What are the best ways to introduce children to poetry? We know poetry is important and very beneficial for children, but how can we expose them to poetry? Although there are a variety of ideas out there, I’m really excited to be sharing some of my personal favorites with you. As I continue raising my children to be poetry-lovers, I have found six simple ways to introduce children to poetry. We’re going to look at each one and understand why these methods are so effective, and how you can implement them in your own life. Are you ready? Then let’s get started!
1. Reading Poetry to Children
There is no better way to expose your child to poetry, than by reading it to them. Reading kids poetry is at the very top of our list. If you do nothing else, read your children poetry. There are so many great poetry books that you can enjoy along with your child. We already know that reading to our children is important, and when you read them poetry books, it’s an additional benefit. Hearing the rhythm of the words and seeing the patterns within the text help children to recognize meter and rhyme.
A great habit to establish is reading your kids poetry every day. Whether it’s a short poem, a rhyming storybook, or simply a nursery rhyme, fit in whatever you can. Incorporating poetry books in your story time is a great way to begin introducing your child to poetry. Next week I’ll be sharing a list of my favorite poetry books for children. Be sure to check back for that post, I am sharing the best of the best. Remember, reading kids poetry is one of the best ways to introduce children to poetry.
2. Memorizing Poems
(This is my daughter reading one of the first poems she learned. It’s so precious to see children enjoying poetry and she was so cute reading this to me. I hope you enjoy it!)
I love having my kids memorize poems as part of their schooling. It’s a great way to promote their memory skills, and they get to have fun learning a poem they enjoy. As you continue reading your child poetry, you may want to advance to this next level. Once they are continuously reading poetry, they’ll naturally begin to memorize it. Start with short, simple poems, and grow from their. Perhaps you can begin my having your child recite poems. Let them read the poems to you. Eventually, they will actually memorize the poems. Poetry is so easy to memorize, and it’s all about finding poems that you love.
3. Writing Poems
As you continue filling yourself with poetry through reading and memorization, it will naturally begin to come out of you. Fill your child with great poems and fun rhyming storybooks, and watch as they make up silly rhymes of their own. You could have your child write a poem and draw a picture to go along with it. Encourage him to write a poem for a poetry contest. In the beginning, maybe you start by copying poems you know and love. Eventually, your child will progress to creating his own. Either way, this is one of the best ways to introduce children to poetry.
4. Listening to Poetry Songs
This one method of introducing kids to poetry is often overlooked. Listening to nursery rhyme songs, is great way to introduce kids to poetry, especially for younger children. Babies and toddlers love listening to silly music, and if you can find some nursery rhyme songs, or any songs of poetry for your children to enjoy, that’s a great way to expose them to poetry. Here are a couple links to my favorite CDs for kids:
5. Playing Rhyming Games
One of the best ways to introduce children to poetry, is by playing rhyming games with them. If you make poetry fun by incorporating it in games, children will quickly embrace it and begin developing an appreciation for poetry. Poetry is meant to be fun, so playing poetry games is a great way to show your kids how great poetry can be. I’m sharing a couple links to give you some ideas of poetry games and activities you can do with your child.
http://fun-a-day.com/rhyming-activities-for-children/
http://www.notimeforflashcards.com/2012/12/rhyming-peg-board-learning-after-school.html
6. Watching MonkiSee Videos
Another great way to expose your child to poetry is with the MonkiSee videos. Since I am such a poetry-lover, it has definitely trickled into my business. I love writing poems for kids, and try to fill the videos I create with great poetry. I feel that poetry adds a unique element to the MonkiSee DVDs. I believe that the poetry we include in the MonkiSee videos is one of the main reasons why our videos have helped so many children build their vocabulary. If you read my post on the benefits of poetry for children, then you know that this is one of the greatest benefits of poetry. Having your child watch the MonkiSee videos is one of the best ways to introduce children to poetry.
Depending on the age of your child, I would recommend having them watch one of the MonkiSee videos each day. If you are introducing your baby to poetry, then the MonkiSee videos are perfect. They will not only be exposed to poetry, they will learn the alphabet, colors, shapes, familiar first words, body parts, farm animals, and so much more! If your child is a bit older, perhaps they would enjoy watching MonkiSee “Animals Under the Sea,” or “How God Made Everything.”
Overall, you can use any method you like. The idea is to continue exposing our children to poetry. I hope that these ideas were helpful to you. If you have any ideas on what are the best ways to introduce children to poetry, I would love to hear your thoughts! Please be sure to comment below and share with us your favorite methods. Thank you so much!
from my library. I have been thoroughly enjoying the poems contained in this book. I even discovered that the Broadway play “Cats” is based on these poems. As a child my parents took me to see this very play, so some of the poems are familiar. Anyway, I began having my 6 and 9 year old read the poem daily so they could memorize it. It has been a lot of fun and the results are here. First I will post the poem for your own reading pleasure and below that you can watch Gabriella and Joshua each recite it from memory. Joshua was being a bit silly and began with some sort of accent, which he happened to lose by the end. Do you have a favorite poem to recommend?