All about: Healthy contests for kids

Kids enjoy competitions, but it's never great to lose. Some kids hate sports contests that clearly separate the good from the not so good. Not everyone is sporty. So, what are the other contests that kids can take part in? This article looks at some healthy contests for kids.

From arts to crafts

When a competition is a win or lose situation, there will always be kids who are unhappy to come last. No one likes to lose, but there are other contests where the participation is just as much fun as the contest itself. Art contests Arty kids will love painting or drawing contests where they can spend hours producing their own pictures before entering them. They can try out different mediums like watercolour pencils or pastels. So, they will have learnt something new, whether they win or not. They could join an art class or do a painting workshop in order to gain more skills, and give them an edge over other contestants. Craft competitions Craft competitions are great for working on projects and having them judged. Craft and village fairs, agricultural shows and fete days often have competition classes for art work, pottery and growing your own vegetables. Taking part in the day is great fun, and a social occasion for your child to enjoy. They are yearly events. So, they are contests that you can plan for, and have plenty of time to work on a masterpiece.

Writing and reading contests

If your child is more of a book worm, libraries often hold reading competitions. Can they get through so many books in their summer holidays? They may not read most of them, but it's a healthy contest to have, where the children increase their reading skills and have a goal to reach. Writing contests Writing competitions are also a great practice for improving English skills. They also get a child's mind working creatively. Find them in writers' magazines and online. They have deadlines - so, your writer kids will have to write stories or poems in a certain time-frame. Not only will this type of contest improve their writing, but it may even start them on a writing career path. If they are lucky to win, the competition holders might even publish their writing.