This post will touch a nerve or two in some people. And that’s okay – feeling triggered is not always a bad thing. I like competition. I was extremely competitive as a kid and I’m seeing some of the same traits in Cash. In fact I still tryout every year for Jeopardy. Can’t figure out WHY they don’t want me – but it doesn’t discourage or stop me from trying.
Competition (primarily academic) was the motivator that gave me wonderful life skills such as problem solving with accuracy and speed, public speaking, poise, memorization,.. all the neat things that make up the person I am today. I fear very little and failure only pushes me harder. I need my kid to have that same tough skin. SO he competes.
First, I don’t force him to do anything. I present opportunities and he decides if it’s something he wants to do. I learned at an early age with my son that you can’t bribe or force Cash to do anything. I started small. At four I enrolled him in piano classes. He and I both learned that the kid I thought would be shy LOVED to perform. He would work on his recital piece and nearly jump out of his skin with excitement when it was time to play it for an audience. I was just as giddy as he was!
Next, he started composing his own pieces. Don’t get too excited here – he was only 4, and still playing with just his right hand – the music was simple and often off beat. I asked Cash if he wanted to enter a song in the school’s Reflections contest sponsored yearly by the PTA and he could not wait to get started. That led to his first trophy and he was officially hooked.
I may not ever see any true athletics out of this child. He’s not the most coordinated. Daddy was a high school football star and I danced classically through college. But for my kid, he’s going to have to find his own “thing”. As his Mama, I’ll do my best to help him figure it out. You’ll have to search your own heart and see if doing something similar would work for your child. I’m just putting the information out there.
So, I’m going to give you an idea of some “competitive” activities that your child can participate in academically. Follow the links for more information and take note of any entry deadlines. Most of all, have fun! I mean, your kids – they should have the fun..- you can sit back, relax and just be giddy on the inside. Quietly. The kids are trying to think.
Reading
The Mensa Excellence in Reading Program – Through the Excellence in Reading program, the Mensa Foundation offers gifted youth the opportunity to read a list of age-appropriate books and earn a certificate and free T-shirt. https://www.mensaforkids.org/achieve/excellence-in-reading/
Pizza Hut Book It Program – Available to Teachers and Homeschool Parents, Pizza Hut offers pizza certificates for meeting reading goals. What kid doesn’t want to be rewarded with Pizza?! https://www.bookitprogram.com/bookit_enrollment/form/enrollment
Writing
L. Ron Hubbard Writers of the Future Contest – ongoing and quarterly. Write a short work of Sci-Fi or Fantasy for cash prizes. No entry fee. https://www.writersofthefuture.com/enter-writer-contest/
National History Day Competition – Grades 6 – 12. Teams and Individual. For 2021 it’s virtual and Entry Date is March 31st. You will need to enter through your local affiliate. https://www.nhd.org
Math
MathCounts Video Challenge – For Kids Grades 6-8. Create a video showing math in a real world setting. Teams of 4, no entry fee. Enter by March 5th. https://www.mathcounts.org
Kangaroo Math Competitions – Registration ends January 31. $21 Entry fee. For Grades 1 – 12. http://www.mathkangaroo.us/mk/default.html
STEM
First LEGO League Challenge – For Teams of 2-10 members, aged 9-14. Cost is $237+ per team. https://www.firstinspires.org
EngineerGirl Salute to Engineering Writing Competition- Grades 3 – 12. Write a piece saluting the role Engineering has played in COVID-19 crisis. Deadline February 1. https://www.engineergirl.org/134513/2021-contest
Art and Illustration
L. Ron Hubbard Illustrators of the Future – ongoing and quarterly. Create a piece of original Sci-Fi or Fantasy art for cash prizes. No entry fee. https://www.writersofthefuture.com/enter-the-illustrator-contest/
Toyota Dream Car Art Contest – Creatively illustrate your idea of a dream car. For children aged 15 and younger. Entries due January 31, 2021. Choose your country from the Contest details page to enter. https://www.toyota-dreamcarart.com/top/
Google Doodle Art Contest – This year’s theme is: I am Strong because… For Grades K-12. Entries due February 26th. https://doodles.google.com/d4g/
Other
National Economics Challenge – Teams of 3-4 High Schoolers studying economics. Homeschool teams welcome. No entry fee. https://www.councilforeconed.org/national-economics-challenge/
Get Ready for Next Year for these Contests
Scholastic Art and Writing – https://www.artandwriting.org
Kid’s Philosophy Slam – K-12 Art and Poetry Contest – http://www.philosophyslam.org/participate_fin.html
National Geographic Geography Bee – https://www.nationalgeographic.org/education/student-experiences/geobee/
National YoungArts Competition – https://www.youngarts.org/apply
National Science Bee – https://nationalsciencebee.com
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