"The best way to get people to think out of the box is not to create the box in the first place." Martin Cooper ~ For those of you that do not know who Martin Cooper is.... a quick couple of words..... the father of wireless phones. He certainly made an impact in our society; wouldn't you say? I loved his quote when I read it this morning and felt encourage and inspired by it. An inventor certainly would not be successful if he could not break down barriers such as Cooper demonstrated by creating phones that did not connect us to a stationary place. Image the people in his life that may have said "It can't be done!" What if a child was told "It can't be done!" don't try....give up....it is up to all of us to help children to think outside the box.

Follow up:

It is critical for our children to know that it is OK to challenge what the "textbook" tells us. The very foundation of learning develops when the young child plays and the mind is allowed to think outside the box ....free thinking if you will... the mind takes the child into a creative mode where everything is possible. Observe your child and watch for opportunities to help guide them to think outside the box. Encourage your child to participate in the scientific process and use the home environment to encourage discovery and interest. Develop a home learning environment where unlimited enthusiasm coupled with the creative process can take your child to the "I can do it" place where passion and success are nurtured. The home environment is a safe and wonderful place to challenge what is learned and will build the confidence of the child to face learning in the school environment with the self esteem to take the child from passive observation to leading the journey down an unchallenged path! I am reminded of a poem; Road Less Traveled by Robert Frost and the message.... Two roads diverged in a wood, And I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.

Learn more about Martin Cooper
http://inventors.about.com/cs/inventorsalphabet/a/martin_cooper.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Cooper_(inventor)
http://www.cellular.co.za/cellphone_inventor.htm