Young children are fascinated by how things "work." They are at a stage of development where they want to experiment with the many ways to use an object or take things apart and put them back together. In the process of exploring tools and machines, children use the scientific method and problem-solving skills. They observe how things work, wonder and experiment with ways to solve a problem or fix something, and synthesize the information into new and creative inventions. This article suggests activities and extensions to create an inventive summer together.