1. We love Mom! Share your favorite memory of a time you spent with your mom (or grandma, or aunt ...). (Friday, May 11)

 2. Memorial Day is coming up. What will you be doing? Are you headed to the beach? A barbecue? A parade? And what will you be remembering? (Friday, May 11)

 3. There are lots of things in the world that are difficult to understand. What's something you have trouble understanding? "I don't understand why ..." (Friday, May 11)

 4. Field Day is a great tradition at many schools. What's your favorite event? What's one event you think should be added? (Friday, May 18)

 5. If you could be invisible whenever you wanted to, what would you do? Why would you want to do this particular thing? (Friday, May 18)

 6. What's your biggest pet peeve? What's something that annoys or bothers you, and what do you do to make it less irritating?  (Friday, May 18)

 7. Good deeds are good to do! When's the last time you did a good deed, and what was it?  (Friday, May 25)

 8. There are lots things out there that don't have a word to describe them! Make up a new word and then give it a definition. (Friday, May 25)

 9. Which is more important, looks or brains? Would you rather be attractive or smart? Why? (Friday, May 25)

 10. If you could hold a world record in something, what would it be? How would you go about attaining this world record? (Friday, June 1)

 11. Everybody loves to laugh! What's your favorite joke, or a joke you love to tell? (Friday, June 1)

 12. "Eww, I hate it when dinner includes ..." What's one food you don't like, or wish you didn't have to eat?  (Friday, June 1)

 13. We love our Dads! What's one thing you love to do with your father (or grandfather, or uncle...)? (Friday, June 8)

 14. Flag day is coming up! If you had to redesign the American flag, what would it look like, and why? (Friday, June 8)

 15. Vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, Rocky Road, mint chocolate chip, bubblegum ... what's your favorite flavor of ice cream? Do you love hard ice cream, or soft? (Friday, June 8)

 16. Olympic fever is starting to spread. Will you watch the Olympics? What's your favorite event to watch? Do you like the Summer or Winter Games, or both? (Friday, June 15)

 17. Summer vacation is almost here. Do you have plans yet? Are you going on vacation? To camp? How will you fill the days until school starts again? (Friday, June 15)

 18. Now that the school year is almost over, what's the best thing you learned (or learned about) this year?  (Friday, June 15)

 Art: These can be submitted anytime.

    1. Draw a picture of what you're looking forwards to doing this summer.

    2. Introduce us to your pet! Draw a picture of you and your pets, or your favorite animal.

    3. Show us what happened at Field Day in a picture.

 Please be aware, however, that just because there's a due date attached, that doesn't mean the topic will definitely run the following week, and just because a topic was published once it doesn't mean we won't publish it again. Remember too that we re-run topics, so if you missed a week, please feel free to have your students write on any topic whose due date passed — such as those that occurred over spring breaks, for example.

Hello and Happy April!

 We have new topics for you — as always, please email responses to us at kids@hcdemocrat.com by the dates indicated below:

 1. If you woke up tomorrow and found you could talk to animals, what's the first question you would ask? (Friday, April 13)

 2. What's your favorite time of day? Early in the morning? Late in the evening? 3:28 p.m. exactly? Lunch? Why? (Friday, April 13)

 3. What's something that makes you laugh?  (Friday, April 13)

 4. What's something you want to do as an adult that you can't do now? Why? (Friday, April 20)

 5. Imagine we're going to the zoo! What do you want to see first? Which is your favorite exhibit, and why? (Friday, April 20)

 6. What would you take with you on a trip to the moon? (Friday, April 20)

 7. If you found a magic wand, what would you do with it?  (Friday, April 27)

 8. What's a goal you've set for yourself that you've met? (Friday, April 27)

 9. Have you lost a tooth yet? If you haven't, are you excited to lose your first tooth? If you have, describe losing your first tooth.  (Friday, April 27)

 10. What do you like about where you live?  (Friday, May 4)

 11. Describe an amazing birthday party. What would be there? What would you do? (Friday, May 4)

 12. Describe a time you didn't listen. Should you have? Is it better you didn't? (Friday, May 4)

 Art: These can be submitted anytime this month.

    1. Imagine we're going to the zoo! Draw yourself at your favorite exhibit or with your favorite animal.

    2. Spring is about playing outside. Draw yourself and your friends doing something you love to do outdoors.

    3. What do you love about your town? Draw your favorite thing about where you live.

Happy March! Here are this month's Kids Page topics —  please email responses to us at kids@hcdemocrat.com by the dates indicated below:

1. Spring is springing! What's your favorite first sign of spring? (Friday, March 9)

2. Daylight savings time starts soon -- what will you do with your extra hour of daylight (Friday, March 9)

3. Winter will be over next week. Are you sad we didn't have a wintry winter? Or are you happy with the lack of cold and snowy weather? (Friday, March 16)

4. When you feel sad, what makes you feel better? (Friday, March 16)

5. Would you like being famous? What would you want to be known for?   (Friday, March 23)

6. What's your favorite game to play with friends or family? (Friday, March 30)

7. It's almost April Fools! Who will you be fooling, and how? (Friday, March 30)

 Art: These can be submitted anytime this month.

1. What will you do on St. Patrick's Day? Draw us a picture.

2. Draw yourself doing something with something yellow. What do you like that involves yellow? Lemonade? Sunshine? Taxis? The L.A. Lakers?

New month, new topics! I've included due dates, on these —  please email responses to us at kids@hcdemocrat.com by the dates indicated below:

1. Would you want to live forever? Why or why not? (Friday, Feb. 10)

2.  You have to pack your own lunch tomorrow! What would you eat? (Friday, Feb. 10)

3. Presidents Day is coming up. What do you think is an important quality for a President to possess? (Friday, Feb. 17)

4. Do you have a pet? What kind of pet is it? Do you want a pet? (Friday, Feb. 17)

5. There are good habits and bad habits. What's a good habit you have that you think others should adopt? (Friday, Feb. 24)

6. Are lies always a bad thing? When would be a time you've told a "good" lie? (Friday, Feb. 24)

7. The year is 2050 — what new things will exist? What will cars look like? What will houses look like? Where will they be? Draw yourself and your things in 2050. (anytime)

Please be aware, however, that just because there's a due date attached, that doesn't mean the topic will definitely run the following week, and just because a topic was published once it doesn't mean we won't publish it again. Also, please make sure your submissions go to kids@hcdemocrat.com — that way if I'm out of the office, another staff member can pick up your submissions.

These topics and the dates have been posted online, but please pass them along to other teachers that may be interested and have them contact me to be added to our email distribution list. We also welcome artwork, photos and other writing from your students, so don't hesitate to send those things along too!

Thanks for your participation, and I look forward to seeing your students' submissions!

-Allison Gualtieri

We're looking forward to seeing what your students come up with for January — there were so many creative and interesting submissions for December's topics! Please pick one of the topics below each week and email responses to us at kids@hcdemocrat.com by Fridays.

1. What is something you hope will happen in 2012? Why?

2. Inside, outside — what's your favorite thing to do when it snows? Do you want more snow?

3. If you had a pet robot, what would you do with it?

4. What is your favorite word, or a word you think everyone should know the meaning of? Why?

5. Being responsible can be difficult. What's one thing you've found it hard to be responsible about, or what's a time when you've found it hard to be responsible?

6. The Presidential election season has started! What issue do you think the candidates should address?

We are, of course, always looking for artwork from our students, so feel free to send along any drawings by students or pictures of cool classroom projects. I

Thanks for your participation!

Allison Gualtieri

1. Imagine you are in charge of the calendar, and have to come up with a new holiday. What would it celebrate? When would it be?

2. It can be hard to fall asleep any time of year, but especially during the excitement of the holidays. When is your bedtime, and do you think it should be changed?

3. What's the best gift you've ever given? Who was it to, and why was it so great?

4. Everybody loves holiday songs ... or do they? Do you like holiday music? What song is your favorite? If you dislike holiday songs, why?

5. What's the hardest thing about being a kid?

6. If you could be a character in a book or movie, who would you pick and why?

7. We need some colorful art for the kids page! Draw us a picture of what you're looking forward to doing over winter break.

8. Do you have a favorite outfit? Draw yourself in it for us!

1. What is something fun you can do when the power is out?

2. If you could go anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?

3. Tell us about something you're proud to have learned how to do.

4. Some toys will always be great. I think I'll always play with ...

5.  If you found a $10 bill on the playground, what would you do?

6. What are you most thankful for, and why?