I am not a gamer, but I love video game creation for kids. Anything that incorporates the creative arts into technology is perfect learning in my book. Which is why I'm happy to report that the 2013 National STEM Video Game Challenge–now in its third year–is now accepting entries through the end of April.

Do you know a kid in middle or high school who loves to play video games? Encourage them to try and create their own! The many game-making platforms like Gamestar Mechanic, Microsoft’s Kodu, GameMaker, and Scratch make it simple. Students can even enter a written design idea. Whether or not their their game wins the challenge, there's plenty to be gained from the experience. The creation is such a wonderful tool for imagination, and a reward in and of itself! Plus, part of making any game is having someone play it; trying out your child's game as they develop it is fun (I'm a constant play-tester for my son) and they learn how to take feedback. Groups can enter as well, so how about siblings working together?

If your child's school has a computer classroom, let the teacher know about the challenge, and maybe it could be a class project. What a great way to learn!

It's encouraging to look at the many businesses that are sponsoring this event: the Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame Workshop, E-Line Media, the AMD Foundation, Microsoft’s Xbox 360, the Entertainment Software Association, the Hive Digital Media Learning Fund in The New York Community Trust and the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), a federal agency that will assist with broadening the reach of the Challenge through the inclusion of museums and libraries as gaming venues outside of schools.

The prizes are new laptop computers with design software, and cash prize for the sponsoring organization.