Writing Contests for Teens - Something to Do With a Boring Summer!

Somewhere between standardized testing, number 2 pencils, and bubble in the circle...children lose their love for learning. With the loss of funding in most schools, and in some places so much so that there is not enough money to supply even text books, the fine arts programs take a back seat to math, science and language.

Learning stopped being fun for kids somewhere around the time that the music programs were slashed, fine arts and art classes were removed or made extracurricular, and school libraries have to make do with what they can get through grants and donations.

All children need a way to escape, to be transported to magical times and places, faraway lands they may never visit in real life, or take a trip through history. Video games have become the way of the future, but there's not a lot to be learned from a video game. So how can children learn while also enjoying the experience? By reading!

The problem is, reading isn't as exciting to children as it once was. Computers, video games, internet, and other such modern marvels have taken the place of a good book in many youngster's lives. There is nothing wrong with these kids loving the internet, and there is much that can be gained by using the internet. In fact, a lot of these children use blogs as a creative expression and outlet, so they are writing. So why not take that writing these kids are doing and put it to some creative use?

There is a way. Several small publishers have opened up writing and illustration contests to young readers. These contests allow children to use their creative talents while also having a chance to be published in books or periodicals sold all over the country and even receive royalty contracts or scholarships.

One such publisher, who has created contests for kids this summer, and they also plan to keep contests running for children all year round, is Koboca Publishing. I recently spoke with Bo Savino, the author of Reggie & Ryssa, and the Summer Camp of Faery, one of the books used for facilitating this contest through Koboca Publishing, and here is what she had to say about the children's contests:

"I am very excited about the contests... [They are] going to be a great thing to energize kids...I love that most of all."

While most traditional writing and illustration contests have entry fees, Koboca Publishing's contests for kids don't have any entry fees at all. When I asked why Koboca Publishing decided not to charge an entry fee, here is what they had to say:

"No entry fees.... and [we] could probably make some money from entry fees...but [we] want it available for all kids...and some won't be able to do it with entry fees."

There are other small publishers and magazine publications / periodicals that offer writing and illustration contests for children too. Some of these charge small entry fees, some charge no entry fees, but they all offer a child a way to see their name and their art or work in print, while at the same time bringing back a love for literature and the arts. To find these contests, simply use your favorite search engine and search for children's literature or writing contests. Be sure to always check the authenticity of the contests before entering or allowing your child to enter into the contest.

These contests can help foster a love for the fine arts again, by getting kids involved in the literary and illustrative process, making them a part of something bigger, along with some noteriaty that all kids crave. Why not pick up a few copies of some interesting books for your kids today and get them started on a journey into the unknown that reading can bring? After a few books, help your kids get involved in writing or illustrating for publishing companies that hold these contests for the types of books they enjoy. Not only will this help bring a love of the written word back to your child, but it just might keep them busy during those long summer months and you will no longer hear, "Mom, I'm sooo bored. There's nothing to do!"

Good luck to all who choose to enter contests this year!

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Enriched Summer Reading Program

All of the work your children put in during the school year can be lost over the summer holidays. Reading, math, other information, and skills must be used to be retained. It is easier for children to get back in the groove of learning when autumn rolls around, if during the summer break they are given a chance to exercise what they have learned. Your children will be more motivated to exercise their skills if the practice sessions are fun. With that in mind, here are some ideas of activities to include in your child's summer plans to help sustain their reading and math skills.

Visit a state or local park which offers programs for children. Parks are wonderful places to learn about nature or history. Many parks offer docent-led tours and have special events or activities for children. There are signposts explaining park details which children can read aloud. In addition to these learning opportunities, parks offer great ways to exercise and enjoy the outdoors.

Iron Chef HOUSE. Cooking is an important life skill since eating is essential to continued survival. Have your child cook a meal for the family once a week. Skills your child will practice include reading, following instructions, understanding fractions, and learning about good nutrition.

Trip Planner. Are you planning to take a trip this summer? No matter how far you plan to travel, your child can benefit by helping you plan the trip. Get maps or connect to the internet. Have your child calculate how far you have to travel, what route you will take, how much it will cost, and where you might stop along the way. If the first trip agenda turns out to be too expensive, figure out where costs could be trimmed (stay closer to home, spend less time at your destination, include fewer side trips, eat at less expensive restaurants, get sandwich fixings at the grocery store for lunches, and so on). Have your child do as much of the planning as possible. Factoring how long it takes to drive to Yellowstone or budgeting for five days of meals for your trip are very real uses for math skills.

Summer Reading Program at the library. Local libraries usually run Summer Reading Programs. Help your child participate by visiting the library weekly and signing up for the program. These programs usually encourage children to read a wide selection of books. Once your child has read a certain number of books they are recognized for their achievements.

Summer Journal. Buy your child a blank journal or notebook and encourage them to keep a daily journal of happenings. It does not matter if there are no big events planned for the summer. The weather conditions, names of plants as they flower in the garden, thoughts your child may have, their daily activities, the activities of their little brother or sister, and anything else that is of interest to them can be jotted down in their journal. Recording their day gives them a chance to recall enjoyable happenings and is a great source for the "What did you do this summer?" essay they will write in September.

Independent Reading. Encourage any reading your child does of their own accord. If your son wants read about baseball, let him. A book or article he finds personally interesting will not only reinforce valuable reading skills, but will also spark his curiosity about the meanings of new words.

The summer break from school can be fun and an opportunity to reinforce key skills. Try including at least one of these suggestions to help your child practice knowledge they have acquired while in school. It will make returning to school a little easier.

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