Solve problems by MacGyvering

By Bob Welland, Kids Section editor

MacGyver was the star of an action TV show in the 1980s. He used STEM to save the day, like defusing a bomb with a paperclip or fixing a getaway car with an egg. Long after the show ended, the word “MacGyver” means to improvise a brilliant solution. Here’s some real world MacGyvering that you can do:

Hold the Phone!

Want to watch your phone hands-free but don’t have a stand? Simply cut a paper cup at an angle, leaving a lip at the bottom to prop up your device. No paper cup? Use a 15 oz plastic yogurt/cream container. Larger tablet? Use a 32 oz tub. Big screen TV? Use an oil drum or wine barrel.

Clothespins Help in a Pinch

Wooden clothespins are handy even if you don’t dry your clothes on a line. You can keep any bag closed, like chips, cereal or candy, for much cheaper than plastic Chip-Clips. At $5 per bag of 50, each one is about a dime.

Scrape by without a Scraper

Your parents will drive you to school on a cold day. But there’s frost on the car windows and they can’t find an ice scraper! Oh no! Just tell them to use a plastic card from their wallet. The card’s edge can remove thin ice. There’s a chance it could break so use an old loyalty/gift card (not an important ID/credit card).

Have you ever MacGyvered your way out of a problem?