In raising inventive kids, I've noticed a few common traits of the parents of innovative kids. Most importantly, kids need inspiration and support. Parents need to identify when their children are receptive to thinking creatively and encourage them at those moments.
In researching a bit about Patricia Bath, I found
this article about her and her upbringing. Her parents' influence on her was crucial. She said "Mom and Dad were the fuel and engine of my empowerment."
What does this mean to our kids? Our CEO founded this company because of an experience his daughter had - he watched her design a new product and had the understanding and the backing to help her make the Crayon Holder a reality - to get it into stores. Most parents don't have this kind of access or understanding about what a kid's invention could mean. But we need to get better at listening to our kids, about taking them seriously, and helping shape their future.