Family-Friendly Limerick Contest for Children and Parents
A family friendly-limerick contest gives children and their parents a chance to participate together, and have fun at the same time.
Yakima, WA (PRWEB) March 29, 2007 -- George Stancliffe, author of SPEED READING 4 KIDS, today announced a FAMILY-FRIENDLY LIMERICK CONTEST, open to anyone old enough to write. The deadline for submitting an entry is April 31, 2007. "Here at Speed Reading 4 Kids," Stancliffe says, "we help people learn, and have some fun at the same time. And the limerick contest is perfect for involving many parents and school children."
The contest has two categories: 1) Children (under 18), and 2) ADULTS (18 and over). There are 3 winners in each category, who will each receive a free copy of SPEED READING 4 KIDS and a training DVD.
But why limericks?
Says Stancliffe: "Limericks are fun to invent, even for those who hate school, or hate to read. This gives kids a chance to study without feeling like it is 'work.'"
So, what is a limerick?
According to Wikipedia, "A limerick is a five-line poem with a strict meter....The rhyme scheme is usually "A-A-B-B-A", with a rather rigid meter. The first, second, and fifth lines are three metrical feet; the third and fourth two metrical feet."
There are many examples of limericks to be found. This anonymous one was found on kid's website www.brownielocks.com:
There once was an ape in a zoo
who looked out through the bars and saw YOU.
Do you think it's fair
To give poor apes a scare
I think it's a mean thing to do.
Of course people should know that any limericks included in this news release are only given as examples," Stancliffe emphasized "They're automatically ineligible for the contest because all entries must be new, original and previously unpublished and unposted."
Another thing that could make some limericks ineligible for this contest is inappropriate content. "A problem common to many limerick sites is that they post some limericks that are not appropriate for children, or for adults who don't want to trash their minds with sleaze," Says Stancliffe.
"The best limericks are clean and family-friendly, so we're insisting on high standards for this contest." says Stancliffe "All limericks entered must be appropriate for children. No sex, profanity or other inappropriate material will be considered for winning entries."
Limericks are often humorous. In fact, for many people, limericks are supposed to be funny. This should add to the fun of the contest.
Does a limerick have to be funny to be considered for a prize?
"No," said Stancliffe. There are many ways that a limerick can be interesting without being overtly funny." One example is a mathematical limerick (really a double-limerick), by P. Chernoff, that is very interesting because of way that he talks about the recent proof of Fermat's equation.
Fermat solved a problem with ease,
That most of us find quite a tease.
His margin so small,
Left no room at all,
For a proof as concise as you please.
A challenge for many long ages
Had baffled the savants and sages.
Yet at last came the light:
Seems old Fermat was right--
To the margin add 200 pages.
Definitely 'adult material,' but also family-friendly. But normally serious subjects can still be made humorous, like this mathematical example that any 7th grader would appreciate, by Harvey L. Carter:
'Tis a favorite project of mine
A new value of pi to assign.
I would fix it at 3
For it's simpler, you see,
Than 3 point 1 4 1 5 9.
So, are you ready to enter, or encourage your kids enter? Simply go to http://www.speedreading4kids.com/limericks.htm to read the official rules, and to find the email address for entering this contest.
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