Does your child have a gift for storytelling? Writing stories, poems and nonfiction promotes literacy skills in an open-ended, hands-on way. And the Arkansas Educational Television Network (AETN) wants to encourage children to explore the creative outlet by participating in the PBS KIDS Writers Contest.

The national program partners with PBS stations across the country and invites writing submissions from children in grades K-3. In Arkansas, each entrant will receive a participation certificate and 12 winners (three from each grade) will receive a prize package. The first place winners will be submitted to the national competition; and the children will have the chance to tour the AETN studios in Conway and invite Clifford the Big Red Dog to their school.

Entries will be judged on creativity, originality, storytelling, and integration of text and illustrations. Youngsters can submit fact, fiction, prose or poetry, but only one entry will be accepted per person. Text must be printed, written legibly or typed, and stories must have at least five original and colorful illustrations.

Stories should be submitted by April 10. For more contest guidelines and details on how to enter, visit AETN.org/WritersContest.