Host your own contest
Plan and host a small talent or creativity contest: set rules, create entry forms, recruit judges, and award simple prizes to participants.
About this activity
Plan and host a small talent or creativity contest: set rules, create entry forms, recruit judges, and award simple prizes to participants.
What you need
Step by step
- 1
Step 1
Choose a fun contest theme and decide who can enter.
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Step 2
Write five simple rules that say who can join how long each act is and how winners will be chosen.
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Step 3
Make a simple entry form on a sheet of paper with spaces for name age act title and contact.
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Step 4
Create a judging score sheet with three clear criteria and a number scale for each criterion.
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Step 5
Ask two or three adults or older kids to be judges for your contest.
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Step 6
Pick a date time place and how many minutes each act will have.
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Step 7
Make simple prizes and certificates using paper colouring materials and stickers.
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Step 8
Create invitations or a sign that tells kids how to enter and the deadline.
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Step 9
Collect all entry forms and write a performance order list on one page.
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Step 10
Set up the performance area with chairs a performance spot and any props performers need.
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Step 11
Gather everyone and read the contest rules out loud before you start.
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Step 12
Have each participant perform in the order list while judges watch and score each act.
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Step 13
Collect the judges' score sheets and add up the scores to choose the winners.
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Step 14
Announce the winners and give out prizes and certificates to each winner.
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Step 15
Share your finished contest project and photos of your event on DIY.org.
Fun facts
How do I plan and host a small talent or creativity contest at home?
To host a small talent or creativity contest, choose a theme and set clear, simple rules (time limits, categories, judging criteria). Create entry forms with name, act description, and contact info. Recruit 2–3 adult or teen judges and schedule a rehearsal slot. Prepare a basic stage area, score sheets, and a program. Run acts in order, have judges score, tally results, announce winners, and give small prizes or certificates.
What materials do I need to run a kid-friendly talent contest?
Basic supplies include printed entry forms or an online sign-up, pens, clipboards, name tags, timers, and simple score sheets. You'll want a small stage or performance area, extension cords, a speaker or microphone, props, safety kit, and a camera for photos. For prizes, prepare certificates, ribbons, stickers, or small toys. Optional items: volunteer badges, seating labels, and a printed program.
What ages is a home talent contest suitable for?
A kids' contest can work for ages 3–14 with adjustments. Preschoolers (3–5) need parental help, very short acts, and mostly participation awards. Ages 6–9 can follow simple rules, enter solo or group acts, and benefit from basic judging. Ages 10–14 can manage more complex categories and timing. Group by age or skill level to keep the event fair, fun, and engaging.
What are the benefits and safety tips for hosting a kids' contest?
Talent contests boost confidence, teamwork, planning skills, creativity, and public speaking. To keep it safe, get parental permission, check venue hazards, supervise rehearsals, and use age-appropriate props. Ensure judges give positive feedback, avoid public rankings beyond winners, and offer participation prizes. Consider allergies with snacks, ask consent before photos or videos, and have a first-aid kit and clear emergency contact information.
Watch & Learn
Need help?
What can we use if we don't have stickers, coloured paper, or a printer to make prizes, certificates, and invitations?
Use plain paper or recycled cardboard from a cereal box and decorate your prizes, certificates, and invitations with crayons, markers, magazine cutouts, ribbons or glued-on craft materials instead of stickers and printed paper.
What should we do if judges don't show up or the scoring sheets get mixed up during the contest?
If judges are missing or score sheets are messy, ask two available adults or older kids from the audience to act as substitute judges, use your prepared judging score sheet with the three clear criteria and number scales so everyone scores the same way, and have one organizer collect and add up the scores.
How can we change the contest to work for different ages of children?
For younger kids shorten each act time, simplify the five rules and reduce judging criteria to one or two picture-based points with bigger chairs and a small performance spot, while for older kids lengthen act times, add detailed score scales on the judging sheet, and offer more elaborate prizes and certificates.
How can we make the contest more special or challenging as a follow-up activity?
Extend and personalize the event by choosing a themed contest, adding background music and decorated props at the performance area, creating extra award categories like 'audience favorite' on the judging score sheet, crafting themed prizes with colouring materials and stickers, and sharing photos and the final project on DIY.org.