Creativity Contests For Kids

With a bit of creativity, the grays of winter can be transformed into exuberant color.

Two national contests encourage children to be imaginative and self-motivated through healthy competition - and offer impressive prizes as further incentive.

The Public Broadcasting System’s Reading Rainbow program is sponsoring the second annual “Young Writers and Illustrators Awards” contest for children - kindergarten through third grade - to encourage them to share their dreams and imaginations through storytelling.

Stories from students in kindergarten and first grade should contain 50 to 150 words and at least five illustrations. Second- and thirdgrade entries should contain 100 to 250 words and at least five illustrations.

Illustrations should be clear and colorful on one side of the paper only. Pencil in a small page number on the lower right corner of the back of each sheet.

The text should be printed legibly or typewritten. Adults may type or print a child’s manuscript through dictation. Only one entry per person will be accepted.

Each entry must include the story, a completed entry form and a parent’s signature certifying original work and granting permission to use the entry for promotional purposes.

Entries will be judged on originality, creative expression, storytelling and integration of story and illustrations. Each grade level will be judged separately on both local and national levels.

KSPS, Spokane’s Public Television station, in conjunction with Spokane School District 81, will select firstprize entries in each grade to be forwarded to the national competition. National winners will receive IBM Aptiva computers and Xerox printers, as well as books and tapes from the Reading Rainbow library.

For an entry form, write to: Reading Rainbow Contest, KSPS Public Television, 3911 S. Regal, Spokane, WA 99223. Return entries to the same address by the contest deadline, April 5, 1996.

“Freezin’ Scenes of Winter” is the theme of the Lands’ End’s National Art Contest open to children up to age 12.

To enter, children should create a picture of the chilliest winter scene they can imagine. The art should be on 8-by-11-inch white paper. Any art medium is acceptable except photography.

On a separate piece of paper, include the contestant’s name, address, age, telephone and signature of parent or guardian certifying original work. Only one entry per child will be accepted.

Deadline is April 1; send entries to: Lands’ End Kids’ Cover Contest, c/o The Kids’ Group, 5 Lands’ End Lane, Dodgeville, WI 53595.

Top prize is a place on the front cover of the Lands’ End 1996 Winter Kids’ catalog plus a four-day trip to Disneyland for the winner and two adults, and a visit to the art gallery, Every Picture Tells a Story.

Second- and third-place winners will receive gift certificates for Lands’ End merchandise. Winners will be notified by phone before May 31.

Contest questions? Call Anna Schryver, (608) 935-6319. For a complete copy of contest rules, call (800) 356-4444.

, DataTimes MEMO: The Family Track is a weekly column of notes and information for families. Send items to Lynn Gibson, Features Department, P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210-1615, or fax (509) 459-5098.