Engineering is all about creative problem solving, and kids are natural engineers as they explore, build and design things through play. To celebrate all things engineering, we’ve teamed up with STEPS Engineers Ireland to bring you some easy, fun family engineering activities to do at home.
STEPS Engineers Week runs every year with the aim of inspiring the next generation of engineers and getting students excited about where a career in engineering could take them. STEPS also organises free family events to help bring engineering to life for children in everyday, hands-on ways.
There are so many ways engineering shows up in our everyday lives. Here are 10 easy, fun family engineering activities you can try at home with the kids to inspire the next generation of young engineers.
Fun Engineering Activities To Do At Home
#1. Egg Drop Challenge
Always a fun one – play with eggs! Try the Egg Drop Challenge and see if you can design a system to stop an egg from cracking when it’s dropped from a height.
Take on this fun (if slightly messy) challenge with the Engineers Ireland Egg Drop Activity Sheet.
#2. Make Your Own Pinwheel
Learn all about wind energy by creating your own pinwheel. The pinwheel mimics a wind turbine, the kind you might spot on high ground around the country.
This activity only needs a piece of card, a pencil with an eraser and a drawing pin. Find out how to make your own pinwheel here.
Older children and teens might enjoy stepping up to this more complex wind turbine build.
#3. Design A Bridge
Ever wondered how a bridge stays up, or what happens when you add extra weight? Find out by designing your own bridge at home using blocks or books, card and some coins.
Download the worksheet here and see how adding extra support changes the strength of your bridge.
#4. Build A Family Obstacle Course
Get the whole family moving with our family obstacle course ideas. Use a bit of engineering thinking to design trickier challenges as everyone gets better at it.
You may also enjoy: 11 of the Best Outdoor Activities to Ensure Your Kids Stay Fit
#5. Design And Make A Clinometer And Measure The Height Of A Tree
A clinometer (or astrolabe) is a simple tool used to measure angles and work out approximate heights. It’s been used for over a thousand years, and you can make your own version using card, a straw, some plasticine or Blu Tack, thread and tape.
Once you’ve measured a tree, see what else around the house or garden you can measure.
#6. Make Your Own Marble Run
Watch our fun video on how to make your own marble run using cardboard tubes, wrapping paper and scissors – guaranteed fun for all ages.
You can also get creative with construction toys you already have at home, or build an outdoor run using pipes and blocks (bonus points for adding water!).
#7. Create Your Own Water Fountain
A lovely activity to do together. You’ll need hot water, a straw, a small plastic bottle, food colouring, a large heatproof jug or bowl, and some plasticine or Blu Tack to use as a seal.
Set up your fountain, pour in the hot water, and watch it come to life.
You may also enjoy: 50+ Free LEGO Instructions: How to Become a Master Builder
#8. Build A Bug Hotel
Using old bits of wood, pallets, bricks, hollow pipes and stone, you can build a beautiful bug hotel. It’s a great way to introduce children to engineering, and it becomes a lovely garden feature that gives insects shelter when the weather turns cooler.
Once it’s built, keep a notebook handy to record all the bugs and insects that move in.
#9. Make A Catapult With Marshmallows
Kids plus catapults equals fun – and it’s even better when you build your own from edible materials like marshmallows. Once it’s built, you can start target practice straight away. Here’s how to make a catapult for kids using marshmallows.
#10. Build Your Own Camp/Den
Let the kids build a den indoors or outdoors using cardboard, old blankets or duvets, cushions and garden chairs as props. Decorate it and add a few personal touches to make it their own.
For a sturdier outdoor den, gather some sticks and branches and use a tarpaulin as a roof.
You may also enjoy: 17 Cute Cardboard Box Craft Ideas for Kids That Will Amuse Them
Frequently Asked Questions
What age group are these engineering activities suitable for?
Most of these activities work well for a wide age range. Younger children will enjoy the hands-on building and messier tasks like the egg drop or water fountain, while older kids and teens can take on the more detailed builds, like the advanced wind turbine or clinometer.
Do I need any special equipment to try these activities?
No – every activity here uses everyday household items like card, cardboard tubes, plasticine, string and recycling. That’s part of what makes them such good fun family activities to do at home without a special shopping trip.
How long does each activity take?
Most of these activities can be done in under an hour, making them perfect for a rainy afternoon or a quick after-school project. A few, like the bug hotel or a sturdier garden den, can be extended over a weekend if you want to make more of them.
Can these activities be tied into schoolwork or STEM learning?
Yes – each one touches on real engineering principles, from structural design (the bridge) to renewable energy (the pinwheel and wind turbine) and basic physics (the catapult and water fountain). They’re a great way to make STEM feel playful rather than like homework.
More Fun Family Ideas
Looking for more rainy-day inspiration? You might also like our family obstacle course ideas, our step-by-step marble run video, our guide to LEGO building for beginners, and our roundup of cardboard box craft ideas – all linked above and easy to try with what you already have at home.
Save These Ideas For Later
No printable this time, but these activities are easy to bookmark or pin for your next rainy day. Save this page so you’ve always got a fun family engineering activity ready to go whenever you need one.
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