This post is sponsored by Google & Mom It Forward Influencer Network, but opinions expressed are my own.
The annual Doodle for Google art contest is now open, and this year’s theme is one of the most inspiring yet: “When I grow up, I hope…” If your child wants to participate, don’t wait—the deadline to submit an entry is March 18.
Students from kindergarten through 12th grade are eligible to submit doodles for a chance to appear on the Google.com homepage and win prizes. Awards range from fun Google swag to a $30,000 college scholarship, offering incentives at many levels that kids and families will enjoy.
In addition to individual prizes, participating schools can win a $50,000 technology package to support classroom learning.
There will be a winner selected from each U.S. state and territory. Military families with children living abroad can still enter using their child’s home state.
Click here to enter
Why This Mom Loves “When I grow up, I hope…”
As a parent of elementary-aged children, I hear imaginative career ideas every day. One moment my son plans to be a professional basketball player; the next he insists he’ll be both a police officer and President of the United States—simultaneously. My daughter talks about becoming an “animal doctor” while also performing concerts where she sings and dances like a pop star.
I love hearing their plans, but the theme “When I grow up, I hope…” opened a different conversation—one about hope itself. It encouraged me to ask them what they truly hope for as adults, beyond specific jobs or titles.
What does hope mean? What kinds of hopes are meaningful when you imagine your future? Those questions led to thoughtful, surprising answers and a chance to connect more deeply than the usual schedule of carpools, practices, piano lessons, and camps allows.
Doodle for Google: What You Need to Know
This year’s guest judges include Jimmy Fallon, Kermit the Frog, and 2018 Teacher of the Year Mandy Manning—fun personalities who add excitement to the contest.
Here are the rules and FAQs to get you started.
As a parent, you can do more than hand your child a sheet of paper and a crayon. Google provides a suite of resources to spark creativity and guide kids through brainstorming and design. Those materials help set the stage for meaningful, imaginative entries rather than a rushed drawing.
If your child is ready to share their hopes and creativity, gather supplies, explore the provided resources, and submit an entry to the 2019 Doodle for Google competition before the March 18 deadline.