell that the shape wasn’t quite right. She decided to create a spoon shaped like an elephant. She showed it at the science fair. 

Pause and Think: Identify a problem in everyday life you would like to solve. 

Marco Garcia/AP Images for Scholastic Inc.

The name Baby Toon combines the words “toy” and “spoon.”

Tip #3: Ask for help.

Cassidy’s parents were part of her team from the start. When she decided to turn her science fair project into a product she could sell, the family knew they needed help. 

They found a design expert. He worked with Cassidy to improve her spoon even more. He suggested using a soft material called silicone to make sure babies wouldn’t get injured. The expert also helped find a factory that could make the Baby Toon. 

Cassidy’s parents helped her from the start. Later, she decided to turn her science fair project into a product she could sell. This was when the family knew they needed help. 

They found a design expert. He worked with Cassidy to improve her spoon even more. He suggested using a soft material called silicone. This was to make sure babies wouldn’t get injured. The expert also helped find a factory that could make the Baby Toon. 

Marco Garcia/AP Images for Scholastic Inc.

Cassidy (right) and her sister, Emily

Tip #4: Never give up.

For more than a year, Cassidy created and tested about 50 versions of the Baby Toon. The long process wasn’t always easy. But it was worth it. 

“You’re going to hit challenges along the way,” Cassidy says. “You have to just believe in yourself.”

Cassidy worked on the Baby Toon for more than a year. She created and tested about 50 versions. The long process wasn’t always easy. But it was worth it. 

“You’re going to hit challenges along the way,” Cassidy says. “You have to just believe in yourself.”

A Kid Invented That!

These inventions prove you’re never too small to create something big.

These inventions prove you’re never too small to create something big.

Shutterstock.com

Popsicles 

Frank Epperson created these frozen treats by accident in 1905. The 11-year-old mixed flavored powder with water using a stick. He left his creation outside on a cold winter night, and it froze.

Popsicles 

Frank Epperson created these frozen treats by accident in 1905. The 11-year-old mixed flavored powder with water using a stick. He left his creation outside on a cold winter night, and it froze.

Shutterstock.com

Trampoline

In 1930, 16-year-old George Nissen went to the circus. He watched performers flip through the air and fall into a net below with a small bounce. Inspired by that, Nissen created the trampoline.  

Trampoline

In 1930, 16-year-old George Nissen went to the circus. He watched performers flip through the air and fall into a net below with a small bounce. Inspired by that, Nissen created the trampoline.  

Shutterstock.com

Snowmobile

When he was 15, Joseph-Armand Bombardier wanted to find a way to travel on snowy roads. In 1935, he put a car engine on top of sleds. Then he attached a propeller. The engine spun the propeller, pushing the vehicle forward. It was the world’s first snowmobile.

Snowmobile

When he was 15, Joseph-Armand Bombardier wanted to find a way to travel on snowy roads. In 1935, he put a car engine on top of sleds. Then he attached a propeller. The engine spun the propeller, pushing the vehicle forward. It was the world’s first snowmobile.

Shutterstock.com

Earmuffs 

In 1873, Chester Greenwood wanted to keep his ears warm while ice-skating. The 15-year-old bent wires to loop around his ears. Then he asked his grandma to sew warm padding around them.

Earmuffs 

In 1873, Chester Greenwood wanted to keep his ears warm while ice-skating. The 15-year-old bent wires to loop around his ears. Then he asked his grandma to sew warm padding around them.

Mayank Makhija/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Braille 

Louis Braille was born in 1809. As a kid, he was blinded by an accident. When he was 12, he started working on a system that would enable people who are blind to read. Today, people still use braille.

Braille 

Louis Braille was born in 1809. As a kid, he was blinded by an accident. When he was 12, he started working on a system that would enable people who are blind to read. Today, people still use braille.

  1. What are some of the decisions Cassidy had to make during the invention process?
  2. What is a model of an invention? How did making one help Cassidy?
  3. Choose one invention described in the sidebar, “A Kid Invented That!” Describe the problem it helped solve.
  1. What are some of the decisions Cassidy had to make during the invention process?
  2. What is a model of an invention? How did making one help Cassidy?
  3. Choose one invention described in the sidebar, “A Kid Invented That!” Describe the problem it helped solve.
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