Enter contests. Challenge your children to participate and see where it leads them!

There are essay contests, poetry contests, art contests, music contests, etc. advertised all over the internet. There are opportunities to win prizes (some monetary awards!), get published, and earn scholarships for college. My children competed in a poster contest about safety sponsored by my husband’s company and won gift cards. My son won a poetry contest and had his poem published in a national student publication.

I know that insurance companies, libraries, college saving plans, etc. regularly hold contests for students. Here is just one website I found that promotes 8 writing contests for students.

http://kidsactivities.about.com/od/ReadingandWriting/tp/Writing-Contests-For-Kids.htm